LIFE IN A MINOR KEY. The Anxious Era
Before the high-profile pop hits and progressive rock epics, there was Life in a Minor Key—a stylish, synth-driven chapter forged under the wing of Eurythmics icon Dave Stewart.
Recognizing a rare blend of classic blue-eyed soul vocals and cinematic songwriting, Stewart signed Chris to his legendary Anxious Records imprint, famously declaring him the heir apparent to Daryl Hall. What followed was a whirlwind period of high-stakes studio creation across some of the most storied recording rooms in the world.
The journey spanned the legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York City, Dave Stewart’s iconic The Church in Crouch End, and the historic Studio Miraval in the South of France—a sprawling château retreat where music history had been written for decades.
Drenched in the bold, striking aesthetic of its classic red and electric blue sleeves, Life in a Minor Key captured a singer-songwriter and producer stepping fully into his sonic authority. The record resonated across the globe, in Japan and Scandinavia, where its sophisticated melodies and lush arrangements built an enduring cult following.
More than just a debut chapter, the Anxious Records era established the uncompromising visual and sonic signature that continues to define Chris Braide's work today.
“I met Chris Braide in London when he was only 23 Yrs old yet he was so mature as a songwriter and a consummate musician. Chris could sing and play any of his songs effortlessly on piano or guitar. He and I spent many days and weeks in my Church Studios and at my house in the south of France experimenting amongst the vortex of creative chaos that tends to surround me and I could see Chris was soaking up everything and enjoying being amongst lot's of other crazy artists such as Lou Reed and Michael Hutchence. Chris could sing like a bird and he also could attract a lot of birds too! He had the whole package, amazing musician, and great songwriter with a fantastic voice and if that wasn’t enough he looked like a young Marc Bolan! So after a while I marched him off to Greenwich Village in New York City where I bought him a silver glitter Les Paul from Matt Umanov’s Guitar shop on Bleecker street and we spent time in the Jimmy Hendrix Studio Electric Ladyland where in the early hours of the morning we staggered out with a great album, Life In A Minor Key”.
David A Stewart
Album artwork
The Singles