Brad Dunse is an up close and personal songwriter who will steal your heart with candid lyrics laced through warm clear melodies in a mix of genres and styles. Brad isn’t afraid to tackle sensitive topics in his writing while holding on to his family friendly performance.
Inspired to learn guitar by watching his uncle play for family events, Brad took to the guitar at a young age. Never planning on performing publicly, he felt free to develop his own guitar style by weaving the percussive rhythms and grooves of the songs from his childhood into the multi-layered and textured sound he coaxed from his guitar which distinguishes his work.
After playing occasionally in church settings, Brad was sought after to play in worship bands , festivals, coffeehouses and other venues stretching from the nation’s heartland to Texas.
After writing and performing some of his own songs in public, Brad discovered he could touch his audiences more deeply with his original songs on topics drawn from his own life experiences, and then set out to focus on his writing career. He joined Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and SongU where he’s had multiple nominations as Best Of SongU.
Charlie’s Theme, an instrumental piece, has been heard by video game and animation companies through its digital implant in the portfolio of internationally published cartoonist Raymond “Sketch” Gustafson (Toy Story-Disney Animator).
With encouragement from Nashville hit writer Jon Vezner to “get out and get gigging…,” Brad increased his performance schedule and subsequently was in demand to team up on projects with other songwriters.
Brad was intent on becoming more involved with the local songwriting scene and helping other writers, and joined the Minnesota Association of Songwriters (MAS), becoming part of the organization’s Board of Directors, serving as MAS Vice President, and then president of the organization.
Unable to join the military himself, Brad was honored to be able to touch the hearts of many veterans nationwide as a co-writer of The Wall, a tribute song to the memory of fallen soldiers listed on the Vietnam Wall Memorial in Washington DC.
The Wall was and continues to be used in memorial cerimonies across the nation, in schools, and an award-winning documentary Embrace the Wall, narrated by Jimmy Buffett.
Brad continues to balance his time between performing, writing new material, participating in various songwriting organizations, and a new project he’s launching in the fall of 2022: teaching kids songwriting.
Brad’s music has been heard by audiences tuning into media outlets such as National Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Radio, KFAI 90.3 Minneapolis/106.7 St. Paul, Q93 – WCYQ Knoxville, I-Web Radio, Hoorah adio, Twin Cities Radio.net, as well past appearances on “Late Night Minneapolis” and “When Worlds Collide hosted by Lonnie Knight”. Brad’s songs have also been covered by several other performing songwriters including legendary folk artist Lonnie Knight, Shane Wyatt, Pork McElhinny, and many other independent artists.
Brad is or has been a member of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Minnesota Association of Songwriters (MAS), American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), Just Plain Folks (JPF), and SongU.
Each second we are on this earth is a gift. My hope is at the night’s end the listening audience exits the room with the same level of appreciation for our gift exchange as I have playing for them. –Brad Dunsé