“I think the role of blues music in today’s society is to remind America of its roots—of a slower time. A time when phones and social media didn’t exist. If you want to feel a piece of that, go down and stay in Clarksdale, Mississippi. That will put it all into perspective.”

Brandon Santini: Let’s Take the Blues Way

Brandon Santini’s new 11-tracks album “Which Way Do We Go?”, will be released on May 9th, 2025 via MoMojo Records, a fearless leap into the soul of modern blues from seven-time Blues Music Award nominee singer, songwriter and harmonica player, Brandon Santini. Returning to his former hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, Santini takes great strides forward with this electrically charged and honest offering produced by longtime musical comrade and friend, Jeff Jensen. Brandon Santini was born in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, moved to Memphis in 2003 and got his blues schooling on historic Beale Street, where he gained many fans as a performing staple at the Rum Boogie Cafe & Blues Hall clubs. In 2005, he began performing with his former band, Delta Highway, which disbanded in 2009. After that, Santini launched his solo career, releasing his first album in 2011.

(Brandon Santini / Photo by Vertell - Trells  Eye Photography)

Santini is now based in Springfield, Illinois, since 2018. His profound connection to the blues & American roots music fuels his high-energy blend of traditional blues with a contemporary twist. With nearly twenty years of performing throughout North America, South America, U.K., Europe, India, and Egypt, Santini is renowned for radiating raw emotion and infectious energy to his audience, earning him critical acclaim and awards along the way. In addition to multiple BMA nominations, he received a 2019 Blues Blast Music Award for Contemporary Blues Album (The Longshot).

Interview by Michael Limnios                 Archive: Brandon Santini, 2013 Interview

Special Thanks: Mark Pucci Media

How has the Blues influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

I think my nearly thirty-year love of blues music has kept my eyes open to how the music was created by men and women who suffered through immense racial injustice and hardships—far greater than I will ever have to deal with. Very early on, I was fascinated by how these blues musicians lived, what their way of life was like, and even the thought of how they blew off steam on the weekends. That’s the beautiful part: the music didn’t solve their problems, but it sure helped them forget about them for a while.

Without a doubt, the moment that changed my musical life the most was in 2003, when Justin Sulek—the guitarist in a band we formed together called Delta Highway—suggested we move to Memphis. He had an inherent charm about him and was good at convincing people to do things, but I was on board immediately. The rest is history—we went on to become a Blues Music Award-nominated band in 2009, and this was the band I first toured the world with.

So yeah, that’s definitely the moment that changed my life for the better.

How do you think that you have grown as an artist since you first started making music? What has remained the same about your music-making process?

I feel that I’ve grown the most by being a live performer. I’ve been touring since 2006, and for a few years, we were doing over 200 concerts a year. You really learn how to relate to people and connect with them directly during live shows. Plus, being on stage really keeps you on your toes—like, do you keep the train on the tracks, or does it completely derail?

One thing that’s always stayed the same about my music is that it’s always been heavily rooted in traditional blues. With the new album we’re releasing, we’re taking a more modern blues approach with some truly honest songs—but you’re always going to hear a little James Cotton or Sonny Boy Williamson II come out of me!

”I’m always working on how to attract a younger listening audience to blues concerts, radio, and beyond. There’s certainly nothing wrong with the main blues demographic being in their 60s and 70s—those supporters have kept the genre alive—but that audience is naturally diminishing simply due to age.” (Brandon Santini, based in Springfield, Illinois blues musician / Photo by Vertell - Trells  Eye Photography)

Your 5th album titled “Which Way Do We Go?”. Do you have any interesting stories about the making of?

The making of this album was so much fun. I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of fellas. The band and I were on tour in August of 2024 when we dipped down into Memphis for four days to track the drums, bass, and most of the guitars. I came back in December for another four days to lay down the vocals and harmonica. My main touring band was the band on the record, so there was a real sense of brotherhood. It was a supportive and fun session, full of laughs.

Of course, when you have Jeff Jensen producing the album, you’re guaranteed some amazing belly laughs. He and I go back to 2011, when he joined my band and toured with me for about three years. We also have a band together called Tennessee Redemption. But I digress… I’m so happy Jeff was able to work with us. It was a really seamless process—we all worked great together down in South Memphis.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

That airplanes are going to be late, tires on the van will go flat, and things won’t always go right. But in all seriousness, my music career—specifically traveling—has taught me a lot about how we can break barriers through the power of music.

Why is it important the we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music in today’s society?

It’s originally an American art form—a Black art form—that came from the struggles of people who were treated so badly. It’s amazing that something so beautiful could come from such pain.

I think the role of blues music in today’s society is to remind America of its roots—of a slower time. A time when phones and social media didn’t exist. If you want to feel a piece of that, go down and stay in Clarksdale, Mississippi. That will put it all into perspective.

”I think my nearly thirty-year love of blues music has kept my eyes open to how the music was created by men and women who suffered through immense racial injustice and hardships—far greater than I will ever have to deal with.”

(Brandon Santini / Photo by Vertell - Trells  Eye Photography)

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

I’m always working on how to attract a younger listening audience to blues concerts, radio, and beyond. There’s certainly nothing wrong with the main blues demographic being in their 60s and 70s—those supporters have kept the genre alive—but that audience is naturally diminishing simply due to age. If we can find ways to appeal more to people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, then we’ll be able to keep the blues strong for future generations.

Sadly, that’s not happening as much as it should, is it? Musically, we try to keep my albums pretty energetic rather than leaning too heavily on slower material, in hopes that younger audiences can feel the excitement in the music. This new album “Which Way Do We Go?“ is a direct attempt to draw in a new group of listeners—those who may prefer modern blues, blues-rock, or even Americana. It has some really personal songs, and I hope the stories pull them in as well.

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