Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Johnson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Brittany. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Like most people, I’ve always loved music. When I was a little girl I always imagined myself as a pop star like Hilary Duff or a Cheeta Girl, but it wasn’t until I hit my teenage years that I started trying to write my own music. I remember I was first inspired to write after listening to the band Franz Ferdinand, and although I recognized immediately I’d wrote a terrible song, I felt the excitement of creating something for the first time.
At the end of high school/beginning of college, I started to write more and more, slowly learning my way around the Fender Telecaster that I mom bought me for my 16th birthday. I had aspirations to be a musician, but by this time, I had lost the confidence of my earlier years and had no desire to perform live. Instead, I dreamed of writing for pop musicians and perfecting my craft.
All that being said, I didn’t start to work on music consistently until 2017, the year I graduated from college. Throughout university, I would spend a few months here and there writing songs, but I focused on trying to get out of school so that I could get a stable job. I grew up watching my mom stress about money constantly, and my greatest fear even today is not having enough of it.
Once I started my 9 to 5 career, I had so much free time outside of work, I had finally lost the guilt of spending time working on music. In March of 2018, I released my first single ‘Handle It’ and started playing shows around Houston. I was super reluctant to perform live but realized that if I wanted to ever achieve my goal of becoming a full-time musician, I needed play live shows.
I’ve played about seven or eight shows now and I love performing now. Working on music in my apartment is great and I love the process of writing, but performing brings a new level of excitement and challenge that I never expected. It feels weird to admit, but one of the best parts is when people that you’ve never met come up to you and are just as excited about your music as you are and want you to succeed.
I’m super blessed and the amazing year that I’ve had is only because of the friends that I have around me. They give me constructive criticism, emotional support, come out to my shows, book me for shows, and support me in so many ways it’s absolutely incredible.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My biggest enemy is myself. And I’ve recognized that a long time ago, but I somehow still allow myself to tear myself down. Luckily I have other amazing musicians around me that can help me to get out of my head. Because I’m still at the beginning of my journey, I don’t think that I’ve faced anything unique that other DIY musicians just starting out haven’t faced. I get a lot of anxiety and stress over internal deadlines for projects, trying to book shows, and general fears about the future, but lately I started doing things to help me control that anxiety. Doing other creative things like cooking or crafting can help you let off some steam and get that instant gratification that your mind may need. Making music, especially if the goal is to have your work financially support you, can be super stressful and there are so many things that go into it that a lot of people don’t realize, so take care of your mind!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I make music that falls into the genre of indie pop/rock. I’m currently working on a project that I’m really excited about and it’ll be a lot of guitar pop and me telling stories that I hope a lot of people will relate to. As I’ve been working on my craft over the past year, I can see the growth in my writing and production skills, so I’m excited to share it with the world next year.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Don’t quit your day job! And if you don’t have one, I strongly advise getting one. I could not have made as much progress this year with my music if I was stressed out about how I was going to pay my bills. The romanticization ‘starving artist’ is gross, don’t fall for it. Health insurance is also great, so if you’re blessed enough to have the opportunity to get it, don’t pass it up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/only8britt
- Email: brittmusic.mgmt@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/only8britt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/only8britt/
Image Credit:
IMG_3340.jpg – @chalupaponcho (Portrait), IMG_1951.npg – @pa.ramierz (WOMH 8/1/18 show with SALES and No Vacation), IMG_1931.jpg – @abner_.sb (WOMH 8/1/18 show with SALES and No Vacation), IMG_1600.jpg – (Behind the scenes of my music video for ‘One State Away’), IMG_1229.png – (Got Vintage Marketplace 5/26)
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
