Infectious pop melodies and compelling lyrics are what make up singer-songwriter Brynn Elliott’s entire discography.
The Atlanta-born, now LA-based artist has been on the wildest ride of her life. Elliott has proven to be the epitome of dedication by taking on Harvard University by day and tour dates by night. While studying Philosophy, which ultimately has benefited her strong lyricism, Brynn Elliot would tour on the weekends and throughout her summers, pursuing her musical career.
With so much passion for her work now, being a singer was something Elliott had never set out to be. It wasn’t until her senior year of high school that she started writing songs, but it was just her little secret even then. When she got the opportunity to bring her lyrics to life and perform them (opening for producer and singer-songwriter Tyler Ward), the pieces fell into place as she fell in love with performing and never wanted to stop.
Her breakthrough 2018 single, “Might Not Like Me,” is an upbeat, energetic anthem that created the perfect debut amassing over 43 million global streams.
Almost immediately after graduation in 2018, Elliot signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and began hitting the road again and promoting her debut EP TIME OF OUR LIVES throughout 2019, touring with artists including Alanis Morissette, AJ Mitchell, James Arthur and Why Don’t We.
“That was a whole new world for me. I had sort of toured a bunch before, but I hadn’t promoted a project with a big record label and I loved it. It was like the best thing ever, but it was also this crazy sort of transition for me in terms of really being ‘on’ all of the time and performing.”
Since then, touring has been a massive part of Elliott’s life, shaping who she is as an artist. Capturing the spirit of artists like Alicia Keys, Adele and Brandi Carlile, along with the energy of live shows, that’s what inspires every song Elliott writes.
When it came to creating her newest EP, Can I Be Real?, the pop singer thought to herself, “Okay, this is amazing. So many of my dreams are coming true as a person, as an artist, but what does it mean for me to remain who I am, who I know myself to be in this space?” With that idea in mind, the EP title Can I Be Real? came to fruition. Elliott was on a mission to become her most authentic self saying, “I am such a people-pleaser and performer, I think sometimes that can turn inauthentic. I have a strong desire in my life to always be authentic.”
Listening to her new EP, we can say mission accomplished as her lyrics prove how true to herself she is, as well as how much her authentic, heartfelt and honest personality and emotions shine through. Although being authentic is a priority, especially in a city like Los Angeles and a world enveloped by social media and other people’s perceptions, like all of us, Elliott still has reminders to keep herself grounded on this journey.
The 26-year-old dropped this second piece of work this past July and we haven’t stopped listening since. The seven-track EP tells Brynn Elliot’s story of growth, self-image and finding her place in the world as Elliott says, “I think that’s something that I’m always talking about in my music, but in sort of different ways.” The opening line, “Can I be real? / Can I say what I feel? / Can I lay it all bare?” speaks for itself as a powerful testament to an incredible project and reflection of oneself.
Can I Be Real? was initially supposed to be released last year but was put on hold when the world did the same. Elliot “was going through some personal things and also the world turned upside down and I didn’t feel like I was in a position to promote it.” Although releasing music wasn’t an option, Elliott said, “During the pandemic, it made me think more about how to connect with people because it was so easy before because it was all on the road while touring.”
Like many, Brynn Elliott turned to Zoom, frequently joining virtual meetings with fans and loving every second because although it was through a screen, it felt a lot more intimate than a quick meeting before heading into a venue.
The Zoom sessions were one of her favorite moments during lockdown, getting to know the people who support her music, “I actually had time to talk to them and get to know them as people. And I really like that because I want to have a personal connection with the people who are taking time out of their day to listen to my music.” The process taught her “quite a bit about what it means to really connect with someone and listen to someone who’s listening to me.”
An avid book lover, she also started her Nerdy Girl Music Series on YouTube. She played her own singles and covers, where her philosophy degree came into play, bringing out the “nerdy girl” in her as she discussed the meaning behind each song.
While navigating being a new artist, Brynn Elliott was featured on LA’s infamous TCL Chinese Theatre. She was feeling more grateful than ever. She says, “It’s exciting, to be on a billboard in general, but that billboard, It’s all about being a new artist.”
Knowing how much more connection means to herself and her fans, she’s hoping to create experiences for her listeners to relate to and continue to grow up alongside them.
While Brynn Elliott is excited to head out on tour, restrictions and safety are even more important for the singer. The Can I Be Real? Tour was supposed to kick off in Washington D.C. and end in October in Los Angeles, but has ultimately been rescheduled.
However, Elliott is ready to bring the power of live music back, connecting with her very own audience for the first time. Willing to take on the world, expressing, “I definitely feel like I’m still sort of in the beginning period of telling my own story – it’s really exciting.” A new chapter in this rising star’s life.
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