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When Luke Brady played his first gig three years ago in a tiny, cramped basement with nearly 40 people casually watching, he was beyond nervous, keeping his head down. Now a senior, Luke is scheduled to play before a crowd of 2,000 at Westcott Thursdays and wants to savor the moment.

“Music was always a very solitary process for me,” Luke said. “Then I met some really cool and talented people at Syracuse and it inspired me. It brought me out of my shell, and I just started playing gigs for whoever I could.”

Luke is a senior studying sound recording technology at Syracuse University, known for his artistic work as Saint Luke and playing bass in the band GUNK! Saint Luke is a verified artist on Spotify with many of his songs nearing 5,000 streams including “ONLY ONE,” “SAY THE WORD” and “SOS!” His most recent single, “drive slow,” released on Aug. 20 with an accompanying music video.

Luke was musically inclined from a young age. His parents were in multiple bands throughout his life, and his dad, now a music teacher, was an off-Broadway performer. Luke and his brother, Jack Brady, watched backstage at many of their father’s shows.

Jack said he didn’t realize the significance and impact of his dad’s work until he looked back at his childhood. He said it’s where his and Luke’s musical abilities stem from.

Luke played instruments like the piano, guitar and partook in orchestra. He first experimented with lyrics in middle school, laying them over experimental rap beats. Eventually, though, he realized the music wasn’t authentic and decided to experiment with genres from pop to indie to jazz.

After arriving in Syracuse, he threw himself into various musical opportunities on and off campus. Luke said SU’s music scene is unique, with student-run venues, speakeasies, jazz clubs and music studios.

“Honestly, when I go to other schools, they don’t have a music scene that’s anywhere near as bustling as in Syracuse,” Luke said. “It’s something I feel like I am so lucky to be a part of.”

Luke eventually found his signature sound, a jazz-indie hybrid. When Ania Kapllani, Luke’s manager and a senior at SU, listens to his music, she can tell it’s Saint Luke.

Courtesy of Luke Brady

Saint Luke plays for fans at a house venue. The singer will continue his musical performances, with more shows to come in Wescott.

For Luke, “drive slow,” represents taking in every moment of his last year and reflecting on his personal growth since coming to SU. It serves as a reminder to relish the journey instead of anticipating the destination.

“Life moves really fast when you are at this time of your life and I feel like I have been wanting to slow down a bit and appreciate the in-between moments,” Luke said. “I wrote it with the intention of telling myself to take it all in before it’s gone.”

The Brady brothers had been meaning to blend their art forms — Jack’s videography and Luke’s lyricism — and their efforts finally came to fruition this past summer with “drive slow.” Jack directed, shot and edited the video. The collaboration made the song very near to his heart, Luke told Kapllani.

As much as the finished product was beloved, getting there was no easy feat. Luke said he struggled to balance school, friends, relationships and music.

“There were many times when I wanted to drop out or quit everything and give up, but then it gets easier and I remember why I love it,” Luke said.

Similarly, Jack said he made an intense time commitment to the video’s production. For two months, he prioritized it over everything else, even his job. He wanted the video to accurately portray the meaning behind Luke’s lyrics.

When producing the video, Jack taught himself mixed media. He used practical equipment like his camera, a scanner and paints for the graphics and filming. He hand-drew each drawing in the video, with some help from friends.

While Jack said projects are often overproduced with “ridiculous” budgets, both he and Luke appreciate the simple but effective nature of the video.

“I drove myself crazy for two months to make this thing happen. But, now it’s out and I am happy with the result and I know Luke is too,” Jack said.

Jack said the grade-out film and faded look of the music video depict the bleak reality where Luke is just going through the motions. In contrast, the colorful drawings and graphics sprinkled throughout the video juxtapose the bleakness and represent an escape from that reality.

The way the brothers approach their creative process and mindset is also how they approach their day-to-day lives.

“I think we both really value our artistic persona as ‘do it yourself,’ you don’t really need anyone else to help you,” Jack said.

Luke and Kapllani also apply this do-it-yourself concept to their marketing strategy. Kapllani said the natural and raw production style of the video is an intended aesthetic. She wants Luke to feel like a listener’s friend and not someone untouchable.

Luke said SU has been crucial in fostering his growth as an artist because of his musical connections and the people he has learned with.

“I got to see him grow and watch myself grow with him,” Kapllani said. “He’s changed so much in terms of what type of music he makes and how he’s really honing into his sound.”

Luke hopes the authenticity of his music will translate to fans. He said music has always been a very personal process for him, and by sharing that, he wants listeners to be encouraged to embrace themselves as they are.

Luke said he has plans for a potential album sometime within the next year or so. With more work ahead, he can rely on the foundation of connections he’s built throughout his life and at SU.

“I am so proud of (Luke), coming from when we were just little babies in elementary school and would jam out on guitars in front of our parents to now where he’s taken a really serious route and become this incredible artist,” Jack said.

Published on September 12, 2024 at 1:06 am