We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Britt Lightning. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Britt below.

Britt, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents always instilled in me that I could do anything I set my mind to in life. Although they weren’t thrilled I wanted to be a rockstar at the age of 15, they made me aware it was possible. When I started playing bars and clubs by the age of 17, they drove me to all the late night gigs, helped sell the merch and carry the gear. Anything that anyone wanted to do in the family became a family affair, and it was all for one and one for all – I had the best team behind me I could ask for.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am the lead guitarist for the all-female Platinum selling 80’s rock band Vixen, and the Musical Director at Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp. During COVID I hosted and helped to produce over 160 online Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp masterclasses with legendary artists including Roger Daltrey (The Who), Alice Cooper, Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) and more.

I attended college at Northeastern University in Boston, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Music Business. This is also where I began my all female metal band Jaded, which gained a popular following in the New England area. From 2012-2015 I performed for 22-time Grammy Award winning artist Alejandro Sanz in his stadium-level world tour, and am featured in Sanz’s “La Musica No Se Toca – En Vivo” CD/DVD, as well as joined Sanz at the 2013 Latin Grammy Awards among other high profile shows. From 2015 to 2016 I played guitar for Rachel Platten, performing live at festivals and on national TV shows promoting the single “Fight Song”, which charted at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. I recorded “Live At The Roxy”, a live CD/DVD with Alejandra Guzman, an iconic Latin artist who has sold over 30 million records. In 2017 I joined the band Vixen, replacing the late founder and guitarist, Jan Kuehnemund. This was a full circle moment for me, as I was inspired to play guitar from all the ‘80’s rock bands despite growing up in the ‘90’s, and Vixen was one of the very few all female bands I really looked up to and helped to inspire me.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson I had to unlearn was about focus. I was overly focused on a certain outcome and obtaining it in a certain way. My method of going about getting to where I wanted to be just wasn’t working, and I was banging my head against a wall that wasn’t moving. When I finally surrendered control and just went with the flow, everything started happening the way I wanted it to all along, but this time it was effortless. Prior to this change in mindset I was dead set on driving down a closed off road. I learned sometimes you have to take the scenic route, and it may take longer, but that’s ok. I believe that energy and timing have a profound effect on situations.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of doing what I do is that I don’t feel as though I work a single day. Sure I work very hard, long hours, and get burnt out sometimes just like everyone else. But I have a lot of passion for what I do, and I do it all knowing how lucky I am in the back of my mind and never take it for granted. I get to meet amazing people from all over, travel the world, and spread love and joy through the magic of music. The more I give the more I get back and it’s an incredible feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: brittlightning,com
• Instagram: brittlightning
• Facebook: brittlightning

Image Credits

Joe Schaeffer
Jack Lue
Josh Esan
Jorg Schnebele
Melinda Oswandel