Brandon “Taz” Niederauer: From Broadway’s School of Rock to Guitar Phenom (Exclusive Interview)

So, Taz, the, the call came at 8 years old after watching School of Rock.Now, within 4 years, this guy, he wasn't just watching it, he was living it, starring in the Broadway production of the same name.Fast-forward to today, he's a Yale graduate, a touring guitarist with Jon Batiste, and now stepping boldly out on his own, man.This is cool, dude.Thanks for joining us.Hey.Thanks for having me.I'm hyped to be here.Uh, let's have a good conversation.I'm hyped.Let's go.I'm amped.Yeah.Let's, let's do it, man.Uh, do you remember the moment you decided to pick up the guitar after watching the School of Rock?Yeah.Um, my dad was actually telling me the story still probably yesterday, which made me feel good.But, um, yeah.He popped in a movie into, like, a DVD player that was on the backseat of, like, his driver's seat.And I was sitting behind it, like, on a long drive to, um, to a ski trip because, you know, we weren't iPad kids back then.iPads didn't exist.Why I feel old.That's, like, the first time I've ever been, like, "Oh, like, said technology doesn't exist."That's crazy.Anyway.But yeah.He, uh, put that in so that I wouldn't be like, "Are We There Yet?Are We There Yet?"He put in the movie, and I watched it, and I proceeded to watch it probably like 10 times on that trip because I was so infatuated with it.He actually rented it from, uh, umWhat's the movie place called that you use to- Blockbuster?Yeah.He rented it from Blockbuster, and I wouldn't let him take it back, so he had to buy it.And he was like, "Do you wanna play guitar?"And I was like, "Yeah."'Cause I didn't think thatI always loved guitar-based music, but I didn't think that kids, like, were allowed to play or could.Um, so then he got me a guitar teacher and a guitar.And then, you know, I've just been capturing God's blessings, uh, from then on.And, uh, I've been super fortunate to, um, experience many of the things that I've been able to experience, and, uh, now we're here today.And the road led to you, George, so.Yeah, man.And, uh, yeah, we're here at this moment here, and by the way, like, I always get those moments where I feel like, "Yo, I'm old, man."I, I, I sometimes stumble past these TikTok videos where it's, like, nostalgic things of the early 2000s and '90s, and that it s- shows, like, candies and how things used to be.And- Yeah.I don't know why they play that stupid music, man.It makes me almost cry every time.But, um, it was nice that you made your dad buy the, the actual DVD.What was that, like, 40 bucks?Probably.I mean, my parentslow key.I mean, they were great to me.They would do anything I wanted so long as I stayed in the house and, like, didn't do drugs.So- Yeah, man.yeah.Uh, they spoiled me in that regard, I will say.Well, I mean, like, it's, it's all panning out fantastic, man.And I, IYou know what?People who have the drive and, uh, will to make things happen, uh, you've s- been in front of massive audiences since you were a kid.Like, how has your mindset, been?Like, since you've been performing constantly, has it evolved on stage?And, and as a person?Yeah.Um, it has evolved.That's a great question.Um, maybe I was doing it, like, 'cause it felt good, uh, as a young kid.But I've really recently, as of, like, within the past year, came to the realization, as I've picked, uh, music as my career forever, while, like, I went to Yale University and a lot of myThe people in my economics cohort, 'cause that's what I majored in, were, like, you know, going the finance route or going to n- New York and, uh, starting their grind.I realized that I'm so fortunate to be able to play music on stage every night and make it my job or go in the studio like I did yesterday.And I feel at mostI feel most myself when I'm on stage.So I've realized that, like, my mindset is evolved on stage because now I'm really playing for myself, more so than ever.And I always was, but I wasn't aware of it.And now that I'm super, super aware of it, I'm aware of the euphoria that I get when I play and I can channel whatever emotions I'm feeling, like, that day through my guitar and through my songwriting and through my performance and through my singing.It's just, uh, I've been able to really hone in on it more and just focus, and not care how many people are out in the audience and really just live my purpose.Uh, your song, Running After You Again, feels, like, emotionally raw.Um- Yeah.Is it drawn from a personal experience or more of a universal theme about love and, like, longing and stuff like that?Yeah.Um, this album took many, many, many years to make, this, uh, album that I'm eventually gonna release, and these are the first 2 singles from it.And I'm kinda grateful for it because I got to go to college and experience, you know, young romance and have trials and tribulations, and watch my friends, you know, succeed and fail.And I think young romance is, like, a really, really unique thing 'cause a lot of the times when we're not distracted by, you know, having to pay taxes is, like, the most important thing in our lives.Like, we're just so focused on it.Maybe it's, like, the