The Breton Sound

The Breton Sound is what you get when you aggressively smash together musicians from opposite ends of the rock spectrum. Classic rock, ‘90s alt pop, metal, prog rock, punk, ska, and indie backgrounds emerge from the established musicianship of Jonathan Pretus (vocals/guitar), Stephen Turner (lead guitar), John Bourgeois (drums), and Joe Bourgeois (bass). Stephen met Jonathan at LSU, where he frequently mocked Jonathan’s Weezer cover band. A bromance began to blossom, and later fully forged with the addition of the Bourgeois twins in 2014.

Since then, with the help of their sets at New Orleans’ Jazz & Hertiage and Voodoo Music Festivals, The Breton Sound has garnered a stunning reputation for their live shows. Filled with sing-alongs, climbing up speaker stacks, jumping into the crowd, and universal irreverence, their explosive energy has always been the core of The Breton Sound. Their relentless live shows around the South led the NOLA boys to winning the Louisiana Music Prize last year.

Now The Breton Sound are working on an EP to follow their new single “Why Are You Still Here?” recorded in 1920’s church-turned-recording facility, Esplanade Studios (Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Mary J. Blige, The Roots). Focusing in on lingering exes, the track is a classic break up song. Romances come and go, but some relationships are just inescapable. As Pretus describes it, “there’s always some kind of trigger reminding you of that person; a song, a movie, a place…some kind of memory. ‘Why Are You Still Here?’ is about the frustration you’re met with when desperately trying to shake off that ghost.”

After The Breton Sound finish their EP, their sights are set on being the biggest band in the world. Until then, the bromance and energetic live shows will continue. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Stephen has mildly warmed to Weezer.