Brittan Smith
Photo credit: Melissa Baxter
Hailing from Kansas, Brittan Smith is a singer/songwriter/artist now relocated in Los Angeles.
Following “Eye on the Road” released last year, Smith is now offering a brand new empowering single titled “Cyborg”.
Produced by Yianni, “the new single is about a broader conversation and feeling of being lost in a world that moves so damn quickly and seems to have its values completely flipped”, says Smith.
“Cyborg” is the first single off his upcoming project, to be released later this year.
Besides his love for the arts, Smith is a strong advocate for mental health.
“Cyborg” is now available worldwide :)
Photo credit: Melissa Baxter
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
Hey there, I'm Brittan Smith - I hail from the magical lands of Kansas but moved to Los Angeles about five years ago to make music and film. Music has really been my rock through the darkest periods in my life. I remember looking up to artists who would push us all to keep going and too look at the world differently. Because I was a black sheep and a bit of an oddball (still am), that message really stuck with me and now I hope to keep passing it along through my art.
What did you grow up listening to?
So, my dad listened to country while my mom listened to metal and rock (family trips were always interesting). I really resonated with rock music - Bon Jovi was my hero.
At what point did you realize you could sing?
Singing was one of the only ways I felt confident expressing myself. I've done it since single digits but didn't really realize or begin to hone my voice until probably around 12 or 13.
Growing up, what were your favorite records to sing along to? Who were your favorite vocalists?
Oh my gosh, uhm...Three Days Grace (One-x), Linkin Park of course and Bon Jovi. I looked up to all three so much - Adam Gontier, Chester Bennington & Jon Bon Jovi.
When did you decide to pursue music as a career? Was it an easy decision to make?
So, I got in the car when I was around 9 years old and Bon Jovi was playing on my mom's radio. I had been rotating through a million different imaginary careers in my mind but that day I told her "I'm going to be a rockstar." Now, the decisions to move across the country 5 years ago and to really believe in myself and trust my expression were much harder to make. It's an easy thing to say but to actually do...this industry is brutal. I had to be sure I loved it and now I know I do.
Who was the first person to ever believe in you?
My family and a few teachers liked my singing but the first person to really believe in me fully as an artist was my friend, Eric! We met at university and we did the whole rock band thing for a little bit. He was the first person to uplift the way I told stories through music, gyrated around while performing and belting for the fuck of it. Before then, most people looked at me like I was kidding or just had really grown up yet. Shoutout to people like Eric who believe in people's dreams. I've learned to always support passion, that fire in someone's eye should be treasured and we should cultivate that flame.
How would you define Brittan Smith, the artist?
Sassy, calm and crazy at the same time, touch of rebellion. ♂️ There's not a lot of separation between my artistry and the other parts of my life. One of the best things about writing music is I get to capture moments and share them and I always hope people resonate with those moments. I am relentless in creating this art, I must do it and I do have an angle: I want to create a community that is connected, listens to each other and discusses how we can make the world a better place. I want many different viewpoints to come together. I want people to feel unabashedly themselves and express their fire and passion. I hope that my music, visuals and artistry can be a conduit for that.
"Cyborg" is your new single - what's the story/inspiration behind this song?
Sooooo, I was staring at my wall sipping my Monster as one does -just wondering what was going on with my life and the world. Probably, a universal feeling for most of us in 2020. I remember just hating feeling like I was just a cog in the system and that I would just keep bouncing between being numb in that mindset or overwhelmed and emotional. The chorus came first (I imagined warped tour style jumping with all our hands in the air) and then the verses and bridge came pretty quickly afterwards. I was switching to a full sassy rocker attitude - I won't be fitting into that pretty little picture.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process? Who helped you create this single?
Totally! So my songwriting process is a bit organic. I don't sit down and decide to write usually. I get caught on a melody and voice memo it out and then I'll refine it from there. My rule is it has to stick in my head and I still need to be able to feel the emotion in it after about a week. If it passes that test, I share it with a small team of very honest friends and they pick it apart. After that, if it still feels right I'll bring it to my phenomenal producer, Yianni and we'll work through the vibe and I'll make a very long document with colors, picture, and feelings hahaha it's a bit odd but it's what seems to work for me.
What did you feel when writing this single?
Resistant. We all have been stuck for the past year but this song isn't really about covid or 2020. This is about a broader conversation and feeling of being lost in a world that moves so damn quickly and seems to have its values completely flipped. So much of this system is broken and there are a few that would like to keep it that way at the expense of the many. I didn't want to be a cog in the system, I wanted to set my mind free.
What's your favorite thing about this song?
I love the bridge - I felt a little bit of Gaga in that moment and I did reversed lyrics for the first time which I have been trying to incorporate since I heard Utada Hikaru do it on "Sanctuary" for Kingdom Hearts. The reversed lyrics are a bit of an Easter egg. 🤫
When did you know "Cyborg" had to be a single?
Well truthfully, every song I'm releasing this year is a single but then will all be packaged as a concept e.p. Cyborg wasn't the first song we did though but it made me feel dancy and it gave me a feeling of empowerment and I thought that was something the world needed a little more of compared to the other track which was more fun and sexy.
What message would you give to anyone struggling with mental health?
Look at your environment. It's not all on you and you don't need to make huge changes in one day. The moment my mental health really started to improve and I was better able to manage it was when I started implementing small changes after understanding what was reinforcing where I was. For instance, I love a really sad song called "crying on the bathroom floor" and would listen to it daily. Because music impacts my emotional state so heavily and I was already struggling with depression and anxiety, this song wasn't what I needed at that moment. When I learned to remove those little things so I could see the bigger issues, I really began to feel like I could actually make progress.
If able, therapy as well. I know that, at least in America, our healthcare system is ridiculous. Especially when it comes to mental health. But if you can find resources online (one I found for LA was Reflect) then I recommend exploring it. I was raised in a city where we didn't talk about therapy, mental health, or emotions much so I really had to work to overcome that stigma but seeking out a therapist and working through some root causes that I couldn't see on my own really helped.
What does singing make you feel?
Alive. As dramatic as that sounds, I truly feel like I'm actually present, breathing and connected to people when singing/performing. It's...I really can't describe it as anything else but I want to feel it forever.
Do you remember a specific moment where music made a huge impact in your life?
There are many! I would say the first one that comes to mind is the song "Never Too Late" by Three Days Grace. That song helped me through some really dark places in my mind at an age where I couldn't process my emotions or communicate effectively. Having a sort of anthem to remember to hang on was yeah, just really everything at the time.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I think it's a bit of a game. I love that more musicians are able to make a living, stay independent or barter for better label deals and above all get their art out in the first place. But the constant fight to "create content" or "have the numbers" or get a certain amount of streams is unappealing to me. It's taken me years to really say fuck it and just focus on the art and the community I'm connecting with. That's what I would change - the numbers pressure and the predatory nature of some elements of the industry.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
Oh wow! I'll focus in on the last year. I've learned:
- At the end of day, I have to do things differently and sometimes the harder way in order to get somewhere different than where I am.
- If someone isn't willing to meet me in a discussion with an open mind or constructive dialogue then there is no reason to have the conversation.
- I'm not responsible for what people say about or think about me.
- I can't control the outcome. Once I've put myself out into the world, the dice have been rolled and it's out of my hands.
- I reap what I sow. In order to have good things come, I really need to know what I consider to be a good thing. In other words, visualize, visualize, visualize.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Finding the middle. There is a place where we can all reconnect as people and focus on the root problems affecting all of us. We're being pushed to polarization and separation when the answers don't lie in the extremes. There's a lot of dehumanization going on but really everyone walking around is a human being carrying fears, dreams, pain, and a desire to be loved. I think if we remembered this more the world would be a much better place.
What message do you want to deliver to the world?
We've still got some fight and we've still got some time. What we can achieve when we break from the bindings of polarization and hatred is immense. Erasing the stigma around mental health, expression and breaking societal constructs - Reconnecting with each other and more and more people feeling self-actualized with that fiery passion. It's all still possible.
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