The Brethren, Country’s band to watch, released their debut EP Staring At Stars today, Friday, April 1. With tracks from the project spotlighted on CMT.com, Music Row Magazine, AntiMusic, Broadway World, etc., this four-part harmony debut is sure to have you immersed in the audio storytelling of the project.
“We have had so much fun together writing, recording and producing these songs! If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to be live in the moment and be grateful for the simple things. That’s what these songs are to us: a chance to simply do what we love with people that we love. Nothing is better than that,” says The Brethren’s lead guitarist and vocalist Casey Parnell.
To purchase or stream Staring At Stars, click here.
The two sets of brothers, Casey & Corey Parnell and Lonnie & Chad Chapin, are a group of self-confessed “preacher’s kids” who have garnered success across a variety of genres before landing firmly in the contemporary country lane with this project. The four have a friendship spanning more than two decades but only sat down for the first time during the pandemic to co-write, which is what led to the conception of The Brethren.
This EP is an authentic introduction to what you can expect from a group of experienced and award-winning musicians. Lonnie is the band’s Grammy and Dove award-winning bassist and Gospel Music Hall Of Fame alum as a member of Petra. He also co-wrote the #1 hit song If I Had To Die For Someone for Christian rock band Petra before becoming a founding member of the Grammy-nominated band Tait with his brother Chad. Chad is a Grammy-nominated drummer, Dove award winner, twelve-time BMI Music award winner, and recipient of the legendary BMI “Song Of The Year” award for his song To Ever Live Without Me. Lead vocalist and country songwriter Corey Parnell has shared stages with noteworthy artists Kris Kristofferson, Trace Adkins, and Lindsay Ell, and has co-written songs for Steve Fee and Shannon Bex of Danity Kane. His brother and lead guitarist Casey has recorded, written, and produced for Shannon Bex of MTV’s supergroup Danity
Produced by the band and mixed and mastered by Tim Craven, the music and fellowship of The Brethren has lit up the industry.
“From the moment I hit play, I was hooked. The Brethren are everything you want in an artist as a mixer. Beautifully crafted songs, thoughtfully produced tracks, and masterful performances. They’re the real deal, y’all,” promises engineer Tim Craven (Brothers Osborne, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, and Josh Ritter).“This act is two sets of brothers, the Parnells and the Chapins. All four have pop and/or CCM backgrounds, and that shows in their polished, creamy harmonies. This languid, smooth tune evokes nostalgia for an old teen romance. Think Poco or America from the ‘70s,” shares Music Row critic Robert K Oermann on Chevelle from the Staring at Stars EP.
“With a band named The Brethren, and made up of literally two sets of brothers, and pop country music that’s packed with memorable lyrics and music, it’s pretty hard not to have their music in anyone’s regular playlist,” beams 3x Grammy Winner Michael Tait.
The Staring At Stars track listing:
1.) I Ain’t Got You
2.) My Baby
3.) Loving In The Moment
4.) Staring At Stars
5.) Chevelle
6.) Rocket Ships
The official music video for Loving in the Moment premiers on CMT.com April 1-7. Stay tuned for information on the forthcoming spotlight on The Country Network.