UT freshman geology student Philip Lupton and San Antonio high school senior Truett Heintzelman’s friendship started the summer of 2016 when they met at Laity Lodge Youth Camp. What started as a compliment on each other’s chacos turned into a friendship rooted by their love of music.
“Throughout those two weeks [at camp], Philip took his travel guitar out and we realized we could both sing half decently,” said Heintzelman, reminiscing on one of the first songs they sang together– The Head and the Heart’s “River and Roads.”
After starting a YouTube channel his junior year and creating new music, Lupton decided to go all in.
“During my senior year, I recorded a four song EP and released it under the name Briscoe so that later, I could incorporate other people into the band instead of just releasing it under my name,” said Lupton, further explaining that Briscoe originated from his grandfather’s middle name and was almost his first name.
After securing a few shows for Briscoe on his own, Lupton proceeded to invite Heintzelman to come perform with him. At this point, they were pretty much a band but did not exclusively label it, according to Lupton.
“We’d known each other for quite a few years at that point and it was like, I wanted to do it,” Lupton said. “The only reason we didn’t start together was because we live in different cities and we were both in high school so it would’ve been very difficult.”
“Once I got into college and we started playing more and more shows, we recorded “Sailing Away” together over this past Christmas Break and then it was kind of an official thing,” he continues.
The Briscoe boys, heavily influenced by Josh Turner Guitar and Rayland Baxter, have a hard time categorizing their sound. According to Lupton, the writing they have been doing together lends itself a lot more to the folk side but still, their sound varies.
“When people ask me, I usually just say Americana,” Heintzelman adds. “I know that it’s not very specific but just because it encompasses so many aspects– a lot of the folk side, rock, indie and even some country influences as well.”
Briscoe released their first song, “Sailing Away,” as a pair on March 4. Although the song is newly released, Lupton has been working on it since his junior year when the pair wrote the chorus together. After making a few changes to the song senior year, Lupton finally released the song alongside Heintzelman.
“Whenever Truett and I were looking for a song to record to try to make the ‘Truett and Philip’ Briscoe, “Sailing Away” was our number one,” Lupton said. “We revamped it and released it.”
In regards to their future, Briscoe has a few plans up their sleeves. According to Heintzelman, the pair talk about it often and he admires Philip who is a crazy dreamer and tends to have “midnight madness episodes,” claiming Philip is just what they need to take them all the way.
“We’ve always said that we will see where this thing goes and no matter what, we are gonna have fun with it,” Heintzelman said. “With the way things are going, the streams are pretty solid and the shirts and covers and all that, I feel like we are building up a name for ourselves. Our plan is to make some moves in the next couple of months and hopefully record an album and get that out around summertime.”
As we all know, COVID-19 has made life interesting, uncertain and a bit scary to say the least. As most musicians are doing during this time, Philip and Truett have spent time focusing their efforts into the band by songwriting, selling merch and keeping active on social media.
“I would say between the two of us, we have been making a lot of music and we have spent probably over 24 hours on Facetime together,” Lupton said. “I write music so much better when I’m at home and I just have spare time. I’m just constantly playing music, writing stuff and then sending it to Truett and vice versa.”
Briscoe has been posting weekly covers consisting of artists like Kacey Musgraves, Mt. Joy, Shakey Graves and John Prine on IGTV. For some great vibes and a quick study break, check Briscoe out on Instagram at @briscoe.band.
Our gift to you– a playlist consisting of all things Briscoe as well as Philip and Truett’s top picks. Enjoy.
Vote Briscoe for Austin artist of the month!
http://austin.thedelimagazine.com/poll/poll.php?category=3
Quarantine Q&A:
What’s your go-to quarantine snack/meal? (They seemed rather stumped on this one…too many choices.)
P: Bratwurst because they have a bunch leftover from when his family first made them. He comments how it’s “like that scene in Forrest Gump where they’re talking about all the types of ways to cook shrimp.”
T: The frozen section at HEB with all of the frozen mini tacos and chicken nuggets…all that good stuff
Any new tv series you’ve been watching? Recommendations?
P: Not much of a Netflix person…simple guy
T: Tiger King… “You can’t look away, it’s madness. If you took the most creative writers and producers and directors in the entire world and sat them in a room, they couldn’t come up with something half as crazy as that show. “