Bein’ Ian is the independent musical project of Ian O’Brien (from Grand Rapids, Michigan). He has self-released 3 EPs, an array of singles, and most recently his debut LP, Squared Away, which can be listened to on all platforms and services now. Squared Away earns its title because, on some level, it embodies and releases everything that O’Brien has gone through in the past few years of his life. It is a very intimate project, one that details his personal experiences with heartbreak
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Bein’ Ian is the independent musical project of Ian O’Brien (from Grand Rapids, Michigan). He has self-released 3 EPs, an array of singles, and most recently his debut LP, Squared Away, which can be listened to on all platforms and services now. Squared Away earns its title because, on some level, it embodies and releases everything that O’Brien has gone through in the past few years of his life. It is a very intimate project, one that details his personal experiences with heartbreak, fear, losing a friend to suicide, losing parts of himself, grappling with self-doubt, falling in love, hopeful new beginnings, and so on. The result of these experiences is a candid body of work that feels lived-in rather than performed, making it less a collection of songs and more of a document of both sufficient growth and farewell. Bein’ Ian’s music blends lo-fi textures with a refined sense of melody and atmosphere, often pairing sounds of dreamy synth patterns, melodious Wurlitzer solos, unique drum machines, and soothing guitar riffs—all of which are layered between a deeply candid and oftentimes nostalgic lyricism. All of Bein’ Ian’s songs from 2020 onward have been written, recorded, mixed, and mastered independently by O’Brien in a small corner of his bedroom. It is an effective, albeit spatially restrictive DIY process. One that started out in his sophomore year of high school as a means of escape and studenthood during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since remained practically unchanged. O’Brien’s growth as a musician and engineer is evident in the sonic and structural improvements of his work in succession. O’Brien, alongside frequent collaborator and bandmate Cade Raterink, is the co-founder of independent record label Scrapper Sound (also located in Grand Rapids), which is home to their analog-digital hybrid recording studio, commonly referred to as The Scrapyard. O'Brien's influences span new and old, recalling the likes of The Beatles, The Kinks, Lou Reed, The Flying Burrito Bros, etc. More modern indie influences include the works of Nick Hakim, David Parry/Loving, Richard Swift, Paul Castelluzzo/Hether, Angel Olsen, Alex G. A pianist / keyboardist since the age of 9, O'Brien also claims great admiration for Erroll Garner, and Nicky Hopkins. Bein’ Ian’s debut LP release, Squared Away, is streaming worldwide today.
