In a candid conversation about the creative process behind their album brent iii, Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler shared some intriguing insights into how they selected the lead singles, A-Frame and Black & White. Both tracks, though very different in their origins and sonic qualities, are emblematic of the emotional range and growth that the duo explores throughout the album. When asked about the thought process behind these track choices, both artists shared how each song came to hold a special place in the album’s narrative, despite their differing origins and energies.
Chelsea began by discussing their instant connection with A-Frame.
"We knew we loved ‘A-Frame’ from the get-go," she explained. "It was a standout kind of from the day that we wrote it."
The track’s upbeat and feel-good vibe immediately made it a frontrunner for the album’s lead material. Chelsea also shared the personal connection to the song’s origins, recalling that it was written in an A-frame house—a distinctive structure with a steep, triangular roof. This environment, Chelsea noted, contributed to the song’s expansive, boomy sound. The acoustic space of the A-frame itself had an influence on the final feel of the track, making it feel big and resonant. The combination of its energetic vibe and personal backstory made A-Frame a natural choice as one of the album's key singles.
On the other hand, Black & White came together in a much more unexpected way. Chelsea described the initial idea for the song as a small fragment of a tune she had sent to their group chat after finishing her headline tour.
“It started out as a little song idea I had the day that I got back from my headline tour, and I sent it in our group chat,” Chelsea recalled.
However, the idea didn’t really gain momentum until much later. It wasn’t until a week before the project’s deadline that Jeremy revisited the idea and suggested they finish it together.
In terms of how they decided to make Black & White the first single, the decision felt almost spontaneous, especially given how late in the process the song was completed.
Chelsea admitted, “I don’t even really remember how we decided that Black & White should be a single.”
But as Jeremy chimed in, it became clear why the track felt so right for the role:
“It was just one of the last ones we were working on, and it felt like the last piece of the puzzle,” he said. “It’s really nice and wholesome and approachable, and just felt like a really good introduction to this extension of the world.
Jeremy emphasised that Black & White captured a welcoming, accessible tone that perfectly set the stage for the album’s broader themes, offering a warm invitation into the project before diving into more energetic tracks.
In the context of the entire album, the choice to lead with these two songs made perfect sense. A-Frame, with its bold, feel-good energy, is a clear attention-grabber.
“We wanted to get people excited and hyped up,” Jeremy explained, noting how the
song's infectious energy served as a way to energise the audience. In contrast, Black & White was an ideal way to ease listeners into the project. As Jeremy put it, they wanted to “warm everyone up with ‘Black & White’ and then smack them in the face with ‘A-Frame.’”
Together, these two singles represent the emotional range and dynamic energy of the album as a whole. Black & White offers a soft, reflective beginning, while A-Frame injects a burst of excitement, creating a balance that mirrors the contrasts and connections explored throughout the album. The decision to release these tracks as lead singles was not just about picking standout songs, but about strategically setting the tone for the journey that awaited listeners.
Words by Luna Cardoso
