Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: My name is BRIM, & I’m a singer songwriter from Toledo, Ohio. I generally describe myself by my passions and interests, which include but are not limited to: art in any form, activism, metaphysics, animals, and space! And most ardently, music.
I was very lucky as a kid in that both of my parents had a fantastic (and broad) taste in music. I grew up listening to bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Counting Crows, Cake, and No Doubt. I was exposed to a lot of different genres of music that have definitely influenced my own personal tastes, as well as my take on songwriting.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “BRIM”?
A: I’m doing what I imagine every other microscopic artist is doing right now. I have a Youtube channel where I upload full vocal covers of my favorite songs. I advertise my music in my videos, and I advertise my videos on my Instagram and Twitter.
My taste in music is constantly changing, and I’m assuming every album I create will have a significant sound change from the last. I’m releasing alt-pop right now, but I’m hoping the next album can lean a bit more into modern rock to match better with my personal music-listening taste.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: I have a lot of artists I’m really into at the moment. Spill tab, PVRIS, UPSAHL, to name a few. At the top of the ‘inspiration’ list is definitely K.Flay. She suddenly went deaf in one ear last year, and I watched her journey through Instagram posts as she coped with the change and documented how she relearned how to create, perform, and navigate the world.
Seeing live music is the biggest dopamine agonist in my arsenal. I started going to shows by myself this year, and it’s helped boost my confidence in living in the moment, dancing by myself, not caring if anyone’s looking; all of that good stuff. I like to take mental notes on the different styles of performing between all the artists I see, and use them as inspiration towards the artist I hope to be some day.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “GOD COMPLEX”?
A: GOD COMPLEX is about taking my power back, in a way. Something I’ve always struggled with is accepting the parts of life that are beyond my control, like how other people perceive me, living with disability, and the hellscape of the world we live in.
This song, and its subsequent unreleased album, is telling the story of my journey in living alongside what I can’t change, learning to let things go, and not taking everything so seriously. My ego is healing and the pity party is over.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Introspective.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “GOD COMPLEX”?
A: Honestly, writing this song was a breeze. It was the second song I wrote for the album, and after a long hiatus from writing due to a mental health crisis, I had a lot to say. I got it all down in one day, writing and recording. This was a ‘hallelujah’ moment as a songwriter; sometimes you get lucky and things just come together.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: It’s hard for me to pick just one message, but I’m going to go with individual growth. Obviously, as an independent artist, I hope that one day I’ll be able to pay the bills with my music. But in less of a big-picture way, my only goal is to continue to improve with every album I release. Whether or not I ‘make it,’ I’ll be writing music until I die, and releasing it for anybody who takes an interest. I want to learn and I want to improve, even if it’s just for myself.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Fall Out Boy! I grew up on their music, and they’re the one hyperfixation I have that has never faded. Their music is incredibly important to me and I have endless respect for them and what they do. Fun fact: I developed a lot of my singing style by imitating Patrick Stump’s vocals as a teenager.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Not sure if I’m in any position to give advice, but if I did I would say to just do it. Take the time to learn the skills you need and release your music whenever you feel like it.
Doing whatever you want is a lot easier when a ton of eyes aren’t on you. The first thing you create isn’t going to be your legacy; There’s actually no ‘correct’ timeline for how you should or shouldn’t develop as an artist. This is the first release for me where I feel like I’m finally getting it right, and this will technically be my fourth album release. So just remember that, like all hard skills, it takes time and a shit ton of practice.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Oh, God. What wouldn’t I say? Always say yes to meaningful opportunities. Show more appreciation for your mentors. Speak up for yourself and your needs. Break up with your boyfriend (whoops). At the end of the day, whatever I would say to that version of myself doesn’t really matter, because advice only gets you so far. I was a hot mess when I was younger, and a lot of that I just had to wait to grow out of. I did the best I could with my circumstances, and I am grateful for (almost) every experience that landed me here. Shout out to that girl. If I lived through all that, I can do anything.
