Watch Brandon Cover Phoebe Bridgers' "Savior Complex" in an Empty Field
Photo: Chase Thompson
California-based singer-songwriter Brandon creates with an unrelenting sincerity. It can be heard loud and clear in his debut EP, 2020's Coming Clean, which saw him baring his soul for the world to see. The effect is music that takes on a life greater than its deeply personal sentiment, moving forward through the world with an air of the universal, affecting those lucky enough to come into contact with it. Brandon harnesses this inherent gift for affective songwriting in his standout cover of a Phoebe Bridgers' fan-favorite.
"Savior Complex" originally appeared on Bridgers' universally-acclaimed 2020 album Punisher. Written with Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, Bridgers' described the song to Stereogum as being about dating someone who doesn't love themselves, "'Savior Complex' is you get there, you’re with the person, and you realize that every other person they’ve been with before has gone through the exact same thing of trying to break down walls. Being with somebody who hates themselves is hard."
Brandon keeps much of the visceral emotional candor of the original intact, with the song and video featuring little less but Brandon's mesmerizing vocals, a lone guitar, and the occasional haunting wail. It's a slow and steady buildup that ultimately ends in a cathartic climax that diverts from the original in surprising but welcomed fashion.
Brandon spoke further on covering the Bridgers' single, sharing in the video description, "Late last year I covered Phoebe Bridgers ‘Savior Complex’. Singing this song reminded me about my life and where I’ve been. I kept playing it over and over again in my bedroom, and one day I decided to mic myself up and record it. I never originally planned to release it, and I’m not one for covers usually but I felt this one was special, so here it is. Phoebe is one of my favorite artists, so I hope I did the original justice."
Watch the "Savior Complex" video below:
