The ability to tell a story that truly connects with others is a gift of natural born storytellers. Brittany Bexton has that gift. A singer in her church choir, Bexton started writing before she was a teenager; first there were stories which she evolved into song when she married her narrative to music. And like the great storytellers, her lyrics pull the listener in, not only because they are inviting, but also because they offer a path for those to relate to what she is sharing personally. Her intimate new single “Kissin’ Fear Goodbye” is one of those stories – a personal victory for Bexton, but one that others can associate with and find peace.
We caught up with Brittany to talk about her musical journey, her story behind the new single, and more.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
BB: Of course! I’m from California originally, and actually have a background in theater, along with my own music. But, I’ve been singing and writing my own music since I was a little girl. I moved to Nashville in 2011 to pursue my music career full time where the business is, and it’s been a wild adventure. Since moving to Nashville, I’ve toured in 18 states, released two EPs, and a music video. In February of this year, I had my first book published, “Learning to Believe Again: 30 Days to Finding Hope, Faith, & Comfort in God’s Truth.” My single “Believe Again” and my book go hand in hand. They are both about healing from PTSD, and the journey through that. My newest single, “Kissin’ Fear Goodbye” was just released in October. I wasn’t going to release it yet, but realized that what the world needs right now is a reminder that fear can’t take the wheel, and we have more power than that.
CN: With everything that’s going on in the world in regards to COVID-19, we hope everyone in your circle is safe and healthy. How are you holding up?
BB: I’m definitely blessed that everyone in my close circle is safe and healthy. I would say I have more friends who have had Covid at this point than not, but they have all had mild cases, or recovered easily, which is definitely a blessing. It’s definitely been a weird year, in so many ways. I think there are some good things that have come from it, such as more awareness being brought to things that deserve our attention. I also think that as a society we definitely live in a rush mode, but it forced a lot of folks to slow down and look at the bigger picture, and spend more time with family, and less time at the office. There are lessons in that that I hope we carry with us. However, I’m definitely ready for things to get back to normal overall. I miss touring. I miss live shows. I miss hugging being an acceptable normal. It’s definitely been a year to realize that we can’t take things for granted. I am definitely blessed and grateful to be able to still put out music in the midst of everything, and I’m looking forward to bringing that to more people in a live setting soon.
CN: Not only are you a songwriter, but you are a true storyteller. When did you realize that you had such a gift?
BB: I’ve been writing since I was a little girl. Poetry and music were usually my mediums of choice when I needed to express something. I’d say a lot of my songs over the years have essentially been my diaries set to music. Though not all songs are personal, for me, many of them are. I’m not sure I’d say I discovered I had this as a gift; it’s more that writing has always been a natural part of my life, and the way I process things, and share. At some point other people started telling me how much they related to my music, or how I was telling their story in a way they couldn’t put into words. That’s my favorite part of what I do, being able to touch other people, and make a difference for them through my experiences and music.
CN: Do you have a favorite songwriter? What is it about their style that attracts you?
BB: I can’t say that I have one overall favorite I like a lot, but John Prine is one of my all time favorites. I don’t love all of his songs, but I love the way he crafts songs. I love that every single word in his songs holds weight. He paints pictures and feelings in metaphor so well that every single word has meaning. “Angel From Montgomery” is my favorite of his.
CN: How has this artist influenced you both personally and as an artist?
BB: John Prine’s songs provided me an outlet to sing my heart out and express myself when I was first getting started. They are meaty, and full of life and emotion, and they helped me sing and process through some difficult things. But, as a writer, he also inspired me to write stronger lyrics, and craft my songs in such a way that they held meaning and weight.
CN: Can you take us through your songwriting process?
BB: This varies a lot depending on how inspiration strikes, but I’ll take you through the process I use for co-writing when inspiration isn’t the only thing leading. I like to start with an idea, or hook, or title. Then I do a free write on the topic we’ve chosen to write about. I usually do this for 5-10 minutes until I’ve got a decent amount of thoughts out on the page. Then we look through the free write, and pull out magic lines that came out, or words or thoughts. From there I’ll structure what we want the song to say, and map it out a bit. Then I start actually putting together the verses and chorus. Often for me, a melody will come with a line or a hook. Other times we just have to feel it out. I write by myself too, but when I co-write I love to write with folks that are really solid instrumentalists, because if they play riffs and we get a general feeling for the song, it will inform a lot of where we take the melody. If I’m writing by myself, the lyrics and melody come somewhat together, and the chords for me are the last piece.
