The Mojo of Music featuring Colin Bracewell
The Mojo of Music has always been about how an artists’ style and intention correlates to their music. We use the statement that we’re going to “see” a show, instead of going to hear a band. First impressions are made when a musician steps on stage and before they even play a note or land a lyric, the audience is formulating expectations based on their clothing.
For Minnesota musician Colin Bracewell, that moment had never been a thought in his head. The music and songs have always been the top priority, and with a classically trained voice like his, it makes perfect sense. But with his new musical project and songs on the horizon, the intention of style and visuals carry the same intentional focus as the music itself.
Colin’s evolution, as teased in his newest single “Choo Choo”, harkens a transformation in his sound and in his fashion. It’s a chosen decision with a clear line of purpose for listeners and fans to see, understanding the evolution of Colin Bracewell.
Colin didn’t always think of fashion as part of the job and for years, it wasn’t. Growing up in theater, he learned to step outside of himself and be comfortable wearing whatever the role required. Through the various directions of looks and roles, he keenly remembers a pair of cowboy boots when he was a child that he absolutely loved. It was a key moment when he was trying out things, seeing if there are rules and if it really mattered.
He wasn’t very conscious of any performance clothes and styling until he really started doing his own music. His classic rock cover bands in middle school and high school didn’t trigger any big decisions with attire. This was a period in his life where he was discovering himself and how clothes played a role in that. It’s not the proudest era in his style journey.
“I distinctly remember wearing a teal polo and cargo shorts for a gig because I didn’t really care at that point. I didn’t think that was part of the job. I guess the thing was I’m singing and performing, so that is the focus and whatever I put on is just a top. I think really being more conscious of what I wear on stage and how important that is, hasn't started happening until the last couple of years.”
-Colin Bracewell
For some artists, there’s a moment when the spotlight arrives faster than the clarity. Colin’s came with his appearance on The Voice in 2025. A national stage introduced him to a much wider audience. Performing a Bee Gees cover, he showcased his range, slipping into falsetto while accompanying himself on guitar. But the moment didn’t go the way most would script it as no chairs turned.
To an outsider, it might look like a setback. But within his story, it feels more like a pivot point. Because what followed wasn’t retreat, it was refinement. The experience forced a confrontation, not just with sound, but with identity. What do you present when people are seeing you for the first time? What do they take in before they even hear you? That question now lives at the center of how Colin approaches both music and fashion.
Minneapolis has helped him navigate those questions into answers.
Artists like Harry Styles offered a stylistic gateway that was fluid, expressive, and unconcerned with rules. The 1975 have the suit and tie - 80’s work fit. Even Prince with his long sleeved turtleneck was a consistent style that allowed Colin to experiment because “well if Prince can do it, and I’m from Minneapolis” then I can wear a see through shirt.
Colin began collecting pieces that gathered in his closet, waiting for the right moment, the right show, and the right version of Colin to make its appearance.
“The outfits that I have are exciting and I want to wear them, but I want it to be very intentional. With the new rollout of everything, it kind of makes my life a lot simpler. I now know exactly what I want to wear for the most part, and so it actually makes my life a lot easier. I feel like in the past I was like, silk shirt, mullet. I was just trying so many different things, which was great, but it's nice now to kind of focus in and be like, okay, this is my palette, black.”
-Colin Bracewell
He describes his new tailored look as indie, clean, sharp, with grizzle around the edges. He’s leaning into darker tones, but wouldn’t call it a dark look. He’s not bringing the eyeliner in quite yet, although he jokes even though it sounds kind of fun.
His process has relied heavily on Goodwill bins, thrifting, and then identifying exact pieces to go find online. An outfit doesn’t come all at once, but that’s the beauty of discovery and knowing what fits.
The two outfits in this series capture a duality that now defines Colin’s presence. His first look is a denim jacket found at Savers, open and worn without pretense. He feels like putting stuff underneath, but it’s been a bit of a challenge, so it’s worked out well leaving it open. The dark jeans were from an ex-girlfriend. She purchased them, hoping to fit in them. Colin fit in them perfectly. They appear to be double dyed as most pants turn grey when you try to dye them black.
The heavy black Harley Davidson boots were found at the Stillwater Goodwill about a year ago. The books make the outfit feel grounded, physical, and unguarded. There’s a quiet vulnerability here that feels tied to the earlier chapters of his music in an honest and direct way.
His second outfit brings in Harley Davidson pants that were found at the same Goodwill as the boots, just months ago. A bit baggy, the pants tie into the boots and add contrast to the tight black sheer top. He cuffs them at the bottom to reveal more of the boot and add some form.
The loose wind jacket was found a couple of years ago at TJ Maxx. Initially meant as a raincoat, he was drawn to the inner lining and grizzle of it.
The statement piece of the second outfit has to be the sheer mesh top. He had been thinking about getting a shirt like this before, but never really had a reason. As he was doing some research on artists, he saw Axel Rose wearing a similar shirt. That was the ticket he needed to order a couple options. Landing on this one, it’s already inspired him to find more see through pieces, like a football jersey that is currently being workshopped.
His mother made him the necklace out of silver. He used to wear it a lot, but it’s quite big. But the sentimental value keeps it out of the closet as he continues to find new ways to wear it.
Colin doesn’t assemble outfits, he builds them over time and just like his music, his style is constructed in fragments, ideas gathered, revisited, and eventually finding alignment. Nothing feels rushed and it’s all intentional.
His newest single, “Choo Choo,” feels like motion. The release signals a striking shift in his sound, blending his indie rock roots with that grizzled, blues-rock edge. The track reflects a new period of bold experimentation and creative risk-taking.
“Choo Choo” leans into a playful yet mysterious energy that is equal parts seductive and irreverent. As the first glimpse of his upcoming debut album, it delivers a sharp, tongue-in-cheek narrative layered with mature themes and wit. Colin continues to build momentum with a sound that merges infectious energy and emotional depth. It holds the same fuel as Australian rock band Jet, with a bridge that oozes mojo. With “Choo Choo,” he continues carving out a distinct lane defined by risk, personality, and a willingness to let the edges show.
It’s a departure from the more exploratory tones of his earlier work and a step into something more grounded and intentional, much like his current aesthetic. The darker tones in his wardrobe mirror the tighter structure of the music. The layering reflects depth. The restraint reflects control. And perhaps most importantly, the mystery remains intact.
The goal of Colin’s first impression when taking the stage has been on the top of his mind with the May show approaching.
“I definitely don't want to give too much away. That's kind of been the theme with these new outfits and everything is pretty low lit, pretty dark. Having that mystery and keeping that mystery throughout the whole night would be kind of a goal. I don't want to give anything away except for the grittiness of it all. And I feel that same way about my name, I feel like even my name doesn't really give a lot away. Maybe it used to. I feel like it kind of has an indie pop name, but I feel like more and more I'm just trying not to think about it. I feel like even my name is just a name. It doesn't feel like it represents me, which is kind of an interesting thing that I've been thinking about. I want to just leave it all up in the air.”
Colin Bracewell isn’t chasing a look. He’s building a language. One where denim can feel like vulnerability. Where black can feel like anticipation. Where a sheer shirt can carry the same weight as a lyric. And where every outfit, like every song, is waiting for the right moment to exist.
Because for him, style isn’t about what you wear. It’s about when—and why—you choose to wear it.
Check out the links below for ways to follow Colin Bracewell and all the things we discussed above.
Colin Bracewell website - Instagram - YouTube - The Voice - Jet - Tickets to May Show
