Pop-Culturalist.com

Christian Burghardt is one of music’s most formidable young talents. He found success at an early age and was signed by a major record label, but it didn’t come without a cost. He learned that the lack of creative control wasn’t something he was willing to compromise on as an artist, and decided to venture on his own. Since then, he’s released countless hit songs that have resonated with listeners and fans around the world. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Christian about his journey, his latest single “Carnival Ride”, and more!

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Christian: I’m half Korean. My mom is Korean, and a lot of Asian parents encourage their kids to play an instrument. It’s usually piano or violin, but I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to do something different. My mom suggested the saxophone when I was in the fourth grade; that’s when I first got into music. I played in jazz band in the fourth grade and in middle school. I got to the point where I could do solos and improvise a bit. I wasn’t a natural talent or anything like that, but that got me into learning music and learning how to play with the band, navigating melodies, and such. But it wasn’t until eighth grade and middle school, when a bunch of my friends put together a little cover band for a talent show that the school was putting on at the end of the year that I became interested in the guitar.

They put together a little three-piece rock band and did a bunch of Green Day covers. I remember being in the audience and I was blown away by these guys. I’m sure they weren’t that great, but for me, they were rock stars. I was like, “This is incredible. This is what I want to do.” After that, I talked to my aunt, and I knew she had some guitars. She loaned me an acoustic guitar, and that was it for me. I started diving into YouTube and teaching myself how to play. I started singing and writing songs immediately. I was probably fourteen at that point. That’s how it started.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Christian: That’s a really good question. I’ve had so many different influences. I’ve been doing this for twenty years now. I’ve had to climb a lot of big mountains and hit plateaus. When I’ve been stuck, there have been different people who got me over those hurdles. When I was in college, I was going to school at Oregon State University and trying to play football. I wasn’t completely absorbed in music yet, but I had a really bad injury playing football during my freshman year where I tore my hamstring. I decided that maybe football wasn’t the answer. I was in a wheelchair for a good six months, and that’s when I really decided it’s time to get serious about this music thing.

I got Pro Tools, I got a microphone, and I started really recording myself and learning how to produce music. That was a massive turning point for me. Shortly after that, I ended up dropping out of college and started a band. I moved back to Portland and moved in with a bunch of my band mates. That was probably the biggest turning point in my music career. I really took it upon myself to pursue this 100% and remove all other obstacles.

PC: Has anything surprised you in that twenty-year journey? What’s been the biggest takeaway thus far?
Christian: The biggest surprise for me was probably when I finally got my record deal. That was the thing that I had been chasing forever. I had glamorized it so much in my mind, what I thought it was going to be, but when I got there, it was a lot different than what I had built it up to be. It’s a business. You’ve got a lot of different interests, and people who are trying to steer you in the direction that’s going to make them the most money. But as an artist, as someone who writes his own songs and creates his own art, I had my own vision. I was learning to work with them while keeping my own integrity and my own vision intact. That was a big eye-opening experience.

I realized that it’s really hard; it’s not what people think it is. You have to really know what your vision for your music is. If not, you’re going to get pushed around and swept under by the tide. You could end up somewhere you didn’t really want to be.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your career. When you look back is there a particular moment that stands out?
Christian: The first thing that popped into my head is when I realized my lead single with Sony, which was “Safe Place to Land.” That was a huge moment for me because, like I was saying about having the power of a record label behind you. After I finished my music video and my tour, I would walk into places and hear my song playing. I had people calling me and telling me that they heard my song at Costco or Rite Aid, or they saw my music video playing at the gym. That was a moment when I was like, “Whoa. I think I made it. Maybe I got to where I wanted to be.” It was an incredible feeling. But like I said before, not having the creative control was something that was killing me inside as an artist. I wanted to evolve, adapt, and become who I am now, which is a conglomeration of all sorts of different sounds.

PC: If you had to pick one song that best encompasses who you are as an artist today, which would it be and why?
Christian: I feel like every artist is going to say their most recent song, so “Carnival Ride”. The freshness is a real thing. I’ve been making a lot more electronic-type pop songs and steering away from the acoustic stuff. “Carnival Ride”, for me, was a slight return to my old sound while fusing it with newer sounds. It’s a little throwback to my acoustic sound with modern elements. I feel like a lot of my older fans have been waiting for me to make stuff like the stuff I did with Sony. I feel like they’re really pleased with this track. I’m really pleased with it. I like the blending of genres. For me, this song feels great and I’m super happy with how it came out.

PC: What is your process like when you’re deciding what songs to release? How has that shifted as the music industry has become a single’s market?
Christian: That’s a good question. I make a lot of songs. I try to make at least a song a week, but I know how creating music is. Like I was saying earlier, your recent work is the one that you’re most excited about. You always think it’s always going to pop off. But over the years, I’ve learned to let those sit for a while. Ride that passion and creativity, and then walk away from that song for a week or two or even a month. Give it the space to breathe, so when you come back, you can listen to it with fresh ears.

After you’re able to circle back and listen to some of your work from before, it gives you perspective. You can really see which ones are the strong ones and the ones that are going to connect with people the most. That’s been one of the biggest things I’ve learned about releasing songs.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Christian: I’ve been listening to a lot of Jack Harlow lately. I don’t rap myself, but I do a little bit of rap here and there. If you listen to Jack’s stuff, every bar hits. I feel like every bar has a purpose. This guy has incredible swag and delivery. I’m a big fan of his.

PC: First album you bought?
Christian: The Real Slim Shady. I had to go with a friend’s parents to Target to get the explicit version because my parents weren’t letting me listen to that stuff at the time. That was a mind-blowing, paradigm-shifting record that changed music forever. I was around fifteen at the time, and it blew my brain open completely. I couldn’t believe the things that this guy was talking about. It opened the floodgates to what we’re allowed to say in our lyrics.

PC: First concert you attended?
Christian: Smash Mouth.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Christian: Red Rocks Amphitheater.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Christian: A binge-worthy TV show.

To keep up with Christian, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music.