YORKTON - ‘Golden Ticket’ winner on American Idol Season 21 Brayden King is headed to Yorkton.
King, who in 2023 released three singles that hit the Top 100 on Canadian country radio, will perform at the Painted Hand Casino Jan. 25, presented by the Yorkton Arts Council.
While there was obvious recognition from King’s American Idol experience, he told Yorkton This Week things are beginning to level out just a bit.
“I'd say the initial ‘buzz’ from American Idol has slowed down, which I'm completely okay with,” he related. “When the news first came out in spring of 2023, there was definitely a lot of excitement, and people that might not have known my name before are now recognizing me! It's pretty cool to be at a Nickelback concert and have a bunch of people asking me for photos.
“I'm very grateful to Idol for the press boost that it gave to my career.”
That said has it been difficult in any way to focus on the music with so much ‘press’ around Idol?
“Definitely not,” said King.
“I'd say if any of my performances had actually been aired on the show, it may be a different story. But since I was never actually 'featured' on the show, it helped me to stay away from the stigma of the ‘American Idol guy’.”
It was a situation King said he wasn’t sure how it would play out career-wise.
“At first I thought no airtime was going to be detrimental to my career, but I truly think it's only helped me since I got to control the narrative,” he said.
“Thanks to social media, and us being on the road for around 100 shows a year, it's been really easy to focus on the music. My debut album just hit 500k listens, which is just a mind-blowing number to me.
“It's the best thing in the world when people are reacting to the songs you write.”
So how does King explain his music?
“It’s always either ‘rock n' country from the Prairies’ or ‘The tallest man in country music,” offered the 6-foot-9 performer with a smile. “That's the elevator pitch I guess, but in more detail, especially with a band behind me, we play a hard-hitting style of country music.
“I've been told that I'm a rock singer, and my music isn't country, but at the end of the day, I write the songs that I want to write, and people will always form their own opinions.”
“Honestly, I try my best not to focus on anything too particular genre wise. My album is a bit all over the place in terms of style, but overall, all the songs fit together somehow.”
In that regard King said he wants to stay fresh in what he creates.
“I'm writing lots right now, and trying my best not to write the same song over and over again,” he said.
With a varied approach to writing are his musical inspirations varied as well?
“Nickelback has always been my favourite band since I was young, and I don't think that'll ever change,” said King.
“I was super inspired by classic rock like Zeppelin and AC/DC when I was younger, but later in life I found a lot of country artists I love.
“Cory Marks is a huge inspiration to me, he's a rock/country artist from Ontario. He just releases songs that feel right to him, some are super country, some are hard rock, but it's all incredible.
“I love seeing artists like that who just do their own thing.”
Now it’s just about being true to himself and taking whatever path his music takes him down.
“I think I'll be doing exactly what I'm doing right now (in 5-10 years), just hopefully on a larger scale - releasing lots of music and playing lots of shows,” he said.
“I'd love to make it out of Canada for some shows and tours, that would be pretty cool.”
In the meantime King said Yorkton show attendees “can expect a high energy, interactive, rock and country show! It's a lot of fun, and I can't wait to see everyone there.”
Check him out at www.braydenking.com
