The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Song Encoder: Forrest Brazeal (Interview)
Jan 31, 2022
Forrest Brazeal, a Pwnie Award-winning songwriter and cloud advocate, creatively fuses music with tech education. He shares his journey as a 'cloud bard,' explaining how songs like 'The Ransomware Song' and 'Look At You Now (The Google Cloud Song)' simplify complex topics. Brazeal also discusses balancing technical skills with creative expression, providing humorous anecdotes about yodeling and load balancers. His insightful commentary on Big Tech highlights both challenges and innovations, proving that music can be an engaging way to explore technology.
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First Tech Song
- Forrest Brazeal's first tech-related song was an acapella rap about serverless functions at Serverless Conf 2017.
- It unexpectedly became a memorable moment, leading to opportunities and the realization that people enjoy engaging with tech concepts through music.
Music and Tech Combination
- Forrest Brazeal combines his conservatory-trained classical music background with his tech career.
- This blend allows him to create unique content that stands out.
Ransomware Song Success
- Forrest's ransomware song, explaining the phenomenon in an accessible way, won a Pwnie Award at Black Hat.
- This led to meeting security experts and partnering with CISA, demonstrating music's power to open doors.