“My whole life has been about finding meaning, the pursuit of happiness and taking risks to do that … not being afraid to try different things,” says Brani, the man mountain musician I want to bring to your attention this week.
As I write, Portugal finds itself revelling in the realm of the popular saints – Anthony, John and Peter, celebrated on June 13, 24 and 29, respectively – who each help humanity with a range of challenges when prayed to, and lend their names to some intense partying too.
Saint Anthony (Santo António), he who adorns my home in azulejo (Portuguese tiles) and is celebrated for close to two weeks every year in my hometown of São Martinho do Porto, is the one looked to by believers when they are seeking a mate, looking for lost things and considering the weak and vulnerable.
Saint John (São João), loved notably by the hallowed tripe-eaters of Porto, as they annually assail each other with plastic hammers (formerly leeks) about the head and culminate their celebrations with fireworks on the banks of the Douro, is revered for prudence, patience, courage, enthusiasm, and the ability to influence and inspire others.
São Pedro (Peter), ordained I understand by Christ himself as the first Catholic Pope in AD 30, is the patron saint of, among others no doubt, fishermen, shipbuilders and netmakers. As the ‘holder of the keys to heaven’, he is beloved by locksmiths too, and is celebrated especially in Évora, Póvoa de Varzim and Porto de Mós.
At this time of year, we, of course, also petition these canonised characters to help us – in their holy name – to party late into the night, survive the crowds, not have too bad a hangover, as well as thank them in some locations for a blessed public holiday.
Turning your attention back to Brani, with his lust for life and eagerness to entertain, I will dare to say we expats might find our own singing patron saint in this fearless roving role model and undoubted international inspiration. When it comes to making a new life in a new country, Brani boasted six countries under his belt, by the age of 18, paused notably now by Portugal and the love of a good, Portuguese, woman.
In his own words: “Life is full of twists and turns but around every corner is a new opportunity, something to get excited about.” Having seen him perform on numerous occasions around Portugal’s Silver Coast, I invite you to get excited about him and his raw talent, as well as his ability to win over and rock audiences, big and small.
Born in Croatia, raised in many countries, including those six that defined his childhood and teenage years, Brani describes his life as an “endless road trip.” His musical journey began with a cassette tape, given to him by his father, featuring a bunch of rock classics, an origin story that sounds like the opening sequence of an action movie, where our hero adventures and does battle to the tunes immortalised and consumed via his walkman.
Our sonic superhero in this instance, Brani, might – in the movie of his life – fade cinematically from a solitary and hazy teenage rock-based recollection to a full-blown stepping onto the stage, where adoring, roaring fans soak up his rich mix of classics that he so brilliantly makes his own, alongside his self-penned belters that combine the big beating heart of the rock genre overlaid with unique, thoughtful and uplifting lyrics.
Enjoyed on stage or street, you’ll see that Brani adores and honours the timeless sounds of 60s and 70s rock. On TV too, when he wowed Portugal’s ‘Ídolos’ talent show judges, you can see his obvious embodiment of the music born long before he was, as he belts out The Stones’ Sympathy for The Devil, getting him four ‘sim’s and “through to the next round” in the immortal words of such situations.
He first arrived in Portugal in 2022, deciding to stay and start his musical career in earnest here. From busking on the streets, then moving into bars, Brani now plays small festivals as part of his highly industrious schedule, opening once for Marisa Liz, lead singer of Portuguese pop rock band Amor Electro, on the bigger event circuit.
I chanced upon him at Communities Unite gigs near Óbidos in 2023, seeing an intensity and freshness, as well as great musical skill, that had me wanting to share his music on the Good Morning Portugal! Show, which he graciously allowed me to do.
Sharing his first EP, Let Love Grow (which he recorded with producer Nelson Canoa, who he met on Ídolos), was a great honour for me, as I think Brani shares our every weekday morning ethic of promoting positivity, leading with love and celebrating the good in life.
By his own admission, the Let Love Grow brace of songs represents his quest to do what makes him happy – “finding the path that leads him there, no matter how random that path might seem.”
Rock fans will love the Hendrix influence, among other notables, that emanates from on-stage Brani, and even those like me, who don’t have much rock in their playlists and preferences, will find his performing presence engaging and irresistible. That, they can do, on a new musical journey this summer, where you can jump aboard Brani’s next musical outing.
“My new songs are about saying ‘YES!’ to that once-in-a-lifetime road trip. Saying yes to those that you meet along the way,” he says, where one of the stops will be the Prohibition Bar, the latest and brilliant iteration of the Communities Unite initiative that I wrote about so fondly some months ago.
You’ll be able to listen to Brani’s new music next to the 16th century viaduct in mediaeval Óbidos, at Prohibition, where Music Director Richard Allen says: “We jumped at the chance to join Brani on this journey. Brani has such a unique backstory, with a great sound that takes us back to the good old days when music stood the test of time. Both of those things are exactly what we are about.”
Should you wish to celebrate the launch of his new release Love Spell, you can do so down the road near Peniche where it will be launched at an exclusive gig on June 28 at the romantic forest site of Boske near Ferrel. The performance will feature elements from the single’s video about which Brani says: “I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but we’re really excited to bring the essence of a road trip to life on this special stage. Please come to the launch event and find out more!”
I wish him well in this latest leg of his musical journey and suggest you, like me, will find inspiration, encouragement and of course solid entertainment, wherever you are in the road trip of your life.
More about Brani, his music and schedule at – www.brani.pt
By Carl Munson
Carl Munson is host of the Good Morning Portugal! show every weekday on YouTube and creator of www.learnaboutportugal.com, where you can learn something new about Portugal every day!
