“We’ve all felt it. That fleeting moment so fiercely alive, yet unexplainably surreal. That defining instant of clarity, powerful enough to suspend time. That crushing awareness…rendering us motionless and quiet. It is in these moments that we are perpetually inspired.” - Anonymous The music of Portland’s enigmatic alt/rock group, Brightwood, boasts as a product of this kind of inspiration. Their 2006 EP titled The Love Antidote, explores the risks of falling in love and the dichotomy that ensues. Featuring songs that swim with youthful euphoria coupled with those that deal with the enormous pain of heartbreak, The Love Antidote struck a chord with thousands of music lovers around the world. Even before its release, Brightwood’s self-produced EP had begun generating a buzz on a national scale. Inevitably, a multi-state tour followed in support of the record, drawing hundreds of fans from across the western US as well as aiding in the band’s already explosive online presence. “The overwhelmingly positive response to our music last year, both from fans and industry people was unexpected and truly encouraging,” replied frontman Andrew Brittell when asked in a 2007 interview about the attention Brightwood was receiving. “What started as a meager DIY attempt to record a demo EP became what we consider to be a genuine phenomenon.” Among many accomplishments in 2006 Brightwood was chosen out of eleven thousand bands for a spot on Ernie Ball’s Battle of the Bands 10 Compilation CD, which also landed them a spot on the nationally renowned Warped Tour. They were featured on several popular music webzines including Absolute Punk, The Daily Chorus, and Driven Far Off. Sharing the stage with reputable acts such as Mute Math, Waking Ashland, and Goodbye Tomorrow, Brightwood was well on their way to becoming a household name. Within a year of The Love Antidote\'s release, Brightwood had sold approximately two thousand hard copies of the EP, and ten thousand digital downloads from Itunes. They had reached over a million plays on myspace and had maintained the 1 position for unsigned bands in Oregon, as well as a position in myspace’s top 100 bands. Despite several label opportunities, Brightwood decided to release their next album on their own. “At this point, we’re just trying to make music that inspires us. I think part of the reason we’ve been so passive when it comes to label attention is because we’re still trying to figure out what we want…both in music, and in life,” says Brittell. “Our biggest fear I guess is that we would be pigeon-holed into making a specific kind of music, and we feel that we have some growing to do before we’re comfortable unveiling ourselves to the world so-to-speak…but I think we’re getting close.” This mentality is what has impelled Brightwood to take a do-it-yourself style approach with their music. Utilizing their own studio, which has allegedly been upgraded since The Love Antidote, the band went to work on their debut LP, Wake. Released on July 19th, Brightwood’s first full-length record was eagerly received by their devoted fans, and is undoubtedly a profound reflection of this foursome’s hard work and unyielding passion. So far the future for this young band appears to be limitless. Having proven that they can independently and successfully create music with the innate ability to move people, Brightwood is quickly becoming a veritable sensation.