CN: In what ways has the current COVID-19 situation affected your craft? Has it provided or stunted inspiration?
BB: The biggest change is the total lack of live in person shows. I love connecting with people face to face and that’s been very different. I’d say it’s provided inspiration in some ways, and stunted it in others. I started doing words of encouragement regularly that I post which has definitely been fun and an inspiration of sorts for me. But I will say I have written a lot less this year. I’ve written some lines and a bunch of ideas, but I haven’t felt as much like writing the way I normally would. I’ve spent a lot more time worshipping, and keeping my mind set not on what’s going on in the world, but on who God is. That’s kept me in a peaceful place despite the circumstances we are all dealing with. I’ve done a lot of free-form worship as well, which I guess could be considered songs on the spot. But I definitely feel like I’ve done a lot less typical creative writing this year, and way less co-writing. Zoom co-writes just aren’t the same as in person.
CN: Your most recent single is the emotional and inspirational “Kissin’ Fear Goodbye.” Could you share the background of the song?
BB: I realized about 5 years ago now that I had PTSD from a series of personal traumas. Going through counseling and the healing process was quite a journey, and it forced me to face and release some big fears, both conscious and subconscious that had been messing with my life and my joy. I got the idea for this song because I had done some good work facing some of my fears, and I was finally starting to experience the freedom that comes from getting rid of fear, and trading it in for faith, and new found strength and perspective.
CN: Given that this song is about your journey through trauma, did the song come easily to you? Or was it more difficult to write?
BB: This one came pretty easily. I had the idea and had saved it to bring into a co-write. I ended up writing this tune with my friend Tommy Collier in the middle of a snow storm in Nashville. He really resonated with the topic too. I knew I wanted to personify fear as an abuser, and when I decided that, it flowed really easily.
CN: How cathartic was the writing process for this song?
BB: Writing this song was a very cathartic process for me. Not because I was hashing out the trauma so much, but because I was reliving the victory. There are a lot of hard parts of healing, and you have to celebrate the wins, and congratulate yourself for showing up, doing the work, and making progress.
CN: Does that freedom become renewed each time you perform it?
BB: Yes! This song is really a celebratory anthem in a lot of ways about breaking free from fear. I didn’t just get to focus on that victory in the writing process, but I get to remember it every time I sing it.
CN: This song provides strength for anyone going through various forms of PTSD. What advice would you pass on to those who are coping with such fears?
BB: Don’t give up. Keep showing up to do the healing work. It might be hard, and it might be work, but you are worth it, and the freedom and joy you get in the end is definitely worth it. Also, be gentle with yourself. Healing doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process, and even when you think you are there, things will still come up occasionally. Celebrate your wins, and take the hard moments as they come with grace and tenderness. Learn to practice boundaries and self-care like you never have before, because when the triggers come, you need healthy ways to work through them and cope.
CN: If you could collaborate with any one artist, who would it be?
BB: I’m really bad at picking just one! There are so many I would love the opportunity to collaborate with. But…I guess I will go with Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls. I really like his writing, and it would be fun to do a rock song with him.
CN: What was the first concert you ever attended?
BB: The New Kids on the Block. I was really young, and went with my parents, as a birthday gift. I remember the acrobatics being just as much a part of the show as the singing. And lots of very loud screaming girls. Lol.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
BB: Passionate. I don’t do things halfway. If I’m going to show up in something I’m going to show up with passion and heart. I’m always up for an adventure, I love the people I care about ferociously, and I look at life as constant discovery.
CN: What’s next on the horizon for you?
BB: I’m hoping that we will be able to start doing some more live shows again in 2021. If so, I will be touring a bit more again, and doing a book tour along with that. I have another new single that will be coming out late spring of 2021, and I will be releasing my new EP shortly after that. I also hope to be doing more speaking engagements and spreading some hope along the way.
For more information on Brittany Bexton, visit her website at brittanybexton.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.