Artist:Brett Dennen f/Femi Kuti
Song:Make You Crazy
Album:Hope for the Hopeless
Singer songwriter Brett Dennen is similar to Jason Mraz but he hasn't had the same success. Most of his success has been in the Adult Alternative market. He hasn't been able to cross over to pop. Even switching to a major label hasn't helped. He was born Oct. 28, 1979 in Oakdale, CA which is in the San Joaquin valley. He learned to play guitar as a child. His parents listened to Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. After high school, Dennen majored in sociology and philosophy at Kresge College. He planned to be a teacher. But he also had a band in college. And after graduating, Dennen moved to Los Angeles to make it in the music business. After self releasing a 2004 album, Dennen signed with Dualtone Records. Dennen recorded three albums for Dualtone. The Lumineers are their most successful artist. After Dennen's 2006 album So Much More, Rolling Stone named Dennen an Artist To Watch and Entertainment Weekly named him one of their Guys on the Rise. For the 2009 album Hope for the Hopeless, Dualtone brought in producer John Alagia who has worked with John Mayer and Jason Mraz. The first single Make You Crazy featuring Femi Kuti reached #5 on the Adult Alternative chart. Mandy Moore appeared in the video. The album reached #41 on the Billboard 200 and it was reviewed favorably by critics. Dennen even appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman. But it wasn't enough to cross him over to pop. Dennen must have thought that switching labels would help. So for the 2013 album Smoke and Mirrors, Dennen signed with Atlantic Records label F-Stop Music. Atlantic brought in CCM artist Charlie Peacock to produce. At the time he was working with American Idol winner Kris Allen. They placed Dennen songs in films and TV shows. But it didn't help and the album sold about the same as his Dualtone albums. Then F-Stop was closed and Dennen was moved to Elektra for the 2016 album Por Favor. Dennen returned to Dualtone for the 2021 album See the World. Of course Dennen has always been dogged by comparisons to Jason Mraz. But that's his biggest problem. He simply isn't distinctive enough to break out from the pack. Here's the video for Make You Crazy by Brett Dennen featuring Femi Kuti.
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