Today we’d like to introduce you to Brayden Lape.
Hi Brayden, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a typical 16-year-old from Grass Lake, Michigan that has loved sports since I was very young. My dream has always been to play college sports.
As far as music goes, I had taken guitar lessons in 4th and 5th grade and put it down until the pandemic hit. During this time I taught myself how to play a couple of songs and found that I loved it. From there I played daily in my room until I got confident enough to share what I learned with my family and soon my friends. Their people were encouraged when they would hear me play. My mom had mentioned that NBC The Voice had virtual auditions and that I could send in a clip. I thought “what do I have to lose” and so I did it. From there I flew to LA where I landed a blind audition and received a chair turn from Blake Shelton. Thanks to him and many others I continued on the journey through the Battle and Knockout rounds and made it to the Live Shows. I am incredibly humbled and thankful to have been in the top 5 amongst amazingly talented artists of season 22 of The Voice.
Since leaving the show in late December of 2022 I have made a few trips to Nashville to collaborate and write some of my own music. It has been so fun seeing how music really comes together from the initial writing to the final product. I am excited to put out one of my songs in March of 2023 and see how the world receives it. I want to write music that connects with people and has that acoustic feel.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This journey has been incredible although parts of it have been tough. Trying to balance sports, school, music, and being away from family and friends was tricky but it was so worth all of the sacrifice. I am thankful for all the people I have met along the way and for those who believed in me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As for me and my work, really I have been a typical teen living in a small town in Michigan, going to school, playing sports, loving the outdoors, and hanging with friends and family. I was inspired musically after watching Shawn Mendez and his journey in music. I loved his style and story of coming to be. Brett Young was also a big inspiration as I love the tone and style of his music. I can see myself writing and recording music that takes on a similar vibe as his. The acoustic feel in his songs is what draws me in.
Back in late 2021, I auditioned for season 22 of NBC’s The Voice. My Blind Audition aired on Tuesday, Sept. 20th where Blake Shelton turned his chair to welcome me to his team. From there my journey continued as I won my Battle round against another talented artist and yet again won the Knockout round after competing against two other artists.
From there I made it to the live shows where my confidence and excitement really began to grow. I was humbled to be voted through by America to the top 13, and then again to make it to the Top 5 of the show. The people that I met along the way were by far the best part of the experience. They have helped me incredibly to grow as an artist, build my stage presence, challenge my vocals, and dream about pursuing music beyond a hobby.
In late 2022 I began writing and collaborating in Nashville, TN, and plan to release a new single in 2023. This is exciting to see my work come to life.
What makes you happy?
Throughout my life, I have found that playing sports and being outdoors fishing brings me happiness. I also have always loved listening to music and now writing and playing my own music has felt so good.
Being a 16-year-old and trying to find a balance with music, sports, family, and friends can be challenging but I have tried my best to find the time to enjoy all of the things that I love. I am excited to release new music in early 2023 and continue to collaborate with other artists.
Contact Info:
- Website: braydenlape.com
- Instagram: @brayden_lape24
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/braydenlape24
- Twitter: Brayden_lape24
Image Credits
Mia Grace
