Christopher Branch

Musicians can get burned out. It’s inevitable when they play several shows a week nonstop for months at a time. Sometimes, a break can be a good thing. This allows for reflection and a chance to take stock of careers and personal lives.

Christopher Branch, one musician who has been a touring juggernaut for the past couple of years in the Anderson and Greenville area, recently decided to step away from music for a couple of months. He felt it was best for his music and his state of mind.

“I had to take a couple of months off from shows to get my head together,” Branch said, “I had to figure out the next step and make some decisions.”

Branch put an album on hold and spent his time helping out with the music at his church fellowship. This time allowed Branch to decide whether or not he would expand his music or stay local, but more importantly it allowed him to realize there was more to life than what he had been playing over and over again at shows.

Now Branch is ready to hit the road again and will kick off his next string of shows at eCity Java this Friday. Branch has always been a staple of the coffee shop’s array of singer/songwriters and he said getting back in front of people at this venue is no problem.

“I’m never a person to give into nerves,” Branch said, “This is old hat; it’s a switch you can flip on and off once you’ve done it enough.”

Branch said because his album is on hold, he will unveil some new songs in the coming weeks that he was keeping under wraps for the album. He said the new material represents a wider scope musically that doesn’t get trapped in the standard three chord singer/songwriter style.

The new material to listen out for from Branch includes the song “Hideaway,” a song that is slightly heavier than Branch is used to. The song incorporates a more aggressive, complex guitar style.

Another new song is “Kiss Me,” not to be confused with the Sixpence None the Richer song, according to Branch. His song is a little sweeter than most of his other songs and is based around the piano on the album.

“Some of the new songs are really out of the norm for me,” Branch said, “Both of those songs just came out and I had to process them later. Sometimes you have to play them in front of people before you realize what they’re about yourself.”

In the coming months, Branch plans on hitting his tried and true local venues before expanding to a more regional market. He looks forward to making friends at shows again and getting back to his roots of entertaining people.

“I want to create that sense of community just like I had before,” Branch said, “Now is the time for me to re-engage.”