hormones being at an all-time high or something.But, like, there's just something beautiful and innocent about young love.So I wanted to channel that through a song about, you know, hopeless romanticism.And that's what I did.Dude, that's awesome, man.I mean, you're currently touring with Jon Batiste.Uh, like, what's one thing you've learned from him, either musically or personally?Yeah.Um, the message is the most important thing in terms of playing live.But also, you know, how you operate in your daily life, uh, in your micro-interactions with people.And I think it's helped me on stage to, even if we're playing the same songs every night, uh, it helps us to not get bored because we're so focused on delivering, you know, love and channeling God's love through our instruments to the people.And if you forget that, you can, you know, get bored.But if you really, really, really try to hone in on that message and remember it, uh, you, you feel this, like, deep desire inside you to give the audience the show that they deserve and do the music justice.That's a huge thing I learned from him.But also, um, yeah, his work ethic is second to none.Uh, I've definitely taken inspiration from that and I will for the rest of my life.Man, you got an amazing mentor, my friend.And, you know, you, you've shared the stage with legends like Stevie Nicks and Slash, my boy Gary Clark Jr., uh, Lady Gaga.And, you know, those moments might feel surreal to you when you look back on it, but at the same time, you know, we talk about, you know, doing it, um, you know, playing your music and feeling it and stuff like that, and, and being able to deliver it in the, the right way.You know, at some points, I'm sure a lot of these big stage acts, like, uh, you know, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, they'reThey love performing, but they c- they're exhausted.How do you deal with exhaustion on the road and how do you make sure that you're in tip-top shape for those performances?Yeah.That's a great question.Um, I try to limit the factors that make me exhausted through like, you know, drinking less, partying less, so that I can really protect my body, 'cause my body's being used, uh, quite a lot on the Shabbatis tour through, like, you know, running and knee sliding and jumping and, like, choreography.So it's not just, like, a stand there and play guitar show.Like, it's a real, like, production.Um, another thing is, like, preparation before the show, like stretching, eating right, working out.Um, all these little things really help as the effects of the tour compound, you know, from show to show.We'll do, like, a 4day road trip with 4 shows in a row, and by that, by the end of that 4th show, if you haven't been taking care of your body right, it's gonna be hell.And luckily, I've, I've been pretty successful.This is my first real tour, like real bus tour.And, um, it's been amazing because, uh, my peers and my friends on tour have really helped me to optimize my body, um, and, you know, tell me what's right and what's wrong, what I should be doing and what I shouldn't be doing in order toUh, it's kind of like having a study guide.Like, it's like having vets on a basketball team.Like, that's how it feels.Like, I'm the rookie and they're like, "Hey," like, "Make sure you do this," or, "Make sure you shower after the show.Make sure you do this, da, da, da, da, da, 'cause you'd be surprised, like, how far all these things go in, not only preserving your body, but also your mental state."Yeah.I mean, like, you've gotta get in the mindset, right?I mean, it, I think the whole thing is about mindset and, um, knowing that it's not just like, let's just go off tangents here and, like, you know, perform and then go wild after the shows and be unreliable.Yeah, this will happen without me preparing.Um, there's a lot of, uh, work that goes into becoming a person in your position.There's a lot of practice.There's a lot of self-care, uh, mental wellbeing exercises.Uh, I mean, is there a, a before the show ritual or routine that helps you get in the right headspace before you go on stage and just in general?Yeah.Uh, both with my band and John, I'll stretch before, um, for about, like, 10 minutes just to get the blood flowing, uh, to get the muscles loose, 'cause I sprained my ankle playing basketball, like, 2 or a year ago, and that's never happening again.So'Cause it put me out of commission for a little bit, and I couldn't perform like I wanted to.So I neededI realized that, especially now because I'm doing all these high-flying stunts on this, on this tour, um, I need to protect myself.And I know a lot of gu- So.a lot of guitar players, I mean, just being from my experience and knowing some of my friends and stuff, there's a lot of possible things that could happen if you don't stretch and take care of your body, um, or warm up properly.There's a lot of cramping that can happen in your hand and it's like just- Yeah.It, it happens, right?So I mean- It does, yeah.You gotta drink water too.Um, another thing is, uh, we like to pray before the show just to, again, like, get the mind right, 'cause that's the most important part.Um, it's with all