OurStage Snapshot: Benny Strange

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Sounds Like: Stereophonics, Oasis

Download: 'Blip' (MP3)

His Story: At the age of 18, David Avram Brown gathered up his guitar, a sleeping bag and about $100 bucks and began his hitchhiking adventure from New York to California -- an appropriately rash decision for someone who goes by the name of Benny Strange. But his impulsiveness eventually paid off and, after several years up and down the West Coast, his music career began taking off. With the help of Modest Mouse's Joe Zook and Black Eyed Peas' Ethan Willoughby, Strange released the first of his two EPs, 'Nowhere Left to Run,' in 2006. 'When Continents Collide' followed in January of this year with a release on iTunes.

What's your favorite song on 'When Continents Collide'?

That's a tough question. I must admit I'm torn between 'Sifting,' 'Crashing Down' and 'Askew.' I'm very proud of the lyrics as well as the production on all of these. If I had to pick one song to represent the EP, it'd probably be 'Sifting.'

If you could have any musician's career other than your own, whose would it be?

Ha! That's funny. I don't usually think in those terms but... if I must... definitely Radiohead. They have the absolute freedom to make exactly the kind of music they feel like making and they really don't seem caught up in anybody else's expectations. I also respect how outspoken they are about social and political issues.

Looking back, how do you view your extreme hitchhiking trip at 18?

That was an interesting time to say the least. I wouldn't change it for the world but I must admit that I'm glad it's over. There's something both liberating and terrifying about not knowing where you're going to sleep or find your next meal.