Brett Altman - "Small Talk"
Brett Altman is a pop wizard with a real knack for finding just the right chord progression and vocal melody to sweep you off your feet. After hearing his last single, “Beauty,” I figured it’d be tough for him to top the combination of swooning melodies and heartfelt lyrics, but on “Small Talk,” the New York City-based Altman manages to push his songwriting a step further. We’re excited to premiere the track today on Look At My Records!
Altman is affable and charming in the live setting, and that element of his on-stage persona really comes through in his music, particularly on this track. His approach is almost conversational, and his smooth demeanor makes it feel as if he’s speaking directly to the listener, imparting the story contained in his words. Overall, “Small Talk” is upbeat and bright, with Altman’s voice radiating his sunny disposition and his springy guitar playing accentuating his messaging, which focuses on how casual conversation can blossom into deeper, more meaningful relationships. Interestingly enough, though, Altman shared that despite the positive tenor of “Small Talk,” he actually derived his initial inspiration for the track after losing touch with a friend. He recently shared the following:
While Small Talk is quite fun and upbeat, the song's inspiration originally came from the realization that I was in the beginning stages of losing touch with a close friend. I was saddened by the thought of a deep bond being reduced to casual small talk if and when we grew further apart. After discussing the concept with my co-writer, Aaron Steinberg, we both recognized that we also had experiences where the magic of small talk led to something big and positive in our lives. That was the feeling and emotion we wanted to highlight with this song.
Altman also shared a bit about the process behind recording the track with Maxwell Henry:
We recorded everything in my parents basement and at Maxwell Henry’s home studio in early 2021 (due to the nature of the pandemic). Small Talk marks a vocal milestone for me, as I have never released a song where falsetto plays such an integral role. I have been working on this part of my range for the past few years, and I’m proud of how this performance turned out. The quiet whisper in each chorus really fits well with the overall message of “small” talk.
Stream “Small Talk” below!
You can listen to all of Altman’s music on Spotify and Apple Music. Keep up with him by following him on Instagram and liking him on Facebook.
To celebrate the release of “Small Talk,” Altman will be joined by his backing band The Locals for a gig next Friday, December 17th at a special DIY venue in Brooklyn. Forever Honey and Paging Doctor Moon are also on the bill!. Get your tickets in advance via Eventbrite!
