LIFELIGHT

BRIAN SARANEC

Short Bio:

Brian Saranec is a pop-rock artist who was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He was deeply influenced at a young age by the musical tastes of his parents, obsessing over rock of the 20th century. He was inspired to take up drumming, followed by the trombone, bass, and piano, but really felt a deep connection to the guitar. He began writing songs at 13, leading him to writing and recording songs for his band called “Lifelight,” which he describes as “Foo Fighters meets Dave Matthews.” Brian is influenced primarily by styles such as rock, fusion, and progressive rock. 

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Brian Saranec was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. When he was young, he was deeply influenced by the musical tastes of his parents, taking a deep liking to rock of the 20th century. He was inspired to take up drumming, followed by trombone, bass, and piano, but he really felt a deep connection to the guitar. He grew up going to concerts with his parents and on his own, even navigating the Hollywood Bowl by himself as a 17 year-old because he wanted to see John Williams perform live. In high school, he discovered many artists and different genres, adding grunge to the list of his favorites. He graduated from Loyola High School of Los Angeles in 2018, being a constant member in every musical ensemble/organization that the school offered. He was lead trombonist in groups such as the ‘Mighty Roar’ Pep Band, Jazz Band, Hannon Theater Orchestra, and sang Tenor I in the Men’s Choir. His involvement throughout his time at Loyola earned him the “Montgomery Music Award” and “Excellence in the Field of Music Award” upon graduation. “I don’t think it matters which instrument he plays,” says Michael Celenza, Brian’s mentor and director of the pep and jazz bands, “his mature musicianship is obvious.” Brian performed on guitar as an alumnus alongside the Loyola High School Jazz Band for a show in May 2023. 

After graduating, he attended Dominican University of California for 2 years studying trombone, and later communication, but after realizing that his heart really wanted to play the guitar, he decided to leave the school. The 2020 pandemic sent Brian home on a gap year, during which he began taking lessons from Jason Abraham Roberts, an L.A.-based guitarist who had previously worked with Norah Jones. Not being in school, Brian spent every waking moment of March 2020 through August 2021 playing the guitar and trying to improve. “Brian is a naturally talented, hard-working, courteous, quick-learning musician,” reports Roberts. “I rarely meet individuals who are as naturally gifted while also highly dedicated and always committed to improving.”  It was during this period that Brian’s musical and instrumental knowledge skyrocketed. He began listening to increasingly complex types of music, such as that of Allan Holdsworth. Holdsworth’s music and improvisatory style caught Brian’s attention and took him on a journey to become a better improviser with the ultimate goal of standing out from the next guy. “I want my music to be like if Bob Mould and Allan Holdsworth got together and played in a pop rock band – great lyrics, arrangements, chords, grooves, and of course, unique and awe-inspiring solos,” Brian says. “Basically, it would be like if the Foo Fighters had met Dave Matthews Band.” He wants his music to be morally good in its nature - promoting justice, kindness, and love, all with a focus on improvisation and a smile on his face. 

An aspiring bandleader, Brian decided to attend Belmont University to expand his knowledge of guitar and better understand how to improvise in a commercial style. At Belmont, Brian took all of the standard music classes and even some music business classes, touching on entrepreneurship, publishing, and audio engineering. He began playing around Nashville at bars and open jams, in addition to accompanying Belmont recording sessions, student recitals, student vocal lessons, audition rhythm sections, and in the Belmont Commercial Guitar Ensemble I, performing songs like “Fred” by The New Tony Williams Lifetime and “Imperial Strut” by the Yellowjackets. Brian has spent the last year writing his own material and making demos with the intent of recording an EPK during the 2023-2024 school year. Brian also spent the summers of 2022 and 2023 away from school performing in a country band at the Worlds of Fun Theme Park in Kansas City, Missouri, gaining valuable experience such as stage presence, and singing lead vocals on songs like “One More Last Chance” by Vince Gill. Having developed a solid network of industry professionals, along with his group of aspiring professional musicians, Brian is planning to record and release his own music very soon. You can find Brian’s music on his Instagram, “@brian.saranec,” and on Spotify. Music has inspired Brian since before he could speak, and he wants to leave his mark on it, too, all with a smile on his face.

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Brian transcribed the note-for-note solo by Allan Holdsworth on "Hazard Profile Part I" by Soft Machine from the album "Bundles."

Upon graduating, Brian began working full-time at Hime Amplification in Nashville, TN from May 2024-January 2025. He learned how to repair tube amplifiers from Nashville's best repairman, Jeff Hime.

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Brian Saranec studied guitar with Jason Abraham Roberts, and is currently a student of Alex Sill.

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