Catching Bryan Bielanski in one place can be a difficult feat. He is on tour about 49 weeks a year, playing shows all over (and I mean ALL over) the U.S. and Europe. As a one-man band, he is on a mission to bring his Super Happy Fun Time albums I-IV to as many people as possible, and it’s hard not to feel, well… happier while listening to his music. He will bring his good-time show to Bunk+Brew on Sunday, July 13.
the Source: Your tour schedule is absolutely jam-packed. Where are you right now?
Bryan Bielanski: I’m actually in Asheville, North Carolina. So, basically, I just kind of make circles around the U.S. over and over again. My home base is in Charlotte, so I just got down with one circle around the U.S. and I’m about to embark on a second circle for this year.
tS: Sometimes people need music to ask profound questions and empathize with their sadness, and other times they just want to smile and dance. What inspires you to create such fun and happy music?
BB: The world can be a stressful kind of a place, so I wanted Bryan’s Super Happy Fun Time to be kind of like a fortress to get away from any troubles or anxieties in the world and just remember that life is great and we need to take time to enjoy life.
tS: Yes! That’s such a great perspective. Who were your biggest musical inspirations when you were growing up?
BB: Oh, by far my two favorite groups were the Beatles and Nirvana. As I’ve gotten older, I have gotten into all kinds of music. I like everything from country to classical to some electronic dance music, so I’ve got a lot of different favorite musical artists across a wide variety of genres.
tS: I was kind of hoping you would say Weird Al was one of your influences, because I definitely get some wonderful Weird Al vibes from your song “Thank God for Tacos.”
BB: Thank you, you know what, I like him and a lot of people make that comparison. I never really set out to try to do Weird Al-esque stuff, though I definitely take it as a compliment.
tS: You are quite a prolific songwriter, are you one of those people who is just writing songs all the time?
BB: You know, kind of, and being on the road all the time, I am never in short supply of topic material for the songs. On the road, there is always something interesting going on. So yeah, I kind of am just writing all the time, thankfully.
tS: I see on your website that you are going to be on tour almost constantly from May 28 through January 9, going through dozens of states and European countries as well. So, you must really love to tour?
“The world can be a stressful kind of a place, so I wanted Bryan’s Super Happy Fun Time to be kind of like a fortress to get away from any troubles or anxieties in the world and just remember that life is great and we need to take time to enjoy life.” —Bryan Bielanski
BB: I think nothing beats just getting to meet so many different people, seeing so many different cultures… and also, the food! That’s always a big part of the fun, too.
tS: Do people in Europe “get” your music as much as Americans do?
BB: In some cases, even more so! When I did a European tour last year, it went great. Some of the most enthusiastic audiences I’ve ever played to were in France, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, but I had great shows all across the continent.
tS: Is it just you, your guitar and a van? Or how do you get around the country so much?
BB: So, my main vehicle is a hybrid Toyota Corolla, and I removed all the seats out of it and kind of built a little DIY bed in the car. I also have a Toyota Tundra, but the vehicle I take coast to coast is the Corolla.
tS: What is your musical dream? Are you living the dream or is there more you want to achieve?
BB: You know, I’m kind of doing what I always dreamed of doing. The goal now is to keep doing it and to continue to perform and build up a following. I want to try to play in more countries to add to my bucket list of places I’ve performed.
tS: Have you played in Bend before?
BB: I have! I’ve had some great shows in Bend before. I’ve never played at Bunk+Brew before, it will be my first time at that particular venue, but Oregon in general is like, one of the states that “gets me,” so I love coming through there, and it’s a beautiful, beautiful place, too. Central Oregon, where Bend is, has just, like, some of the prettiest drives in the whole country.
tS: The font you use for your albums is the Super Mario Bros. font, which just immediately lets you know that this is going to be fun music. How did you choose that font?
BB: Since I had the song, “I’m Your Super Mario,” that was really popular, I think it’s my most popular song to date, it seemed like a logical choice. And I always loved the Super Mario font. It reminds me of being a little kid and playing the video games. So, there is definitely some nostalgia there. And yeah, it just kind of gives people the notion of what the concert is going to be about.
tS: I see you covered the Brittney Spears song, “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” which is pretty epic. Do you find audiences sing along more with your covers or your originals?
BB: Luckily, most of my originals are catchy and people that have never seen me before, I notice them on songs on like, “I’m Your Super Mario” or “Rock the Library,” singing the choruses by the end of the songs. And “Thank God for Tacos,” that’s definitely a big sing-along one, for sure.
This article appears in Source Weekly July 3, 2025.
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