Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Shine’s Brandon Stewart

Brandon Stewart has shined in every facet of his career, whether that’s as an actor, musician, or producer. He thrives on inspiring others to follow their dreams, so it’s fitting that he’s the mastermind behind Shine, an online competition that teaches undiscovered artists how to write, sing, and ultimately sell their original songs. The series was a breakout hit and will return with its second season later this year. Pop Culturalist sat down with Brandon to chat about Shine, the audition process, and mentoring the next generation.

PC: You’re an actor, artist, and producer. How did you discover your passion for each? Is there one that you naturally gravitate towards?
Brandon: I’d say I naturally gravitate toward acting. I’m an entertainer at heart and really enjoy giving people a way to find more laughter, light, and love—entertainment does that. Singing is almost like an escape for me. I did the whole American Idol thing, but I’ve tried to keep singing as the escape I can have when I need it. As far as producing, that came to me at an early age. My mom is a very talented event planner and does an incredible job at building teams to accomplish a mutual goal. I learned by watching her growing up and really took notes on what worked and what didn’t. That’s how I crafted the people skills I have to better every project I’m a part of. I do a great deal in the entertainment industry, but it’s not easy to wear more than one hat. Thankfully, I’ve had lots of practice.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Brandon: I do what I do because I love it. The rush of inspiring dreamers to follow their hearts in the belief that anything is possible—I live for that. When I grew up, it took a lot of effort to get me into quality voice and piano lessons. Then, it took even more effort to get any interest in the arts where I grew up. They just don’t understand it the way bigger cities do.

I played sports and did that whole thing, but my heart was always in performing. Influence in my earlier career came from humble beginnings. I knew I needed to fight to get what I wanted. I began to train harder when people told me no. It was the fuel to the fire in my belly. I believe if you have that kind of work ethic, it’s truly impossible to fail.

PC: You’ve had tremendous success in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that sticks out to you?
Brandon: Thank you, that’s so sweet. I have several moments from my past that have really shaped me into the man I am today—moments both in and out of entertainment. I’d say one of my defining moments was the first time I traveled outside of Kentucky to compete in a singing competition. It was a nationwide talent search, and I placed second out of thousands of people. I felt like it was the first time I had been given any acclamation when it came to my artistry.

My mom sheltered me from competitions often because she taught me there is more to entertainment than what other people see as special; it’s about what I see. It’s about your own originality that makes you who you are. Before competitions, she would remind me that. But I have to be honest, placing in the top two during that competition was a confidence boost I needed at a very early age. It was that competition that led me down the path to American Idol’s stage.

PC: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a part of this industry?
Brandon: Resilience is the most important trait. There are going to be fans who cheer you on, haters who don’t, and past friends who can’t help but be jealous. At the end of the day, it’s not about how many times you’re knocked down, it’s about how many times you stand up and try again. Your resilience in this industry is your armor.

It’s also not about how successful you become—that’s where people get confused. Some of the most iconic actors and artists have gone bankrupt financially because they don’t know how to manage money or lost their popularity because they don’t know how to appropriate their behavior. The industry can be very hard, but to stay relevant you must be resilient. Not everybody will love you, and that’s okay, but everyone has to understand you. You have to be human and you have to be you. If you sacrifice that, there’s nothing left. You’re just a brand.

PC: Tell us about Shine and how you came up with the concept for the series.
Brandon: It started as a passion project for me and kind of snowballed into this success that I really wasn’t expecting so quickly. My producing partner, Derek Williams, is really the genius behind a lot of what we do. Without him, I would be lost on this series. I brought in people like one of my managers, Joel Parent, and even my mom in to help produce as well. After the team was molded, I was upfront and told them how tired I was of watching karaoke competition after karaoke competition.

Shine is about teaching undiscovered gems how to write their own music, sing their own songs, and sell them to America. That’s how our voting process works, and that’s how our show gained such popularity in the first season. You take that singer-songwriter vibe and mix it with three judges who are successful indie artists, and you have a formula for a show that is easily binge-worthy.

We help singers get their careers started; that’s what singers want nowadays. It’s not only about ratings and entertainment for us—though that is important—we want to see them move on from our show and journey on to some of the biggest stages in music. Everyone can learn to sing a song like the original artist or write a hook that’s catchy. We take it to the next level and ask them questions like who their audience is, where they expect to sell the records they write, and what their plan is to launch the brand that will keep food on the table week after week. It’s intense, but worth the experience.

PC: What can audiences expect with season two? Is there a particular type of artist that resonates with you?
Brandon: For me, I ask myself one question: do they feel like they really need this opportunity? A good singer is a dime a dozen these days, but emotion and commitment to the lyrics is a different story. I want to be able to feel their passion. I want to be able to feel their pain. That’s why I get labeled as the harsh one on the panel, but it’s because I want more from these singers than a good sound.

This season, things are ramping up to be twice as big as before. We brought on a new judge, 2’Live Bre, who is a rapper out of Tennessee and incredibly talented. He’s also incredibly unpredictable, which is another element of the show that’s going to be new and innovative. He’s full of so much energy and spunk. He’ll be joining myself and Grammy affiliated artist, Ashthon Jones. Sign-ups this season have more than doubled, we are releasing twenty episodes instead of ten this season, and we have a new support system from my team at AwesomenessTV. Things are getting more and more exciting, and I can’t believe how much we’ve grown in such a short time.

PC: Have you always known you wanted to mentor the next generation of indie artists? What’s been the biggest takeaway?
Brandon: If you were to tell me I would have launched my own mentorship web series platform for singers at my age, I would think you were crazy. I had no intentions on the show growing this fast. My team and I just did what we do best, and that’s work hard. I am knowledgeable about the world of independent music because I searched for the answers. I am proactive and don’t like to waste time. With the knowledge I have matched by the immense knowledge of our other judges and coaches, Shine has become a great resource for singers.

The singers are given one-on-one time with people who are making a full time living doing what they love. It doesn’t get any better than that. To be mentored by people who have done it themselves—that’s special. It proves to these singers that it can be done. I have many friends of my own who make six-figure incomes off of being an independent artist. What we teach them are ways to properly launch, build, and maintain a profitable brand. This is why we are all about singer-songwriter types.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Brandon: Family Guy

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Brandon: Mean Girls

PC: Favorite book?
Brandon: Think and Grow Rich

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Brandon: The Greatest Showman and I’m waiting for the Broadway debut.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Brandon: Colbie Caillat

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Brandon: Stranger Things

PC: Hidden talent?
Brandon: I can type a lengthy text to somebody without looking at my screen—and with very few typos.

To keep up with Brandon, follow him on Twitter and Instagram, and catch Shine season two soon!