We recently connected with Brittany Sword and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Brittany, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
When I was 7 years old I knew I wanted to be a professional singer. I used to watch my mom sing with reckless abandon in our living room and thought singing with that much passion must be the most freeing feeling in the world!
Brittany, 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?
I wrote my first song when I was 12. I couldn’t play an instrument yet so I just wrote lyrics and sang the melody. That year my parents made me and my 6 siblings, take piano. The deal was each of us had to take 2 years of piano and we could move to other instruments if we wanted. I decided to take piano for about 4 years privately and at age 14 took vocal lessons. My instructor told me I just needed to learn the mechanics of singing as my tone and talent were already there. Somewhere between 12 and 14 my brother brought home an acoustic guitar from a pawnshop. I remember It had an 8 ball sticker on it and I thought that was pretty cool. I started learning to play by ear and through tabs (an easy form of guitar notes). I started learning songs by Breaking Benjamin, Greenday, Avril Lavigne, Skillet and other rock acts who were big at the time. I started fronting rock bands as a singer in 2007-2009.
In 2008/09 I went to college to get my music degree but didn’t realize I was dyslexic so I was really struggling in my core classes even though, I was acing my music classes. Music always made sense to me but ask me to write a paper…no dice! So I dropped out and went to beauty school. I started playing solo shows at that time and met my husband at a show we were both playing. That was towards the end of 2009. After I graduated beauty school I still played shows off and on as a soloist but wasn’t making it a high priority. My husband and I got married in 2011 and about 4 years later we started the Duo “The Stress Vine”. We were playing out much more often but still holding down day jobs.
In 2019 my husband, Cory, started to get too sick to perform with me regularly. With Cory being a music lover and performer himself, he knew how much music meant to me so he encouraged me to continue playing solo! With his support I went solo and started writing more original music and playing live shows! That same year I dropped my first single and music video “Thinking of You” an ode to Cory and our love for each other.
Music didn’t become my full time venture until 2021/2022 after the pandemic. I was just getting my foot in the door at venues in 2019/2020 when the pandemic hit America. Just before the lockdowns, I had started teaching guitar lessons from the local music shop “Muse Music Store” in Oskaloosa, Ia. I gave a lot of online lessons during that time and really honed my setlist for live shows and worked on live streaming concerts to get my name out there. I remember thinking positively that “once this was all over it would be the roaring 20’s all over again” I kept telling myself that and I took every opportunity I could find once the restrictions lifted. I think that put me in a good position to go full time once everything opened back up! I just knew things would work out if I kept pushing in a positive direction. Things were looking up once everyone’s doors opened again!
Since all that I’ve dropped an EP called “Colors” and a new single which dropped on June, 26th 2023 called “Johnny”. You can find all of my music wherever you listen to music or you can support me directly by purchasing my music on Bandcamp.com just search for Brittany Sword and it will come right up!
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Art is very expensive to make whether is’t visual, audio or otherwise, that’s just the reality of it. But, once that art is made it can lead to extraordinary things! The music I make is meant to make you think, to feel, to sway and to dream! There have been times I’ve needed to turn some music on to get a good cry out or to help pump me up for a big moment! Music is life to me, it captures life, it influences life and it enhances or dulls our life experience. For me, apart from God and my husband it’s one of the most amazing thing there is to experience! So when someone supports an artist they are saying I want to see more of THAT in the world. And if someone doesn’t know how to support their favorite artists just ask!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The people! 100% the people! I have met so many beautiful souls, many of who I am sure are reading this! Many of my fans are very kind and caring people. The kinds of people who want nothing but peace, a full stomach and people they love around them! They want to see good in the world and happiness for all! My fans are my people and we are more alike than we are different!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brittanysword.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittanyswordmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brittanyswordmusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brittanyswordmusic
- Bandcamp: https://brittanysword.bandcamp.com/album/colors-physical-cd
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brittanyswordmusic
Image Credits
Jeff Hackbarth Photography