PopCrush Presents: Brandon Skeie

Every week at PopCrush, we’re putting the spotlight on one up-and-coming act you need to know about. Why? So you can get on board early before everyone else and their mother jumps on the bandwagon…and so you can be that one friend in the group who’s always like, “Um, actually, I prefer their earlier work.”

Like many previous PopCrush Presents artists, Brandon Skeie has only just begun his career in the music industry. But if you're one to fall down YouTube cover song rabbit holes and you know your Max from your Megan Nicole, you've likely seen Brandon's work before.

The 22-year-old self-identified singer, songwriter and LGBT activist has been quietly building a YouTube following for two years now with a mix of cover songs, personal vlogs and original videos with fellow musicians (including singer and social media star Mahogany Lox). But it was Brandon's version of Adele's "Hello" that earned him a wider audience than ever in October of 2015: His stirring take delivers an emotional punch on the chorus that ultimately raised it above the sea of rival "Hello" covers, and it's deservedly amassed millions of plays on YouTube and SoundCloud since.

Brandon hit the ground running in 2016 with his debut single, "So Bad." The song starts off as a contemplative piano ballad before vaulting into all-out pop jam mode, and fans of Troye Sivan and Adam Lambert may find themselves instantly smitten with his work. Longing has never sounded so fun!

Listen to "So Bad" below, buy it on iTunes if you like what you hear as much as we do — and why not  dive into Brandon's YouTube page while you're at it?

Who would you like to see featured in PopCrush Presents next? Tweet us at @popcrush with your recommendations using #PopCrushPresents!

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