With his debut album due for release in September, the Nashville artist shares Hypnotized – a track that says’NO’ to those negative voices
Photo Credit: Elijah Settles
– Out Now | Impact Date: 4th Sept –
FFO: Jet, YUNGBLUD, Lenny Kravitz, Palaye Royale
Label / Imprint: Maroon Records
Format: Digital single
“Audibly inspired by rock’n’roll’s classics, but making them his own… he’s one to watch” Classic Rock
“A 21st Century rock star in the making…” Kerrang!
“Whiff of future rockstar in the air” – Rock Fiend
“James Bruner isn’t just arriving—he’s absolutely ready to take over” – Rock Today
With the imminent release of his album Can’t Keep Wanting You in September & tour dates being finalised for a UK visit this autumn, Illinois born, Nashville based alt rocker James Bruner shares the track Hypnotized – alt rock in sound, punk attitude & lyrically a defiant ‘NO’ to letting self-doubt overcome us.
Produced by Nashville’s Shane Weisman & cowritten by both James & Shane, Hypnotized is a shot of guitar-fuelled adrenalin with a highly personal message.
Written during a period of low self-esteem for James (we’ve all been there), he explains: “This one lies more on the faster punky side of my artistry & at the time it was written, I was going through quite a bit of self-doubt & over-analysing everything in front of me. This song served as the defiant ‘NO’ to those looming thoughts in my head. As an artist, it’s always been so important for me to let out any aggression in my music, so I went ahead & did just that. I wanted to lean on that firm aggression of screaming vocals & the raw energy that the band Jet had on their song ‘Last Chance’. For me Hypnotized is a classic slam over the head & I am very pleased it’s turned into a fight song… for myself ironically!”
Alongside previous singles Can’t Keep Wanting You, Wish I Could Stay & OMG, Hypnotized is another exponent of James’s belief in love being the catalyst that fuels everything in life from desire to empowerment & even defiance.
Having enjoyed playlisting on Planet Rock Radio for his singles Switchblade & Big Shot, plus Hot List & The Dirt / High Hopes features in Classic Rock, 2026 is turning out to be a breakthrough year for this most commanding of artists with regards to both his recorded & live work.
About James Bruner:
Having come of age amidst skateboard culture in Springfield, Illinois, James was drawn towards artists like Roxy Music, David Bowie & Iggy Pop as opposed to what his friends were listening to at the time. Watching how skaters executed their craft on videos featuring Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life, Rod Stewart’s Every Picture Tells A Story & Black Sabbath’s Paranoid, inspired him to get a guitar at the age of 15. He was soon to join local band Unchained as lead vocalist & rhythm guitar – but it was when he moved to Nashville that his focus on songwriting & working with top-flight musicians began to bear fruit.
Full band shows as a solo artist began in 2023 & since then James has honed his craft as a live performer playing hundreds of shows across the USA, Europe & the UK with the likes of Those Damn Crows, Orianthi, Barns Courtney, The Romana Flowers & Yonaka as well as full European tours with Nashville singer-songwriter William Fitzsimmons & The Struts. James has graced the stages of legendary venues such as The Bataclan (Paris), Barrowlands (Glasgow), The Roundhouse (London), Irving Plaza (New York) & Fabrique (Milan).
Highlights:
- PLANET ROCK RADIO: 8 weeks on B-List & Evening List for singles SwitchBlade & Big Shot
- CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE: ‘Hot List‘ & ‘The Dirt / High Hopes‘ features in Jan & Feb 2026 issues
- 500k+ STREAMS on single Big Shot
- GLOBAL TOURS WITH: The Struts, Barns Courtney, Yonaka, Those Damn Crows, Orianthi
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Photo Credit: Elijah Settles
Photo Credit: Sierra Sevier
Photo Credit: Sierra Sevier