Brendan Power interview

Brendan Power is my guest today.
A true visionary of harmonica design, Brendan takes us under the hood of the instrument he has revolutionised with his alternative tunings and new designs, all helping him make some great harmonica music across a range of different genres.

Select the Chapter Markers tab above to select different sections of the podcast (website version only).

Brendan's website:
https://brendan-power.com/home.php

Info on Brendan's tunings:
https://www.brendan-power.com/harpgeeks.php

Brendan's instruction videos:
https://brendan-power.com/vimeo.php

Seydel link to Powernder tuning:
https://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel1847.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel/Products/10301Power/SubProducts/10301PBA

YouTube clip of playing on Jools Holland show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB6GROiWWL8

Some of the recordings in the episode can be heard here:
https://brendan-power.com/tuneaday.php


Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Chapters

• 1:29 Brendan's roots
• 2:17 First heard harmonica at Sonny Terry concert
• 3:24 Started focusing on harmonica instead of studies
• 4:43 Early struggles as a musician
• 5:18 Early days playing in Auckland
• 6:26 Early harmonica influences
• 7:50 Creators of genre of blues harmonica
• 8:25 Playing different genres on harmonica and influence of Charlie McCoy
• 9:55 Charlie McCoy turned Brendan on to retuning harmonicas
• 10:37 Brendan’s fascination with alternative tunings
• 11:25 Brendan’s tunings
• 15:00 How to navigate different tunings
• 16:26 Asia Bend tuning
• 17:06 Paddy Richter Tuning
• 18:37 Alternative tunings are often only slightly different than Richter tuning
• 20:21 Summary of what different tunings are good for
• 21:15 Half-valving chromatics and diatonics
• 22:24 Alternative tunings on chromatic
• 23:46 Brendan has made chromatic more like a diatonic
• 26:09 When to use half-valved chromatic instead of diatonic
• 27:33 Brendan setting up video tutorials on how to use different tunings
• 27:55 More on Asia Bend harmonica
• 30:02 Bulgarian project
• 30:40 Frankenharps
• 33:41 More people should do basic harmonica maintenance
• 33:51 Tension between being a customiser and a performer
• 35:31 Lucky 13 harmonica
• 37:56 Twin harmonica system
• 40:27 Some other innovations
• 41:35 Using technology to aid making music
• 45:17 Awards and playing with Tim Edey
• 46:12 Played on Jools Holland TV show
• 48:02 Playing with Sting
• 49:39 Other session work
• 51:04 Advice on how to make a career out of playing music
• 52:09 10 minute question
• 52:38 Harmonica of choice
• 53:07 Favourite key of harmonica
• 53:25 Overblows
• 54:31 Embouchre
• 55:06 Amps
• 55:52 Mics
• 56:49 Effects pedals
• 58:01 Future plans