Exclusive: Getting to Know Bria Wilson

CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

BW: I am a young woman who was born and raised in Alberta. I did various activities as a child. Going into singing competitions, Ukrainian Dancing, Sports.  I was a very active child, and still am as a young adult.  I have a Siberian Husky who is my absolute pride and joy as well.

CN: Growing up in Alberta, Canada – when were you exposed to country music? When did you realize you wanted to be involved in music?

BW: My entire life to answer both questions to be completely honest.  As a kid I grew up listening to country music, and sang a lot of it in the singing competitions I was part of.  I remember telling my mom when I was younger “when I grow up I want to be a country music singer/songwriter.  And that’s exactly what I did!

CN: Which musicians, country or not, have influenced you both personally and as an artist?

BW: Hedley, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Granger Smith and Simple Plan just to name a few.  I find there are so many influences that influence me in both ways. There are songs and artists all over the map that pick me up when I am down, and there’s a lot of songs out there that influence me to continue to make music.

CN: The Canadian Country scene has produced some of the greatest artists from fellow Alberta native k.d. lang, to Terri Clark and Shania Twain and the newer generation including Lindsay Ell, High Valley, Colter Wall, James Barker Band and so on.  Can you talk a little bit about the current Canadian Country scene?

BW: Moving to a town when I was 14 where one of the biggest Canadian Rodeos are held, there is a massive scene around here.  There’s always a bunch of different places you can go a listen to cover bands in the cities and just a lot of country bars/pubs in general where you can get inspired and also network.  There is also a lot of country music radio stations everywhere you go!

CN: You are said to carry a notebook with you everywhere you go for when inspiration strikes. Can you take us through your songwriting process?

BW: I can not personally talk you through how a songwriting process works, because every one of them is different.  Although I do carry a notebook around, my songwriting doesn’t always start with an idea of lyrics for a song. There are days I’ll be driving, or hanging out at home or with family/friends and a melody or a rhythm will pop into my head.  From there I’ll grab my phone and hum the tune of the melody, or tap a table or something while recording it.  There’s other times where I’ll just be randomly strumming cords on a guitar and just record on my phone when I feel a melody taking place.

CN: How old were you when you wrote your first song? Do you remember what it was?

BW: Oh gosh!  I think I was about 8 years old when I wrote my first song.  I don’t remember it at all, other than the title was “At Midnight.”  My mom probably has the piece of paper I wrote it down on somewhere in my things from when I was a kid.  All I remember other than the title was thinking about it now, it was awful.

CN: Your song “Too Soon” was written about your father who you lost in 2016. Music is such a cathartic tool, how did writing that song help you grieve?

BW: I don’t think the song in itself helped me grieve, it more so helped me with honouring my dad in the best way I could.  My dad was always a massive supporter of me following my dreams, and reaching for the stars.  It’s a song I can always listen back to, to always have a memory of him.  Losing a parent (especially at a young age) is never easy, and my hope for the song itself was to also help people remember a loved one they may have lost.  While co-writing this song, I wanted it to be something special where when others listened to it, they would know I knew how they felt and that I also knew how hard it is to lose someone so close to you.

CN: Let’s talk about your debut single “Deal Breaker.”  What is the story behind this song?

BW: I think almost everyone in the world has had to deal with toxic relationships in their lives, and this song is exactly that.  No one wants to ever be cheated on or even be lied to, but it happens all the time!  This song is definitely a song that comes from (in my case) and female’s perspective of a guy cheating on me and how I won’t stand for it.  The lyrics in the song that I find really stick out in that sense are “There won’t be a me if there’s a her. That’s a Deal Breaker”.

CN: With a debut single out, are there plans for an EP to be released?

BW: I already have a self titled EP out that you can find on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, and all other major platforms.  It contains four songs, including “Too Soon” and “Deal Breaker.”

CN: Gotta get a hockey question in here. Oilers or Flames?

BW: Although I live in Alberta, I have to say neither. My go to hockey team to cheer for is the Chicago Blackhawks and the Nashville Predators (when Chicago isn’t playing).

CN: Do you have a dream collaboration in mind?

BW: I have a few different collaborations in mind I would love to do, but if I had to choose just one it would be Ed Sheeran!  The way he writes music is mesmerizing and I honestly think we would be able to come up with something amazing if we wrote and recorded a song together!

CN: If you could describe yourself with one word, what would it be and why?

BW: Ambitious!  The reason I would choose this word is because I have always had an ambition a drive to follow my dreams.  But also always followthrough when I start something.  Times get difficult, but I always find the ambition and drive to pick myself up and keep going!

CN: What’s ahead for you in 2018?