Conversations with Brandon Yangmi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Yangmi.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Brandon Yangmi and I play in a band called The Greeting Committee. My bandmate Addie and I met through mutual friends during my freshman year of high school.

We linked up since it seemed we both shared a love for music. Once we got into a room together and started writing, it felt like we had an instant musical connection. Immediately we were able to write songs that captured something. I’m not sure what but something.

Shortly after that Addie wanted to start a band. With that, I reached out to Austin Fraser who was my childhood best friend, and Pierce Turcotte who I had played with in the middle school jazz band.

We formed as Motion Picture and played our first show at the Blue Valley High School Talent Show. Seven years later, I am still playing in The Greeting Committee!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Yes and no.

We are extremely fortunate that we got a huge jump-start into the music industry. We got signed onto Harvest Records off of the first five songs we had ever written. This was in part due to Lazlo from 96.5 The Buzz, Peyton Marek, and Mark Marek.

Obviously, this allowed us to skip a lot of steps but over the seven years, there were a lot of growing pains as a band/personally.

A big struggle for us was figuring out how to operate as a sustainable band. We are four unique individuals working within a very intimate and sometimes intense space. As (finger quotes) “artists,” we are emotional people trying to create something together. As odd as it sounds it can be a difficult task.

Figuring out how to maintain a healthy relationship and work environment while we were all going through our adolescence definitely had its learning curve.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am best known as a musician. I play guitar and write for The Greeting Committee. I like to view myself as a bastardized composer! I am most proud of the last album TGC put out, Dandelion.

I am not sure what sets me apart from others. I like to think everyone is unique and when you are your authentic self it shows.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Try your best to be authentic in your art. I think people will find it compelling or at minimum respect it.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.thegcband.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegcband/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegreetingcommitteeband?fref=ts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGCBand
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCdgHWn3x34hZ8S8gL6ZBFw
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1MIe1z4RdqLqHSJsb7EBMm

Image Credits
Elizabeth Miranda