the BS involved in touring, the not fun stuff, which is like the parts of your daily routine that get interrupted, because, like, X thing doesn't exist in X city or, like, the venue doesn't have this, so then, like, you get pissed about it.Like, none of that really matters at the end of the day.Like, we have a job to do.So, uh, doing, like, a group prayer really helps us to, um, center ourselves and, uh, realize what's important.Yeah, man.It's gotta be, like, focus, focus, focus, and then maybe you can let off a bit after the show, but you know, onto the next thing, right?The inspiration strikes for everybody, but what's your process?Do you start with a riff, a lyric, um, a feeling?Um, how does it work?Um, I start with one of those things, and it gets to my head, and I immediately have to voice memo it.I immediately have to record it, or else it's gonna leave my, my brain, unfortunately.So I get it down, I get the idea down, and then I say, "Okay, is this idea good enough to where I'm gonna put everything aside to record a demo to this?Or am I just gonna, like, leave it in the voice memo files forever to rot?"And actually, 2 days ago, we were on tour, and I had a really good idea for a song.So then I started calling studios in the city that we were gonna be in the ne- for the next day to, like, get the band in and, like, record it down 'cause I thought it was so good.We actually did it yesterday.And yeah, I just, like, we were g- we rolled in that day, like short notice, recorded it andIt's like, for me, in order to be as creative as I can, being a person who's, I'd say, like, formerly a pessimist, I really have to get that idea out with no barriers to my creativity or else it's just gonna get lost.And I think that's something that people don't really talk about enough.It's like, if you have any barriers to create your creativity, it's so hard to, like, stay locked in.And, um, it's something that I've struggled with in the past, but I've just realized that, um, I just n- need, any time I have an idea that I think is remotely good, I need to get it out.Like, there's something deep inside of me that needs to get itAnd that's how I feel happy at the end of the day knowing that, you know, at least I tried it.You know what?I, I can really resonate.That, that, that resonates with me.It resonates to a lot of people, content creators and people who want to make something more of their life.Um, you know, the barriers sometimes.Like, people are like, "How come you didn't do this?"It's like, well, what do you think, like, I've been doing all day?Or, or this, things just happen, and you gotta have that mindset to make that time.Like, a lot of people, musicians are up late at night trying to create and do different things, and, um, make their ideas happen.I mean, obviously you've been praised by, uh, John Mayer as the, the first young guitar player that is not a gimmick, which is amazing.I don't know if you've ever seen Dave Chappelle before, but his appearance on Dave Chappelle, John Mayer made people jump through tables themselves, out of this guitar playing.So I think that could happen with me.I just, I need to find a thin table.I don't wanna go, like, cut through, like, a thick oak table because it's not like how it is in wrestling, man.Those are prefabricated tables, man.And, uh, I would rather not be, uh, hurt just like you were saying.Yeah.You don't wanna sprain your ankle and then, you know, uh, be rippin' around the next couple years and then be in, in regret of that decision.So, um, staying grounded, being authentic is the big thing I think in the industry, in every industry.And the, the pressures artists, you know, have to fit into a mold, it must be overwhelming too, right?Yeah.Um, I felt a lot of pressure 'cause, you know, this is like the start of my career as a studio artist, like, uh, person that puts out recorded music under their name.And it's daunting because, like, I felt like to create good art, I had to be vulnerable, and that's something I've never really done in music.I'm playing other people's songs for, like, whatever.So it's like their vulnerability.And maybe I'm putting my vulnerability through their vulnerability, through, like, thinking of something that relates in my life while I'm singing this song.But at uh, but at the end of the day, it's always under this mask of, like, this other person wrote this song, like whatever.But now I'm going in and it's my vulnerability and everyone knows it.So there's always something daunting about that, and like, I've had to get over it.But also, um, my producer nephew really helped me get over that, and by challenging me in the studio.He never let me get comfortable.And I would say secondly, umWhat I would say is what's hard is, like, I started out playing blues or rock or blues-rock, or whatever anyone wants to call it.And switching to pop, which is what I've always really wanted to do.I l- I've loved blues, and there's blues in my music now.100%.Maybe not in the 2 singles that are out, but I promise you it's on my album.Um, you know, people have things to say, and unfortunately, they don't know me like I do.So like, this makes so much sense to me.But I have