Brendan Bradley – Enough (2022)
Brendan Bradley is inviting all of us to something a little different with ‘Enough’, the second single from his virtual reality musical NON-PLAYER CHARACTER. Through this single, he considers the uncertainty that people feel in a virtual world and the anxiety of not being good enough. Bringing a rather powerful combination of alternative pop, Broadway musicals and video games, the single draws us into another world of pixels, quests and trying to be the best.
A single that starts to blur the lines between live theatre and virtual reality, the track has you excited to explore what else his unique musical has to offer. Not only a talented musician and engaging songwriter, but Bradley is also an award-winning actor, director and producer who has recently taken a turn in the world of voiceovers and virtual live performances. A true pioneer of digital live performances, he has his own lab at New York University for integrating emerging technologies into live performances.
Bradley’s vocals hit the topic at the core of ‘Enough’ from the first panicked whisper. This leads you to the more melodic vocal line that takes you to a darkened theatre. There is a wonderful Broadway feeling to his performance and you can easily see him singing under the light of a single lamp on the stage. Through his performance, he brings a confused swirl of emotion that taps into the joy of playing games, only to slide into a weary feeling of not being enough. It is a really wonderful performance that slowly builds to what he always wanted to do and to be enough, only to drop to a sad realisation that this is not possible right now. These emotions are threaded into lyrics that draw on the virtual reality game of the musical while also touching on something that is core to the human experience. Through the use of games and virtual reality, he makes the confrontation with self-belief and our view of ourselves easier to handle.
While Bradley’s vocals are packed with the power of Broadway, the melody flows to match in the opening. The powerful piano line that opens the track is beautiful and adds to the theatrical feeling of the track. As the vocals head into the pained chorus, the lighter piano notes tug at your heart and choke you up with emotions. Later, new instrumental lines enter with a shuffle of drums and a delicate sweep that ruffles the notes of the piano line. As Bradley reaches for glory, the instrumentation brings a rich flair, before giving way for the piano line to return.
Through the powerful theatrical tones of ‘Enough’, Brendan Bradley draws you into a virtual world while tapping into emotions that are at the core of the human experience. The melody is delicate as it bolsters the Broadway flow of the vocals. It is really the vocals that are the star of the single as Bradley brings a swirl of emotion and leaves you eager to dive into the rest of the musical.
Find out more about Brendan Bradley on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
