MWN: Hello! Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions. Super excited to get to know more about your journey! Do you think your studies have shaped your music? If yes, how?
Brynn Elliott: In so many ways studying has shaped my music. I wrote “Might Not Like Me” at a time when I was studying women philosophers of the 17th century and how because they were women they weren’t really considered real philosophers. I have also found deep friendships at Harvard. It is a place full of very inspiring people and I write about that aspect of the experience quite a bit.
MWN: Congrats on the release of, “Might Not Like Me”. We love the vibe of the song and our readers have requested it across our playlists a lot! Your vocals are killers and the pop infusion is really cool. The meaning of the message is also something that really resonated with us. Aside from your studies, did real life events inspire that song?
Brynn Elliott: Yes! So in addition to being about what I was learning about in school with the women philosophers its also about my first ever breakup that happened in college. I felt like I couldn’t be myself in this relationship and I was so concerned that this boy wouldn’t like me. So I held back parts of myself. I realized that this was a pattern in my life not just with this boy but with a lot of people in my life. So I decided to write this anthem about the fact that its okay if some people didn’t like me. The most important thing is to be honest with yourself and with others. So that’s what its about! Embracing who you were made to be, and not apologizing for it.
MWN: Your E.P is set to release sometime this year. BIG CONGRATS! How are you prepping for that? And how do you come to terms with finally putting it out?
Brynn Elliott: I have written a bunch of pop and rock music in the last year and have been releasing singles all year, which is the plan for the rest of the year! There’s a feeling I get when I know a song is finished. It’s somewhere between satisfaction, and a deep hope that people will enjoy the song and benefit from the lyrics and melody.
MWN: Many of the previous artists you have toured with have been household names. How have those experiences been like? What has been the most surreal moment thus far?
Brynn Elliott: Yes! It honestly has been so surreal. I have been able to open for some of my heroes like Alanis Morissette, Brandi Carlile, and Grace Potter. I also opened for O.A.R a few summers ago and they are the best guys! We played Red Rocks, which what truly the most surreal moment of my career so far. That night I got to perform Livin’ on a Prayer with Richie Sambora on the Red Rocks stage!! And Red Rocks is just holy ground. That was definitely the moment!
MWN: So you are from Atlanta, GA. Has the local music scene influenced your artistry at all?
Brynn Elliott: The music scene is incredible in Atlanta. There is a lot of hip hop music and I think I have brought some of that into my own music. Eddie’s Attic is one of my favorite venues in Atlanta! John Mayer made his start at that venue along with The Civil Wars. I would definitely say Atlanta is fertile ground for creatives!
MWN: How does writing a song come to you? Is it the lyrics or music that reaches you first?
Brynn Elliott: It’s definitely the melody. I like to let the music of a song inform what it says. I just keep playing the melody over and over until the write words come. Sometimes they come in five minutes and sometimes its five months.
MWN: What is your process like in the studio? And how do you stay true to yourself with having so many hands in your project?
Brynn Elliott: I have worked with many producers over the years and I think in some ways I am still finding my sound. The good part is I am friends with everyone I make music with, so they know me and help me put the sounds I’m inspired by into the songs. My sound is like the pop music you hear on the radio. But when you see me live we pull out the electric guitars and its a rock show. So, somewhere between pop and rock is where you’ll find me.
MWN: That awesome. We love pop music. Speaking of what we love, what are some bands you recommend to our readers?
Brynn Elliott: I am very much into LANY at the moment! They just released their first record. Also, a favorite of mine is The Lone Bellow (some fellow Georgians in that band)!
MWN: LANY is great! We just interviewed them last month… real nice guys! To finish off the interview is there anything you’d like to say to the people who are going to be reading this?
Brynn Elliott: I am currently on tour with two of my very most FAVORITE bands, Switchfoot and Lifehouse! So follow me on social media (@brynnelliottmusic on Instagram and @brynn_music on twitter) for all the updates on tour and new singles coming out. And most of all, thank you for reading this interview!
Interview By: Maria Limon and Allison Wyrsch | @Music, Why Not!
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