to realize that things that make so much sense to me don't always make so much sense to other people if I'm not transparent about it.So I have to, like, let them react.And while I'm like, "This is such an obvious transition for me," it's obviously, they don't know me well.SoAnd- Like, that's, it's just so many, there's so many, so many, so many, uh, things to be worried about when pursuing, like, yourself and placing yourself over, over others, like, in the artistic community specifically, um, because everyone has access to the arts so they feel as if, like, their opinion is the right opinion and whatever.'Cause there's no, like, body being like, "Oh, this is wrong, this is right."Like, "This is the wrong way or right way to feel about this thing."And you just kind of have to realize that, you know, every, every person's opini-opinion is valid, but it's, again, this is another reason why I make art for myself first.So that I can be confident.And if someone likes it, that's great.If not, that's great.But I'm gonna go out and I'm gonna play every night for myself so that I can be happy and love my life, personally.Yeah.You got to look at it that way, man.I feel like the hardest part is over.You graduated from Yale already, right?That's a, that's a big accomplishment in itself, right?So- Yeah.you know, moving forward, um, you know, just believe in yourself, man.It's, the beginning, it's scary.Everybody's scared, man, like about the next part of their life 'cause they don't know how it's going to pan out.But if you're optimistic and not pessimistic, like you said, I think that you can really do this, man.And you are, right?SoHey, thank you, man.I mean, it's just like, I, at this point in my life, if I'm being completely honest, it's like, I, I can see the arenas, I can see MetLife Stadium up here.Like, I say it pretty much every day.And I can see where I'm standing here right now, at the bottom of the mountain, and I can't see the path, but I can see the light at the top and I can see the light here.So it's like, I'm gonna get there, I just need to find my way.And I might make mistakes, you know, but that's the ultimate goal is that, you know, in 10 years people are gonna look back at this interview and they're gonna be like, "Wow."Like, "He knew what he was talking about."Yeah, man.And you know what?You got awesome mentors.Just stick by them, ask them their, their, their opinions and help them, like, understand who you are and th- they'll help guide you, right?So this is, you know, if they have, you know, God's willing way and in their prayers and you're in their play- prayers and you, and you look out for them, you know, things will work out, man.And I've heard that, like, you like pumpkin spice, apparently.Um, like coffee stuff.Yeah.Is this true?Yeah.Uh, I was not a coffee drinker at all, um, for the first, I guess, 21 years of my life.And then I met my girlfriend, who is beautiful and amazing, but she loves coffee.So naturally, I started taking her to coffee shops and like buying her coffee, and she wanted me to try her sweet, like, pumpkin spiced cream, this, this, that, and I loved it.So now I'm like a daily, like, Dunkin' visitor.So that's your go-to order on the road then?pumpkin spice?In, at this time of the year, yeah, pumpkin spice latte, like a signature iced pumpkin spice latte.But like, usually, um, it would be like a medium iced caramel swirl regular from Dunkin'.Oh man.Unique.And it reads like a, it reads like a play that a quarterback would say on like a field.Yeah, yeah.But, you know, that's just the, that's just the new technology, the coffee technology.Are you a football fan at all?Yeah.Well, more of a fan of the game than like a team.All right.I have my fantasy team and, like, I love watching all the games.I don't really have a team that I like stick by.If I have to pick one, It's the Cardinals.Oh.But, but like- I'm an Eagles fan, but my, my fantasy team just completely went through the drain, man.Some people got injured and it's like, you know what?I'm just done with this right now.Mm-hmm.I'll try again next year.I'm, uh, I'm looking forward to basketball too.I'm a huge Knicks fan.My fantasy draft is tonight, so wish me luck, man.I will.I will, man.I will.It's gonna be an interesting season.I, I just don't understand like how some of these basketball players can sign just astronomically huge deals and get away with not playing any of it, like any of their term at all.So that's just kinda what always in the back of my head, right?Like, how can, you know, people like Joel Embiid sign deals and barely play, you know?So there's got- Give me some of that bread, man.Yeah.Oh, you don't want the b- You don't, you don't wanna play?Earn, put me in the game.I'll go in there, you know?Yeah, man.Score 0 points, but I'll, I'llYeah, that's what I'm saying.That's amazing, man.Taz, this has been awesome, dude.Like, I, I wish you all the best.God bless you on your journey and then, uh, there's tons and tons of great surprises down the road for you, man.Hey, thanks for letting me rant.It's been a pleasure.And, uh, yeah.Let's share a, we'll share a coffee virtually, you know?And I'll see you in Toronto.See you in