Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Brown.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’ve always been a strange creature. As a toddler, I would sing just about anything, according to my mother. I would invent songs about the world around me, translated into indiscernible babble. When I reached my formative years, I was the little girl who would spend much of her play time alone in the backyard, making up songs about trees or animals, concluding the day with a play or performance for the family and neighbors. I always felt in tune with the universe and the natural order of things – exploring the world around me through song. The biggest influence as a young girl growing up was my father, a flamenco guitar player. When he passed when I was twelve, I was forced to define through an existential lens who I was and what I wanted to achieve during my fleeting time here on this planet. I dedicated myself to the only thing that has ever remained a constant for me: song. Since that defining moment, I have experimented in many other instruments including violin, piano, synthesizer, guitar, harmonica, and anything I could get my hands on.
After college, I began pursuing musical opportunities, starting my first and former project, Ocelot. Being in that group presented some awesome experiences and challenges – most notably the opportunity to open up for the Budos Band. In March of 2015, I was fortunate to meet Gregg Allman backstage at the Belly Up in Solana Beach. We discussed musicianship & the blues, and before I knew it, I was on a plane to FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, awarded the opportunity to sing on Track No. 7 – “Blind Bats and Swamp Rats” on his final statement album entitled “Southern Blood.”
Since then, it has been back to the grind, the hustle and bustle of making it as a musician. I am currently playing with my group Stephanie Brown & The Surrealistics around San Diego and Los Angeles, and have been focusing primarily on music production and recording.
Please tell us about your art.
I am currently the front woman for my band, Stephanie Brown & The Surrealistics. We are a rock group featuring elements of blues & punk. I am so fortunate to work with such amazing musicians and songwriters: Ryan Amyot, Michael Stell, Andrew Ware, and Hunter Stewart. My goal as an artist is to provide something deeply emotional and sonically driving with lyrics that stimulate a dialogue, and ultimately leave something behind after I’m gone.
While I consider myself a singer first and foremost, a big part of my art is my writing; I try to incorporate as much of it into my songs as the meter will allow. I don’t typically write about romance, a predominant topic of lyric writing. I believe there is so much more to talk about – existentialism, mental health, erstwhile friendships, and politics.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
You have to really want it. You have to be willing to get up & work a full-time job, then come home and devote yourself to your art every day. You have to be able to constantly self-reflect, look internally and honestly, fine-tune your work, and circumvent financial burdens staring you in the face. Is there another, cheaper way to get it done? Probably. You have to become a businessperson. You should be able to do it all yourself, or humble enough to ask for help when you need it. Learn the recording software, edit the videos yourself, record on a cheap microphone in your house. Utilize the resources available to you. If you have creative vision and the drive, anything can be done on a budget.
I was once discussing the microphone I was using with Gregg. He told me something along the lines of “if you can sing – it doesn’t matter where you do it or what you do it on.”
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
The Surrealistics have just finished up a series of recordings recorded at Studio West, that will be finalized and up on Spotify within the next coming months. You can find our current singles “Ain’t No Lie” and “Sadie” on Spotify, Itunes, Soundcloud, and Instagram.
You can follow me & the band on Instagram:
@stephaniebrownsound
@thesurrealistics
Stay tuned!
Contact Info:
- Email: stephaniebrowncat@gmail.com
- Instagram: @stephaniebrownsound
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesurrealistics/
Image Credit:
Ryan Amyot, Dane Reindel, Stephanie Brown, Alan Krespan, Gabriel Messer, Kimberly Menshek, and Amanda Nguyen
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