NICE BOY OF THE WEEK: CHRIS BROCHU

Our Nice Boy this week is the super talented Chris Brochu. We loved him as Luke Parker on The Vampire Diaries, but you may also know him from NCIS: Los Angeles, Major Crimes, and Melissa and Joey. He also starred as Timmy Hamilton in the feature film Soul Surfer (which was a great film!!!) and the Disney Channel Original Movie Lemonade Mouth. Although Chris is an accomplished actor, his first love is music. I am happy to say that his debut EP Life will be released on Tuesday, August 4. I was lucky to interview Chris last week to discuss his music as well as playing Luke on The Vampire Diaries. He was so nice and truly a joy to speak with!

Here is my exclusive interview with Chris Brochu:

Lisa: I have to begin by talking about The Vampire Diaries. I absolutely loved Luke’s character on the show. What was it like for you playing Luke?

Chris: It was refreshing because a lot of the times people may perceive Luke as a bad guy on the show, but obviously from my perspective he is huge on family and I just really appreciate Luke for that. He is an all-in kind of guy and he will do anything to save the people he loves, especially his family.

Lisa: Would you say that loving his family is Luke’s nicest quality?

Chris: Yeah, I would have to say loyalty is definitely one of his greatest qualities as well as compassion.

Lisa: Is there any chance that we might see Luke again, maybe in flashbacks?

Chris: All I’ve heard is that anyone who died in season six won’t be coming back. I don’t know where that started but it was told to me. I would have to say if Luke were to come back it would have to be a flashback or dream sequence for sure.

Lisa: Well I hope so! Fingers crossed on that.

Chris: Yeah, it would be fun to see the Georgia family again. I really enjoyed Georgia and wouldn’t mind staying out there for awhile.

Lisa: Awesome! I live in Atlanta so that is great to hear! Ok, switching gears to music, can you tell us about your new EP Life?

Chris: Yeah, it’s my first solo EP and it was all done independently, and I am very happy with it. The final product is something that I think is the truest version of myself I’ve been able to create, as far as music goes, and I’m very happy with it. Essentially, the idea is to be able to pop it in your car on your way to work; there are six songs on the EP, and by the time you get to work you are ready to take on the world.

Lisa: Can you tell us a little bit about the process of making this EP independently and the writing that went along with that?

Chris: Absolutely. For the past 3 years I’ve been focused on acting but I was also writing music. I compiled about 30 songs in that time-frame and I got to a point where I had to start releasing some because it was almost like a creative clause -it has to be put out there. So, thankfully I was finished with The Vampire Diaries and I had some time and some money to invest in myself, and I searched around and found a producer that gave me a wonderful rate and helped me produce the whole thing. It was just him and me and a few of his musician friends that came to play on the track. I am very proud of it. We started at the end of the year and I am happy where we are.

Lisa: After the Album release, will you be doing any concerts or touring?

Chris: I’m going to be looking into that. Truthfully, it depends on what is going on with acting. I balance both so it depends on what is doable at the time. I’m definitely going to be playing shows, I just don’t know where yet, but I will have shows!

Lisa: What words of wisdom do you live by?

Chris: You know what, I just had my birthday on June 25^th and while talking to my cousin I had a revelation for myself. We discussed that we are potential reaching into possibilities, so because we have that potential we simply want to do it because the world is full of possibilities. So that was something that really resonated with me, especially getting all of this album stuff done on my own, it’s been a crazy journey but I’ve done it and the proof is in the pudding. So whatever you want to do, simply do it. All you have to do is just change your mind. It definitely stuck with me the last couple of months.

Lisa: Do you have a favorite charity?

Chris: A couple of years back my brother and I hosted a build with Habitat for Humanity and we really enjoyed that. We like to visit children’s hospitals; really, it’s whatever comes up. My brother (Doug Brochu) is an actor also and he was on a Disney show so we would tag-team any events that we could, because fame is a fake thing –it’s an idea- but if you can take an idea and utilize it for some sort of good then that is what we’re about. It’s really anybody that reaches out, if we can be there we’re there.

Lisa: And that is why you are perfect for Nice Boy of the week!

Chris: Thank you

Lisa: Besides your album, are there any other projects you have coming up that you can share with us?

Chris: At the moment, no. It’s slow in acting because it’s summertime; but, I will be shooting a couple of music videos for myself, so that will be fun. When acting is slow I have time to record music and create my own content. So I will be doing a lot of that; but, the first thing that comes along, you guys will know about it for sure.

Lisa: We are definitely looking forward to it. Again, I loved you as Luke and I know The Vampire Diaries fans are so supportive of you and can’t wait to hear your album.

Chris: They are very, very sweet. The fact that I’m in the situation I’m in is a bit surreal. I’m just thankful for it.

Lisa: Thank you so much for taking time to speak with me today!!

Chris: Lisa, it was my pleasure. Thank you for the great conversation.

Do we know how to pick them or what? Chris is such a Nice Boy we posted this article two days early to promote his EP release today! His EP Life is available now on iTunes, Amazon and Google. So go get it now! You can also keep up with Chris on Twitter: @Chris_Brochu and Instagram: christopher_m_brochu

Photo Credit: Marc Cartwright