Brett Eldredge’s Break From Technology Has Had a ‘Profound’ Effect on His Music: ‘I’m Definitely in a New Phase’

We are so excited to hear the latest from Brett Eldredge!

Written by Cillea Houghton
Brett Eldredge’s Break From Technology Has Had a ‘Profound’ Effect on His Music: ‘I’m Definitely in a New Phase’
NASHVILLE, TN - JULY 04: Recording Artist Brett Eldredge performs on stage during the 2019 Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th concert where an estimated 343,000 visitors packed the streets to enjoy music and fireworks on July 4, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images)

Brett Eldredge is in a transformative stage of life, one that’s played an important role in shaping his new album.

It all began in January 2019 when Eldredge revealed that he’d traded in his iPhone for a 2002 flip phone, a decision that’s made a significant impact on his mental clarity. He also ventured on a solo retreat to Malibu, Calif. with only minimal visits from his fellow songwriters, the break from technology allowing him to better connect with the world around him.

It all began in January 2019 when Eldredge revealed that he’d traded in his iPhone for a 2002 flip phone, a decision that’s made a significant impact on his mental clarity. He also ventured on a solo retreat to Malibu, Calif. with only minimal visits from his fellow songwriters, the break from technology allowing him to better connect with the world around him.

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“I’m definitely in a new phase,” he tells Sounds Like Nashville and other media, adding that downgrading his phone is one of several steps he’s taken to create space in his mind for the new project. “All the outside noise, I’ve cut most of it out, and it’s been a profound experience of such a deeper level than anything I’ve ever written or created in my music career.”

Eldredge opened up about his lifelong battle with anxiety in 2018, describing the feeling of being “overwhelmed” from the grind of touring. But he’s since been intentional about connecting with friends and family in person rather than through a device, one part of the process that’s brought a sense of calming to his life. He’s dedicated time to hiking, reading books and going to therapy and is a loyal student of meditation. He’s also re-connected with his talent for playing the piano, something he wants to incorporate into his live show. “I think that is a big part of it too, connecting with others. I’ve just been very self-aware and I think I spend a lot of time on that,” he explains. “But now I just feel very comfortable; it’s because I’m taking the time to really slow it down, and I think it really makes you create on a much deeper level.”

This depth has translated into his songwriting. Eldredge, who’s latest single “Love Someone” became his seventh No. 1 hit, now does a “free write” each night, allowing his stream of consciousness to spill onto the page before he falls asleep, the process sparking ideas and helping him form melodies. He’s also found inspiration in 70s music, “going back in time,” he says of connecting with the music of Van Morrison and Bob Dylan.

Though in the preliminary stages of the new album, Eldredge says he wants to convey aspects of his life he hasn’t explored musically, one of which being his formative days in Illinois. “I do want to share more about what it was like growing up in the Midwest and just being that kid. The simplicity, but the solidarity in people and the things you learn about life,” he shares. “I’m a big story guy and my grandfather was the biggest story teller there every was, in my mind. I’m definitely chasing down a lot of those stories.”

As Eldredge continues to look for opportunities for growth, he plans to plant a garden and seek enriching experiences through travel. He’s also found meaning in visiting Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and performing for the patients, those moments reminding him of the true purpose of making music. These factors prepare him to create a “very special record,” one that finds him keeping fans at the forefront.    

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“I can already feel a huge difference in my shows, and it’s really been showing in this music. I think I’m going to have an even deeper connection with my fans here out than I ever have. As I create this album, I’m definitely thinking about them every step of the way, but I’m also thinking about myself…and what I want to say because if it comes from my heart, they’re going to believe because I’ve lived it and I’ve seen it, and I know they’re going through things, just like I am too,” he says. “I want to be that person that tells a story for them.”

Eldredge is set to embark on a tour in Europe in 2020, beginning on Jan. 24 in Cologne, Germany and wrapping up Feb. 7 in London.