Today we’d like to introduce you to Hillary Branyik

Hi Hillary, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

Hi, I am Branik and I am an artist of sorts. I like to make many things, but what I like to make most is music. I am a singer and songwriter from a small town in CO. (Very original, I know.) I went to college for songwriting in Boston, MA at Berklee College of Music. (Less original, hopefully very interesting.) I moved around over the years but have spent the last 9 years in Seattle, WA. I released my debut EP here, had my first official solo Branik show here. Got a job at a famous fish market called Pike Place Fish Market….the one where they throw the fish. I met my husband here. I made my debut on the radio broadcast from the killer station KEXP!! Shout out to Rachel Stevens and DJ Kevin Cole. (DRIVE TIME!!) Currently, working on a single, well 3 actually, but one more than the others. Stand by, I promise they will all be a heart puncher.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

Not smooth. But absolutely wild. I have traveled a lot, worked a lot, and lived with many people. Up until I was about 23, I dealt with the regular crisis’ that any young person trying to figure it out experiences. Which are so important, but also a right of passage in a way. It was not until after that, that things were progressively bumpy, around 24. My arrival to Seattle was in no way smooth, I was brought here by the way of a lie. The person I traveled here with lied about having a place to live, so we were basically living out of her car. Not ideal.There were many nights I did not know where I would sleep. That lasted for 3-4 months. Same roommate, doubled down, and almost got us evicted when we finally were able to get a place. (Which was very cool and 70’s! So cute.) I did get a job right away in Pike Place Market. The magic little city in the heart of a city, this placed has made my life wild and wonderful for almost a decade. I was able to really test my artistic abilities in this city. There is a lot of room for a songwriter here, and for me I have been able to feel heard since my first show here. A lot of great things have happened for my career here. I could go on and on.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

So my day job is selling sustainable PNW fish. I myself am a fish monger and the shipping manager. It is a pretty specific set of skills that are developed here. Filleting, throwing and catching fish, leading team building events, excellent customer service, allll the stuff. I am consistently blown away that my job at the fish market has ended up opening so many doors for my music. I get to meet so many people from all over, from industries across the board, and I get to do it through selling fish. That is a specialty in itself, and I work next to the very best. For example, I was recently featured on a podcast called, Finally! A Show, which is about women and the interesting jobs they do. I was in the first few episodes. I will be forever honored to be recognized with so many exceptional women. They searched the country for us, and they found me through the fish market, doing my unusual job. I am pretty proud of that. I have been used in scavenger hunts as a local celebrity for being the only female fish monger at my job, moms and dads tell their little girls that I am an example that they can be anything (I take pictures with lots of little kids). The Mariners even made an official All Star enamel pin of me throwing a fish. The whole situation is wild, but I am proud to be a part of it all. All of those moments have spread the music I make into the world. I am so grateful for that. Every person I connect with, takes a piece of my art with them along the way.

What matters most to you?

That is a big question. I don’t think I can commit to one specific thing mattering the most. There are just too many.

Right now I am going to go with the lovely life that I am creating with my husband. Our little world encompasses all my other things that matter most.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Branik
• Instagram: @iambranik
• Facebook: @iambranik
• Twitter: @iambranik
• Youtube: @hillaryann21
• Soundcloud: @iambranik

Image Credits

Jonah Besel, Kelly Branyik