Speakers
Brenton Meynell’s musical journey began at the tender age of 14 when he joined his first band. By the time he was 15, he was already performing live, and at 16, he ventured into the world of recording. With his band, Crystal Blade, he achieved notable success, recording at the renowned Paradise Studios in Sydney under the guidance of Mark Opitz, known for his work with INXS, ACDC, and Cold Chisel. Their self-titled EP garnered widespread attention, receiving airplay on commercial radio stations in both Australia and the USA. Crystal Blade became a well-established act in Australia, embarking on a five-year tour before calling it quits, exhausted from a decade of relentless touring and even turning down an international record deal.
In the following years, Brenton immersed himself in various studios across Australia. He eventually established his own record label on the Gold Coast, alongside a surf label and recording studio known as Music Art Records. He was also at the forefront of creating one of the earliest online artist communities, pre-dating platforms like MySpace and Facebook. His innovative approach even caught the attention of MySpace itself.
During this period, Brenton played a pivotal role in setting up the Gold Coast Music Industry and contributed to the management of Elston Records, collaborating with the late James Freud, former frontman of Models. Elston Records achieved national recognition, making appearances on national TV and even in the federal Parliament. Regrettably, the Gold Coast Music Industry’s downfall caused a temporary setback.
Amidst these experiences, Brenton formed the band Sevenhurtz, which eventually became a prominent presence in Gold Coast and Brisbane clubs, as well as regional Queensland. This led to the establishment of Halfway Studios (now The Way Studios), allowing the band to record their award-winning album with the help of Mark Opitz and Colin Wynne.
Despite initial success, the global economic crisis hit the music industry hard, forcing Brenton to take a break and work in the mines in his home state of Western Australia. Currently, he and his band are diligently working on their second album.
Brenton’s journey also led him to collaborate with Drew Goddard to support indigenous musicians in the Goldfields region. Their efforts, including the successful “Sounds of The Northern Gold Fields” CD, earned recognition and awards.
In 2016, Brenton’s path took him to New York, where he met Doug Doppler and studied under him. His exceptional progress allowed him to teach from the materials of Joe Satriani and Doug, making him the only person in Australia with this privilege. This remarkable journey eventually led to a performance with Steve Vai in New York in 2019, giving birth to the Brenton Meynell Project (BMP). BMP’s first single is set to release this year, followed by an album and a USA tour.
Brenton is the embodiment of his creative identity, aiming to take people on a musical and spiritual journey informed by the wisdom passed down by his mentors. Brenton looks forward to sharing, playing, recording, and connecting with fellow humans from all walks of life, spreading Peace, Love, and Good Happiness Stuff.
Brenton is currently dedicated to writing a new music/production course and lecturing at Central Regional TAFE, further contributing to the world of music education and nurturing the next generation of artists and producers.