Bryan Schumann has a beautiful new album coming out Heart & Horizon. It marries full sound of strings, horns voice with folk sensibilities and an edge of indie. You can hear him this weekend, at Minnesota Music Café October 26 for a matinee show.
Please tell us about yourself and your musical history.
I’ve been making music for as long as I can remember. I grew up singing in choir, playing piano and trumpet in school bands, and later picked up guitar so I could write my own songs and rock out with my friends. Music was how I connected with people — it helped me come out of my shell and find confidence.
I went on to study music and composition in college, and ever since, I’ve been creating and performing in nearly every style you can imagine. Over the years, I’ve written hours of instrumental music for a wide range of ensembles — from solo piano pieces to works for full orchestra featuring electric guitar. On the production side, I’ve composed and produced music for short films, video games, meditations, yoga sessions, podcasts, and audiobooks — you name it. I have 9 instrumental albums, 7 EPs, and a dozen singles under my name, and am now releasing music as a singer-songwriter as well.
In 2024 I released “Bombshell Tree of Life,” my debut singer-songwriter album, and my second album, “Heart & Horizon,” comes out on October 24th, 2025. These records are part of my project called Bryan Schumann & The Sunshapes — a worldwide collaboration featuring musicians from more than ten countries. It’s been such an amazing experience blending all those influences into something that feels deeply personal yet universal.
Beyond performing my own music, my works have also been performed by groups like the Saint Paul Civic Symphony, the Augsburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble. And whether I’m writing for an orchestra, an indie band, or my new instrumental project Ambient Embrace, I’m always chasing that same spark — music that connects, heals, and inspires people.
Open Road might be my new Friday afternoon song. You’ve captured that “I don’t want to be at work” feel with music that’s wistful and folksy. What was the inspiration?
Hahaha—that’s awesome! I’m happy to hear that song resonates with you. I think a lot of people can relate to “Open Road” — it’s probably one of my most straightforward songs in terms of lyrics. I spent some 15 years working an office job in a cubicle, and there were plenty of mornings when I’d get in the car, see the sun coming up over the horizon, and think, “What if I just kept driving?” That feeling — the pull between responsibility and freedom — is really what the song’s about at its core. Pure and simple.
You play many instruments, you sing and write songs and you have a record label, Boreal Bard Music, and solar-powered studio (The Solar Studio). What are the benefits and challenges of being so involved?
I definitely keep a lot of plates spinning — but I like it that way. I enjoy being involved in every part of the creative process. Honestly, it started out of necessity. After college, I had zero dollars and a lot of debt — like many post-grads. I wanted to keep making music but couldn’t afford studio time, so I learned how to record and produce my own work. I needed album art, so I learned graphic design. I needed a website, so I taught myself web design. And when I realized I needed a publishing company and label to collect royalties properly, I built those too.
Over time, all those small steps added up to something bigger. I developed the skills and tools to handle nearly every part of the creative process — and eventually began taking on select projects for other artists as well. It can be a lot to juggle, but I’ve built systems that keep things running smoothly… most days, anyway.
Up to Down is a full sounding song that talks about ups and downs and love. How do you approach a song like that? Which comes first, the music, the lyrics or the meaning?
“Up to Down” came to me in one of those happy fits of inspiration. The lyrics started forming while I was playing around with the chords and melody — I was literally “strumbling” (a term I’ve coined that’s a mix of strumming and mumbling) — it was New Year’s Day, and I got distracted by my phone and saw several posts from people reflecting on their year, saying things like, “lots of ups, lots of downs.”
It seemed like a simple idea at first, but it quickly turned into something more meaningful. The song explores how love and presence can be grounding forces in the middle of life’s unpredictable moments. Even when things feel cold or uncertain, the ability to truly connect with someone and show up for them can make all the difference. It’s a reminder that the ups and downs are all part of the journey — but love has a way of lifting us back up when we need it most.
Please tell us about your upcoming album release.
I couldn’t be more excited to share this music with the world and perform the album live at the Minnesota Music Café on Sunday, October 26th, from 3–6 p.m. Heart & Horizon represents the culmination of an incredible amount of work and collaboration with musicians from around the world, and I’m so proud of how it turned out.
I’ve always loved blending classical elements with my indie folk-rock sound, so this album features lush strings throughout — cello on every song and violins on several tracks as well. For the release show, I wanted to do something truly special, so I expanded the arrangements for a full string quartet and invited The Havana Quartet to perform alongside me and my band, The Sunshapes. They’ll also be playing a short set of their own earlier in the afternoon.
I’m equally excited to share the stage with D.C. Leonhardt, Andrew David, and the acoustic duo Strange Forest. It’s going to be a very special, family-friendly matinee full of great music, friends, and community. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who’s supported me and helped make this project come to life.
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