Today we’d like to introduce you to Brendan Friel.
Hi Brendan , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Music has always been a part of my life. Growing up, I’d spend my summers in Ireland visiting family, and one of my core memories was watching my Uncle Jimmy play accordion in his Céilí band at the local pubs. I’d fold up a piece of paper like an accordion and sit as close to the makeshift stage as I could. Even then, I knew I wanted to be on that side of the room—the performer.
That obsession eventually shifted to guitar. My older brother had an encyclopedic knowledge of rock music, and I spent countless hours in his room discovering records, talking about artists, and learning everything I could.
I played in countless bands before dropping out of university in my second year to tour across Canada and the United States. While I was willing to take that leap, I’ve never had the personality to be the stereotypical “starving artist.” I wanted my life to be centred on music but I never wanted the music I made to be influenced by the need to make money.
That led me to teaching. Today I teach around 40 private students each week from my home studio, and I founded First Note Music, which provides affordable music programming to Montessori schools and daycares across Canada. My goal is simple: to introduce music into children’s lives early and inspire the next generation to ask for instruments instead of iPads.
Currently, I am working on my new music project | g a r d e n s |. We’ve released a full-length album, toured across Canada and Europe, and I’m currently finishing new music to be released in 2027.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In 2016 the longterm band I had sunk all my money and time into broke up. Simultaneously, my long term relationship also fell apart. Broke and brokenhearted, I used the last of my savings to buy a one way ticket to Holland, where my sister was living. I crashed on her couch and busked across Europe to make money. During this time I began writing what would become my first solo record.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am known as an Musician, Songwriter and Teacher.
What I think sets me a part in my teaching career is that I prioritize showing how to love music and access the universal energy it provides. When I can do that, my students then genuinely want to put the work in on the theory/technique and other more dry aspects of musicianship because the passion is already there fuelling their efforts.
My project | g a r d e n s | is something I am very proud of. It is the cumulative product of years of writing and performing but feels the most focused and intentional – fusing my favourite aspects of folk/singersongwriter and electronic indie.
What’s next?
The future will see | g a r d e n s | touring their new EP and continuing to expand First Note Music across Canada.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gardensmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/followgardens/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@watchgardensmusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1oFoN0LRGfKMjYaJXROxLx?si=GpXhW5-GTiugQ6GFnFDeRg&utm_source=copy-link
