We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bryan Leigh Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bryan Leigh , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The first dollar I earned as a creative was for selling furry, leopard print pocket books in middle school and high school. I was pretty good at sewing when I was a teen and found this amazing stuffed animal fabric at the small fabric store in Savannah, GA. I made one of these purses for myself and next thing you know, I was in business. I made quite a few fuzzy things that sold successfully at school: purses, pillows, belts and bracelets. I never did it for the money and that’s probably why I remember it as fun and successful. I think that’s the only way to do it in the arts, make it for YOU. Make it because YOU like it. If you create from the heart, people will feel that and want to be a part of it.

Bryan Leigh , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Bryan Leigh Smith, your local Rhinestone Cowgirl. I’ve been an artist as long as I can remember. I’ve been dancing since I was 2 years old, sewing since I was 5 and choreographing/teaching since I was 11. Currently, my main gig is my Music under the name Bryan Leigh Smith, which requires a wide range of skills. To be a successful artist in any business you must wear a lot of hats. These hats include trend watcher, manager, booking agent, song writer, choreographer, producer, coordinator, creative director, and many more! It’s quite the challenge to juggle it all and I’m not good at all of it. As important as the business side is, I prefer to stay in the creation lane, I just want to dance, write songs, play with fabrics and create. The reality is, I must wear this business woman hat until I make enough money to pay someone else to do it (hey universe, this is my request- thanks in advance!). That’s what most artists have to do.

In my artist’s world of music, I am on a cowgirl kick and it has been a blast baby! Yeeehaww!
My latest release is a cover song called “Cowboy (Cowgirl version)” originally recorded by Kid Rock in 1999. I’ve also released a country-pop song called “Rhinestone Cowgirl” which was the first song I released under this artist name, Bryan Leigh Smith. (I used to go by b-RyaN but the hyphen really messed up all my searches so I changed my artist name back to my real name. {artists, take note of this hyphen issue, avoid it if you can})

My favorite release, “Rhinestone Cowgirl,” is an anthem for strong femmes! Here are a few of the empowering lyrics:
” I always knew I had what it takes, gave them something to talk about everyday, I’m to strong get out of my way, i’m too sexy for these games, i’m alive when I take the stage I look my self in the mirror and I say , “Shine baby Shine, don’t you know i’m a dime, I dance how I want to I speak my own mind””. I’m really proud of the ways I have grown as a writer. I used to just write what I believed to be “cool”, now I write about my experiences, I write about my dreams, I write to cast good spells with my words (especially if we are going to be singing them repetitively). Words are powerful and I am so grateful I get to use my voice.

I’m also really excited about what I’ve accomplished in the last year! I spent quite a few years with music and art on the back burner and now? … I’ve produced 3 music videos for my music, released 7 songs, created a cowgirl brand, and I’m about to start a dance class called “Puss in Boots”. It’s a cowgirl-vibe heels class!!! I am super stoked to share it and build the Los Angeles cowgirl community. (yes this really exists…I don’t think it’s an official club yet but I am determined to create it)
Check out my IG for class updates @bryanleighsmith

Later this summer I am releasing the 3rd music video under Bryan Leigh Smith for the song “Crush on You”. This has been an incredible project to work on and a dream come true. This video was choreographed by Samantha Caudle and Gigi Escobar and it turned out prettier than I imagined! This song is more of an r&b/pop vibe which I believe to be my lane. I felt like TLC rolled into one when I was in the recording studio. For the look, I took a step away from the cowgirl vibe for this video and channeled my inner dominatrix. This vision came to me as a curious one, I saw myself as a dominatrix in a guided meditation and I thought, “I need to execute that”. A month later, that vision was a reality. I also pay homage to Britney (aas we do) and showcase the first prototype of my Rhinestone Cowgirl Sweats/Bikini line. :). (damn, yall are getting all the secrets here!)

My message to the world is “DANCE How You Want To!” I want everyone to have the inner freedom to express themselves artistically. I know that sometimes the fear of what other people think can stifle artists, but the truth is, the world needs our art! The world needs us to dance how we want to baby! :) It’s my mission to inspire those in my community to express themselves to the fullest, take the chance, listen to that inner voice, and to break free from the chains in your mind that say “you can’t”.

May you Shine Baby Shine!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to accept and love people for who they are and inspire them to DANCE How They Want To! I want to inspire the world to be themselves! I want people to dance, dress, create and express themselves to the fullest! I want the world to be free! I believe that expressing myself fully will inspire others to do the same. I am quirky af and if I can do it, so can you!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Omg, I am a book worm!!!!! I listen to almost all my books and if I’m actually reading one, you better believe it’s important! “The Artist’s Way” is a fabulous book for getting out of your own way and allowing your inner artist to create.
“The Secret” is a gateway drug to the law of attraction. This book reminds you how magical and powerful your mind is and how your thoughts become things.
“The Year of Yes” is a great book about Shonda Rhimes, writer of Grey’s Anatomy and Bridgerton, walking through a transformational year of success against her own will. She forced herself to do many things she did not want to do or was too afraid to do and she had the best year of her life.

I think we should always have a book on deck. The mind is a fertile ground for anything we want to do, create or become.
When we feed it good information we will create a good life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bryanleighsmith.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryanleighsmith/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladybryanleigh
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bryanleighsmith
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bryanleighsmith

Image Credits
Ewelina Polnicka Tony Alvarez