Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brandie Inez Sutton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brandie Inez, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve always been able to sing- since I was a little girl, but I never knew that what I could do was something special, and definitely not something that could make me a living. I started off singing in church, as many singers often do, and my grandmother, Inez Booth, insisted I start taking voice lessons. When I continued taking voice lessons in college, as a biology major, my voice teacher got me to eventually switch my major, after taking me to do local competitions. She had me do 8 competitions and I won 7 of them. That’s when I started believing this was something I could excel in doing. When I won money in these competitions and researched the different careers I could have in music, I started to believe I could actually go after my passion and survive! I eventually realized it was the only thing that I should be doing to survive. Literally what I believe I was born to do.

Brandie Inez, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

One thing I believe sets me apart from many is my versatility and voice. My voice is something my grandmother always told me was unique. She was a believer in God so she’d always tell me it’s as if God dropped the voice in my throat. I’ve been told my voice is healing and that it comes out of my mouth, off the stage, into the audience and wraps around you like a warm hug. I love to sing for people and see their reaction because looking at me, you’d never expect to hear the voice that comes out. In addition to singing opera, I’ve done some jazz, gospel, and I absolutely would love to do some Broadway. I haven’t yet, but I know my voice would do well in that setting as well. It’s the next goal for sure! Currently I’m working on a solo show that will incorporate all the things I love to sing and hope that others will be inspired to take the reins of their own career trajectory. Materializing that which is in their souls to create. We keep so much beauty to ourselves trying so hard to please the powers that be in the industry, which often times can’t do what we can do.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I remember when I first moved to NYC to pursue this career, it was tough to find an apartment. The city is expensive and I wasn’t working yet. Thankfully my dad paid my rent for me until he couldn’t anymore. I had to move, but didn’t want to leave NY yet. On top of that, I was a new mother, and a single one at that. It made things more difficult but never stopped my activity. I kept auditioning, taking small paying jobs, worked in a doctor’s office for a bit and stayed with my friend’s mom in Brooklyn until I could find an apartment. I ended up staying there for two years. The last summer that I was there, I got my first ‘yes’ in NYC, to do a program- Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance. There was a board member at the time who was a philanthropist in the arts scene and who loved my performance of Madame Butterfly. I was able to talk to him about any grants he may know about for singers. Told him my situation and he graciously said I’m giving you a year to hit the ground running; I will take care of your rent during that time. To this day, Andrew Martin Webber is my guardian angel! After that year was up, I paid my rent on my own ever since. I’m not sure how I would’ve stayed in NYC to pursue my mission if it weren’t for his generosity, or the support of those around me that wanted to see me succeed. You can’t do this thing alone, but you definitely can’t do it if you give up on yourself.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of this career for me is being able to do what I love! The saying really is true; I don’t feel as if I’ve worked a day in my life. Being able to play adult dress-up, as I sometimes like to call it, go out on stage and tell a story is quite rewarding. Also the way it has tested and grown my character is irreplaceable. And being able to show my son that you can do anything in this life you put your mind to do is something you can’t always teach. The fact he gets to witness it at such a young age and be inspired is for sure my greatest reward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.BrandieSuttonSoprano.com
• Instagram: @brandie_inez
• Facebook: Brandie Inez Sutton
• Twitter: @BranDIeVA
• Youtube: @brandiesutton8840
• Other: TikTok: @brandieinezsutton

Image Credits

Roger Manning
Colville Heskey