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Brett Altman Releases "Waiting"

By Gary Wien

originally published: 05/14/2021


Hoboken based singer-songwriter Brett Altman released "Waiting" on Friday, May 14th. This is the latest single from his upcoming album, Not Quite Love. "Waiting" is about overcoming the fear of rejection in order to tell someone how you truly feel. 

"We often search for the 'right time' to have this conversation, yet the 'right time' is a figment of our imagination," explained Altman. "While it’s human nature to picture every possible scenario, it’s extremely rare that life plays out as we envisioned. In fact, the longer we bite our tongue, the more agonizing it can be become. If this sounds familiar, make that phone call. Write that letter. Send that text. What are you waiting for?"

After spending the latter half of 2020 and early 2021 in the studio, Altman says he is excited to start releasing music off of his first album, Not Quite Love. Each month going forward, he will be sharing a new single off the project until the full album is released in late 2021.

"Some songs come flying off the page, but ‘Waiting’ was definitely a slow burn," said Altman. "Chris Pattwell and I spent almost 6 months writing the music and lyrics for this song. Originally, we had a very traditional 'four on the floor' guitar groove in the verses, but Chris encouraged me to try playing something different before cementing that choice. Spur of the moment, I ended up taking those same verse chords and playing them with much more energy and a free flowing rhythm (and thought we might use this in the bridge). Instead, we opted to kick off the song with it and that is the intro you hear today. We felt this change would more accurately capture the song’s true nature and sense of urgency in the message."

To get an early sneak peek of other songs on the album, you can sign up for his e-mail newsletter community here.




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Since moving to Hoboken, New Jersey in 2015, Altman has established himself in the Tri-State area music scene through gigs at Rockwood Music Hall, The Bitter End NYC, The Bowery Electric, and other local venues. His music is a fusion of pop and folk, with songwriting that illuminates moments of everyday life. His biggest musical influences are John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Dave Matthews.

You can follow Brett Altman on FacebookInstagramSpotify, Apple MusicSoundcloud, and Twitter.

About the author:

Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station The Penguin Rocks. His personal website is at lightyscorner.com. He can be contacted at [email protected].




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EVENT PREVIEWS

(LIVINGSTON, NJ) -- As local residents and friends stroll, bike or jog around the Livingston Oval on Tuesday evenings this July, musicians from several community orchestras are gathering in the township's high school band room to celebrate works "Made in America."

Middletown Arts Center presents Reina Williams + The Remedy

(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The Middletown Arts Center presents a concert featuring Reina Williams + The Remedy on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Special guest performers Renee Maskin and Patrick Bamburak will open the show. Enjoy an evening of original music spanning reggae, hip-hop, soul, folk, Americana, and indie rock from some of New Jersey's most talented musicians. Showtime is 7:00pm.
Harmonium Choral Society presents "I Dreamed Last Night" on July 23rd

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(MADISON, NJ) -- On Thursday, July 23, 2026, Harmonium Choral Society presents I Dreamed Last Night. Directed by Lennie Watts with music direction by John Fischer, I Dreamed Last Night is a one woman show with Gloria Bangiola. There are songs and stories about dreams, hopes, wishes, ambitions, fantasies, nightmares, impossibilities and that big ol' American one we are all still working to make real. Showtime is 7:00pm.
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Strand Center for the Arts presents Lover Taylor - Tribute to Taylor Swift on Friday

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(LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- Swifties of all ages are invited to sing, dance and celebrate the music of one of pop's biggest superstars when Lover Taylor – Tribute to Taylor Swift comes to the Strand Center for the Arts on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 8:00pm.

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Mahwah Museum Hosts "Unlock the Fretboard" Guitar Workshop with Mark Sganga on July 25th

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(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Guitar players of all levels are invited to "Unlock the Fretboard," a hands-on guitar workshop taking place on Saturday, July 25, from 11:00am to 2:00pm, with a short break included, at The Mahwah Museum. The workshop will be taught by Mark Sganga, an International Fingerstyle Guitar Champion, bringing expert instruction and high-level musicianship to this special event. Designed to help players better understand the fretboard through a system of caged chords and scales, the workshop offers practical strategies that participants can apply immediately in their playing.
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FEATURED EVENTS


Reina Williams and The Remedy, Patrick Bamburak, and Renee Masking

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Friday, July 24, 2026 @ 7:30pm
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Friday, July 24, 2026 @ 9:00pm
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Saturday, July 25, 2026 @ 7:30pm
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