Charleston Live Music
There is a relentless momentum behind Mark Bryan. Whether he is producing, touring, or mentoring the next generation of Southern musicians, that drive to constantly create is what fuels his newest solo project, SusAF—a protest-oriented moniker born out of a desire to react creatively to modern world events rather than sitting idly by.
Initially released as three distinct digital singles, SusAF has now unveiled The Great Divider (Fused Edition) via Stone Point Records/Vere Music. Presented as one uninterrupted eight-minute continuous track, the EP stitches together "Alternate Reality," the fiery title track "The Great Divider," and the hopeful closer "Molotov Rose." Described by Bryan as "the aural equivalent of graffiti," the project is a concise, eight-minute musical grenade thrown into our increasingly fractured national discourse.
We caught up with the longtime Charleston resident and Grammy Award-winning artist to discuss the poetic imagery behind the music, the studio mechanics of the Fused Edition, and how music can help bridge political divides right here in the Lowcountry.
Surreal Imagery in a Divided World
The project’s title track hits listeners with vivid, almost surreal mental pictures of blind faith and inevitable collapse, warning against "following a headless rider" or "taking a dive in a wingless glider." When asked about balancing vivid metaphor with direct political commentary, Bryan notes that the songwriting began as an organic outlet before taking on a singular focus.
"There are sections of the song that are quite literal, and there are more metaphorical moments like those mentioned, but it was all sort of loose journaling until I came up with the theme of 'The Great Divider,'" Bryan explains. "Then it became more intentional because I realized no one could deny how divided our country has become."
The ‘Fused’ Album Experience
Releasing The Great Divider (Fused Edition) as one continuous, eight-minute movement turns the single-driven streaming model on its head. For Bryan, combining the three tracks wasn't a secondary thought—it was the original vision inspired by classic album side-suites.
"I wanted to tie it together musically like some of my faves, 'A Quick One' by The Who, or side two of Abbey Road," Bryan shares. "Since all three songs relate to the current feeling of the moment, it works as one piece, taking you from the frustration of misinformation and purposeful divisiveness, to the reminder that a humble, considerate approach will always prevail."
While listeners can still stream the individual songs separately, experiencing the Fused Edition as a single piece crafts a distinct narrative arc: moving from the fractured confusion of "Alternate Reality," through the raw agit-punk confrontation of "The Great Divider," to the peaceful resolution of "Molotov Rose."
Interestingly, assembling the continuous suite didn't require going back to alter the master mix in the studio. "I actually created it that way initially," Bryan reveals. "It just didn’t load properly on the DSPs, so we are sort of re-releasing it now that we have it figured out with the platforms."
Artistic Expression, Civic Action, and the Stance in SC
Beyond writing protest music, Bryan has stepped directly into the civic arena, hosting local events and openly supporting Dr. Annie Andrews' campaign for U.S. Senate. In a state where high-profile endorsements can carry real-world friction, Bryan maintains a clear boundary between his personal civic duty and his creative output.
"I feel like it is our purpose on this planet to serve with whatever gifts we’ve been given. So as a musician, I want to make people feel something, like I do when I listen to my favorite songs. That’s what it’s about for me, regardless of any civic engagement," Bryan says.
"My support for Dr. Annie Andrews for Senate is about common sense. She is clearly the right candidate at the right time. I would be supporting her regardless of whatever music I am releasing. One has nothing to do with the other directly."
Addressing the backlash that occasionally comes when public figures share political beliefs in a red state, Bryan remains characteristically unfazed:
"It’s interesting to me that people get upset with musicians for sharing their political beliefs. It’s just another individual with an opinion. We all have to respect each other’s differences, regardless of our occupations. If someone stops listening to my music because they can’t respect my opinion, that’s more of a reflection on them than it is me. I know I agree with hardly anything Ted Nugent believes, but I will still crank the shit out of 'Stranglehold' in the right moment."
Rebuilding Common Ground in the Lowcountry
The EP’s opening track, "Alternate Reality," tackles the isolation that occurs when communities no longer operate from a shared set of basic facts. Yet, as a pillar of the Charleston music scene for decades, Bryan believes that live music remains one of the few places where shared truth and human connection still win out.
"Music is definitely magical, and has the ability to bring people together," Bryan reflects. "Everyone comes to concerts and shares in the moment, regardless of political affiliation. That’s how we rise above, by sharing our commonalities. I spend a great deal of my time in search of a unifying song and sound."
Inspired in part by Banksy’s iconic Love Is In The Air mural—which depicts a masked demonstrator throwing a bouquet of flowers instead of a weapon—the final moments of The Great Divider (Fused Edition) leave listeners with a call to action in the refrain of "Molotov Rose": "Anything to be a part of the solution... Anything that says lay your weapons down."
The Great Divider (Fused Edition) by SusAF is available now on all streaming platforms via Stone Point Records/Vere Music.
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