Song Stories

Tahoe’s Ski Music Pioneer Releases New Single, “I Love KT”

Tahoe-based snow reporter, entrepreneur, and musician, Eric T. has announced the release of a new ‘Ski Music’ single, “I Love KT”, an ode to the ‘mothership’, Squaw Valley’s world-renowned KT-22.

Tahoe City, Calif. (February 14th, 2016) – Over thirty years after modern ski music was born with the release of his 1985 vinyl EP, titled “Ski Patrol”, local Tahoe-based snow reporter, entrepreneur and musician Eric T. Brandt, aka: “Eric T.” has released a new single, “I Love KT”.

The high-energy, hard-rock track was produced as an anthem for the worldwide ski and snowboard community that cherishes and worships the slopes of Squaw Valley’s renowned peak, KT-22. “I wanted to give Squaw Valley and KT-22 their own tune reflecting the incredible and ever-growing tribe of skiers and snowboarders that refer to KT-22 as “the mothership”.

‘Every mornin’, it’s always the same. The mothership is callin’ my name’, go the opening lyrics. The song also references the ongoing changes at the resort with lines like ‘as everything changes, it stays the same’ referring to the idea that while there will always be changes, “the mountain itself, which is the core attraction, remains in tact.”

A long time Squaw Valley skier, Brandt, former Director of Marketing at the resort, and a local entrepreneur, (he opened the Squaw Valley bungee tower in 1992 and now runs the Squaw Valley Visitor Channel), shares a strong, personal love for the mountain. “It’s really a centerpiece in my life - the people, the mountain, the whole scene is one of a kind,” says Brandt. “I’ve spent the majority of my life here and really do love it!”

Brandt’s development of ski music began in the early 1980s while working in Malibu, CA. with Surf Punks’ producer Dennis Dragon. “Having roots in Tahoe, I loved skiing, and felt that as surfing has surf music, skiing culture deserved its own genre.” His release of the EP “Ski Patrol” in 1985, and the 2005 reissue CD “Ski Patrol Revisited” featured novelty songs “about the “fun, good people, and good times that draw us to the snow.” His efforts led to work with Warren Miller, where he produced the title songs for three of Miller’s classic 1980 films including “Steep & Deep”, as well as a long tenure with guitarist Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles.

“I Love KT” is available as a digital download on iTunes, Google Music, Soundcloud, and other online music

"Hard Time" came to life in the early '80s, in the wake of a relationship I cared for deeply—one of those quiet heartbreaks that lingers. The song tells the story better than I ever could in plain words.

I recorded it in Malibu, tucked away in Don Felder’s studio. Back then, I was just a studio rat, soaking up everything I could about music, recording, and the magic of audio production. Don—known to most as the lead guitarist for the Eagles—was more than just a legend to me. He was a generous soul who opened a door and handed me a gift I’ll never forget.

Those days were full of long nights, reel-to-reel tape, and the kind of learning that only comes from living it.

“The Leaving Train” — The Story Behind the Song

The song "The Leaving Train" was written sometime in the mid-1980s.

At the time, I had just graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Broadcasting and Media... and a hard-earned minor in goofing off, playing music, and indulging in a fair bit of shenanigans and debauchery. Living, learning, and playing in Malibu for those years was incredibly good to me. It opened doors, expanded my world, and gave me stories I still carry. But more on all that another time — in other posts, or maybe my blog.

While I was at Pepperdine, I met and, as it often goes, “fell in love” with another student. For the sake of her privacy, let’s call her “Madge.” We became a pair, and during our final semester, I asked her to marry me. She said yes.

Not long after graduation, we got married in Southern California and moved to Venice Beach — shacking up in a little beach apartment near the boardwalk. It was new. It was exciting. Life felt wide open. This was the first marriage for both of us, and everything felt different — in a good way. We were starting a life together... or so it seemed.

I don’t remember exactly when things started to shift, but within a couple of years, I was loving life — diving headfirst into music, songwriting, and working in the entertainment business. Apparently, Madge didn’t feel the same. One day, with a short and simple, “I have to go,” she was gone.

Just like that, it was over.

I was blindsided — crushed and confused. I spent weeks trying to fix things, to understand what had happened. I reached out, tried to talk, to make things right — tried everything. Including one very bad idea that nearly cost me my life.

I spiraled quickly. I’d never experienced anything like this before. We still had logistics to sort through, things to move, and plans to unravel. Even though she had “moved on,” we still had loose ends. At some point, she told me she was living in or near Santa Monica with a “friend.” She gave me an address. Naively, I assumed it was a female roommate.

I decided to take some space, back off, and try to let things settle. My hope was that eventually we could at least talk — figure out what had happened, and maybe, just maybe, find our way back to each other.

But in my swirling emotions and disillusionment, I made a decision that, in hindsight, was wildly foolish.

One evening, I drove to the address she’d given me. I knew which window she had said was hers. As dusk settled in, I climbed the side of the house, grabbing onto trellises and whatever I could find to get to the window. I planned to knock, tell her how much I loved her, how much I hurt, and how I believed we could fix things if we just talked it out.

I reached the window and discovered — to my great fortune at the time — that it was unlocked. I hoisted myself up, got both hands on the sill, and started to lift myself into the dark room…

…only to find myself staring down the barrel of a very large handgun.

That’s how I found out Madge had a roommate — and I had climbed into the wrong window.

With my face just inches from the muzzle of what my panicked brain assumed was a .45 Magnum (you know, “the most powerful handgun in the world,” according to Clint Eastwood), I froze. I said something incoherent, tried to explain myself, and scrambled back down as fast as I could.

There was yelling. There was cursing. I fled. I jumped in my car, hit the gas, and didn’t look back.

My ridiculous “mission” was a total failure — and a very real wake-up call. I don’t remember speaking to either of them ever again.

Eventually, I filed for an emergency annulment. With the help of a sketchy lawyer, the papers came through. It was done.

Looking back, I get a few good laughs out of the whole thing, but I’m also incredibly grateful it ended the way it did. The marriage wasn’t meant to be. We both walked away — a few bruises, a few tears, but ultimately free, and with the chance to start over.

As for “The Leaving Train,” I have to give a heartfelt shoutout to my friend Leathan Lund. The guitar solo on that track was done completely on the spot — no rehearsal, no guidance — and in my opinion, it’s nothing short of exceptional. His phrasing, energy, and sense of space captured exactly what I was feeling in my heart.

Thank you, Leathan.

“ When Will I learn”

Love lost?, loneliness? Regret and frustration?

All of the above, and more, likely apply to this song.

My memory struggles to pinpoint the exact situation and the general timeframe, but I know this song was written in the mid to late 80s pushing the 90s I was likely living in Venice Beach, or thereabouts, and working in a variety of different types of jobs to keep the wheels turning and continue moving forward.

As the title might indicate, I was struggling and managing a variety of personal mishaps, relationships, jobs, etc. As I stumbled around and knocked on doors, looking for employment in the entertainment business, and, at the same time, eagerly hoping for good to return In my life.

As many of us do, I was apt to trip and fall, stumble, fall flat on my face, and so on. In a  few occasions I definitely screwed up. Some of these goings on were my fault, and others were just misjudgment and discovering what did and didn't work for me, personally, emotionally, occupationally, etc.

This simple song was written from the heart, it still holds the same emotion from those times in my life.

Guitars and vocals by ETB

Keyboards Sanders Selover