Photo by: SCATTERBRAIN
Written by: TiShea Wilson, Managing Editor
“You don’t write the start, but you control the ending”
—“Phases” by SCATTERBRAIN
For years, Brian Burkheiser was known as one of the defining voices behind I Prevail, a band that helped reshape modern rock with a blend of metalcore intensity and radio ready hooks. But with the launch of SCATTERBRAIN, Burkheiser isn’t simply stepping into a solo career. He’s tearing up the blueprint entirely and building something even more powerful.
SCATTERBRAIN arrives not as a carefully polished continuation of what came before, but as something far more unpredictable. It’s a project built on contrast: controlled chaos, vulnerability layered over confidence, and a refusal to stay within the lines that once defined him.
Parting ways with a band as successful as I Prevail wasn’t just a career choice. It was a move that came with legal battles, unfathomable stress, and drowning pain. Burkheiser has been very open with the mental health battles and medical obstacles he’s gone through on his journey as well as the healing and transformative war zone he fought his way through. And that right there is exactly why this new project hits as hard as it does.
SCATTERBRAIN strips away the expectations that come with a chart topping rock act and replaces them with something more fluid. Instead of sticking to a single genre, the project leans into a hybrid sound that pulls from alternative rock, hip hop textures, and atmospheric pop elements. The result feels less like a rebrand and more like a complete creative reset. It’s the kind of shift that doesn’t aim to please everyone, but that’s exactly the point.
The debut single “Phases” serves as both an introduction and a mission statement. Rather than easing listeners into this new era, Burkheiser confronts it head on. He unpacks the emotional fallout that led him here, touching on betrayal, isolation, and the weight of expectations that didn’t go as planned. There’s a sense of duality running through the track, balancing reflection with forward momentum. Even when that path feels unstable.
It doesn’t dwell in nostalgia, but it doesn’t shy away from the damage either. Instead, “Phases” frames growth as something messy, nonlinear, and deeply human. Shaped just as much by mistakes and long, sleepless nights as it is by clarity. If SCATTERBRAIN has a thesis, this is definitely it.
If “Phases” introduces the chaos, the most recent release, “Fast Lane,” dives headfirst into the consequences of it. The track shifts inward, trading external blame for self awareness as Burkheiser reflects on how his own actions and unresolved pain impacted his significant other. Lines about moving too fast and “not thinking ’bout the consequences” frame the song as a moment of reckoning where clarity comes too late and the damage is already done.
There’s a noticeable vulnerability here, especially in the repeated admissions of being “so damaged,” reinforcing the idea that growth isn’t just about recognizing what went wrong, but taking responsibility for it. Where “Phases” wrestles with confusion and fallout, “Fast Lane” feels like the first real step toward accountability. Even if it comes with regret.
What makes SCATTERBRAIN stand out isn’t just its genre blending approach. It’s the intent behind it. The project is rooted in real experiences: mental health struggles, identity shifts, and the pressure of navigating success and setback in a hyper visible industry. Where I Prevail often delivered anthemic resilience, SCATTERBRAIN leans into introspection. It’s less about rallying a crowd and more about letting listeners sit in the in between moments.
The uncertainty, the rebuilding, the questions without easy answers. It’s all a part of what gives this new venture the ability to relate to fans on a completely different level. That emotional honesty gives the project weight, even as its sound continues to develop.
SCATTERBRAIN is still very much in its early stages. There’s no clear roadmap yet. No confirmed album. No rigid structure. Just a steady rollout that feels intentionally organic. And that unpredictability, may be its greatest strength. In an industry that often rewards consistency over creativity, Burkheiser is choosing the harder path: building something new in real time, without the double edged sword of expectation. It’s not about proving anything to anyone. It’s about rediscovery.
For fans who followed Burkheiser through his rise with I Prevail, this project offers a different kind of connection. And for new listeners? It’s an open door into an artist unafraid to evolve with a sense of raw honesty that is hard to come by. Whatever lies ahead for SCATTERBRAIN, one thing is clear: Brian Burkheiser isn’t trying to recreate the past. He’s unapologetically reclaiming his story.
For SCATTERBRAIN videos, streaming, and merch visit the official website.
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