When it comes to original music, Brynn Elliott wears her heart on her sleeve. The young artist covers identity, self-image and even self-discovery in her new EP CAN I BE REAL?, which is now available on all streaming platforms, and sits down with Celeb Secrets to open up about her new body of work.
Touting that the collection of songs are for “anyone who needs to feel encouraged to be human and real,” Can I Be Real? features vibrant pop songs (with a touch of some rock undertones) that showcase the potent lyricism that made her a breakout star in 2018. Recorded in Los Angeles and produced by The Monarch (whose credits include Kelly Clarkson and Nicki Minaj), Elliott credits personal experiences and her philosophical studies at Harvard University for the inspiration behind the EP.
“My experiences have definitely contributed to the themes in this EP, particularly my experience as a woman. In our culture, women are constantly bombarded with messages about beauty and I talk a lot about that in the EP and hopefully offer a more real and honest look at what is true beauty. And because I love philosophy, a lot of the EP is about being real and being human. Because we are all human we are all unified by this incredible experience and I hope this music encourages people to be real in their own lives.”
As the world fades into post-pandemic reality, the singer will embark on a series of live performances to celebrate her new release. On July 15, Brynn performed at the iconic Troubadour in West Hollywood for a special Can I Be Real? Livestream Moment, which was a ticketed event that marked the Los Angeles based artist’s first full band live show in over a year as well as her long awaited return to the venue, which was the last she performed at before the Coronavirus pandemic. Her The Can I Be Real Tour begins September 13th at Washington, DC’s Union Stage and then makes stops in major markets across the country through early October.
Keep scrolling to read our full Q&A below and let us know what you think of Can I Be Real? by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
Celeb Secrets: Where did your passion for music begin? Did you perform from a young age? Is it something you recently discovered? What is your story?
Brynn Elliott: “Music has always been second nature to me. My grandparents loved to sing and my parents would sing me to sleep. I have very vivid memories of music just being there. But I never really sang myself until I was high school and was overwhelmed with college applications. No one in my family had gone to college before so I was navigating this whole new world. At the end of the day I would go on Youtube and teach myself how to play my favorite songs on guitar as a way to unwind. And that eventually turned into me writing songs of my own.”
CS: Congratulations on the release of your new EP! How would you describe the album in terms of style, genre, mood, and target audience?
BE: “Thank you so much! This new EP is a classic mixture of rock and pop (mostly pop with some rock undertones). It’s an EP for anyone who needs to feel encouraged to be human and real!”
CS: Your music focuses on identity, self-image, and self-discovery, which is really inspiring. How have your experiences contributed to the subject matter of your lyrics?
BE: “My experiences have definitely contributed to the themes in this EP, particularly my experience as a woman. In our culture, women are constantly bombarded with messages about beauty and I talk a lot about that in the EP and hopefully offer a more real and honest look at what is true beauty. And because I love philosophy, a lot of the EP is about being real and being human. Because we are all human we are all unified by this incredible experience and I hope this music encourages people to be real in their own lives.”
CS: We know that you’ve also discussed a particular scandal involving the men’s soccer team and their criticism towards looks and appearance. How did this particular set of events also contribute to the subject matter of your lyrics?
BE: “This scandal was a vignette for me about the ramifications of objectifying women in our society. This idea that women could be so viciously reduced to a score in their physical appearance stuck with me, almost haunted me. The only way to work through it for me was through writing songs about it.”
CS: Perseverance is a theme that can be seen through your artistic story and through your music. Can you elaborate on this and maybe share the message you’d like for fans to receive when listening to your songs?
“Yes, perseverance is crucial. I think sometimes we are afraid to dream because there’s the possibility that what we dream about won’t come true. And that’s so real. It’s important to be honest with ourselves. But it’s also important not to sell ourselves short or allow others to sell us short. So I hope my music encourages whoever hears it to know that they are a wonder and can pursue good and marvelous things in their life. And I do hope that they never give up that pursuit.”
CS: Your single “Letter to A Girl” is said to be a letter to your younger self. If you could go back and time and offer your younger self one piece of advice, what would you tell her? What advice would you give all of your younger fans?
BE: “I would tell my younger self that her worth is not found in the opinion of others. I would tell my younger fans that beauty is so much more than physical appearance. True beauty is about who you are and how you live.”
CS: The Monarch duo produced your EP! How does it feel working with someone who is so experienced in the field and has worked with such reputable artists?
BE: “Ahh, The Monarch are the most incredible producers and humans. It is always so much fun working with them. I believe they are creative geniuses. They work so hard and it is not surprising to me at all that they have worked with the best. I trust them so much and I know they are always going to give it their all.”
CS: Which artist or musical group inspires your writing? Do you have a dream celeb you would like to collaborate with?
BE: “I have so many inspirations! Coldplay, Sia, Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile, Adele the list goes on. I would actually love to write with Ed Sheeran someday because I think he is one of the best songwriters of our time.”
CS: You have had the opportunity to make national TV appearances such as the TODAY show, Live with Kelly and Ryan, and perform with other reputable artists. What was that like?
BE: “Wow, those experiences on live television and on the road have been some of the best experiences of my life. I grew up watching the Today show and Live with Kelly and Ryan (and Regis and Kathy Lee) so being on the other side of that, actually on the TV myself was totally surreal. And all of the artists I’ve toured with have been a dream and it’s been such a huge blessing getting to learn from them on the road.”
CS: Your debut EP was fueled by your philosophy studies at Harvard University. What was it like pursuing music while also being a student? What challenges did it present to you and what did you learn from it?
BE: “Pursuing music while also in college was definitely challenging! I learned a lot about time management and had some sleepless nights. I would submit papers online right before walking on stage. But I loved every second of it and I think that love is what got me through. I learned that if you love it you can do it. I also learned that coffee is amazing.”
CS: What does the future look like for Brynn Elliott? Do you know what you want to work on next? Any upcoming performance opportunities?
BE: “Yes, I have lots in store for the future. I have SO many songs that I will likely release soon. Early this fall, I am going on my first headline tour so check out if I am coming to your city!”
CS: Since we are Celeb Secrets, any secrets (fun facts) about yourself, or the EP that we wouldn’t know when listening to it?
BE: “One fun fact about the EP is that Letter To A Girl wasn’t originally supposed to be on the EP. I wrote it and loved it and played it at a few shows in 2019. But later that year I wrote 30 more songs and thought I had beat it. But during the pandemic my fans kept asking me about Letter To a Girl. That’s when I knew I had to release it!”
LISTEN TO “CAN I BE REAL” BELOW:
