Born February 15, 1976, Brandon Boyd grew up in Calabasas, California. In 1991 he began singing and writing song lyrics with high school friends in what would become the multi-platinum selling and internationally recognized rock band, Incubus. In 2011 the band released their seventh studio album entitled ‘If Not Now, When?’ and toured all of South America together as recently as December of last year.
Brandon’s life is one characterized by creativity and self-expression, and though best known as a musician he is also a visual artist for whom art has played a consistent and powerful role throughout his life. He is the author of three books combining his artwork, photography and creative writing: White Fluffy Clouds (2003), From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss (2007), and his most recent publication, So The Echo, released last September (2013). So The Echo visually weaves the past five years in which Brandon honed his craft, participated in an increasing number of group & solo art shows, and used his art as a tool for activism partnering with brands such as TOMS Shoes and Hurley. In the Spring of 2011, he created a massive mural at the Hurley )( Space Gallery and a series of original t-shirt designs in an effort to raise awareness about single use plastics and their harmful effects on the ocean. Parts of the mural and project have since traveled to LACMA, the city of Cape Town, and to The Museum of Monterey where Brandon appeared to speak about art as a tool for activism.
Increasingly aware of the power of public speaking, last year Brandon also participated in Chicago Ideas Week where he spoke amongst outstanding panelists about finding inspiration, innovation and his creative process. A firm believer in the opportunity to “give back”, Brandon is involved with many organizations and charitable causes, and in 2003 along with his Incubus band mates, founded the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, ‘The Make Yourself Foundation’, which has raised over 1.4 million dollars for various philanthropic causes both locally and globally.
Brandon, who is in a constant state of creation, released his second solo album Sons of The Sea in September and lived up to what The Hollywood Reporter referred to as a ‘creatively abundant year’ in 2013. The project, which is a collaboration between he and acclaimed producer Brendan O’Brien, has been met with praise and the band toured several major US cities in January and February. In March, he traveled to Europe to participate in Grafik 14, a cutting edge art exhibition in Zurich, Switzerland and also held 'So The Echo' signings and book talks in Paris and London.