I recently had the opportunity to exclusively interview Brina Kay to learn five random facts about herself and the story behind her song Too Warm For Autumn. Check out my interview with Brina below:
Loryn: What lesson has the entertainment industry taught you?
Brina: I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned from the entertainment industry is that nobody is going to “discover” you, you need to put yourself out there. Whether it be releasing music, performing live, posting social media content or all of the above, you need to be the driving force behind your career, and you don’t need anyone’s permission to start. I think a lot of entertainers (including myself) have been brought up believing that our fate lies in someone else’s hands, but that couldn’t be further from the truth, especially in the digital age. The moment I stopped waiting for permission and started putting myself out there, even when I didn’t feel ready, was when things really started happening for me.
Loryn: How has the pandemic changed you ?
Brina: The pandemic was truly a wake-up call as far as getting my priorities straight. It really helped me see with clear eyes what is worth my time and energy. It’s fundamentally changed the way I view employment. I recognize now that it’s just a means for survival and not something worth stressing over. The pandemic really ripped the bandaid off and exposed a lot of shortcomings our country faces when it comes to actually taking care of its people. Working people especially are often treated as disposable and are easily exploited for that reason. I’ve become very cognizant of that now, and have made a point to put my mental and physical well-being above the demands of any job. I also will not stay somewhere if I feel like it’s interfering with my personal dreams and goals. I’m much more willing to walk away, and I don’t allow myself to get stressed about anything I’m not paid enough to care about. I’m not going above and beyond to fuel anyone else’s aspirations unless I’m being properly compensated. I used to feel like I needed to prove myself. I now recognize my worth up front and have very clear boundaries and expectations when it comes to work-life balance.
Loryn: Who is a musician you’d love to collaborate with in the future?
Brina: I have been a fan of The Chicks since I was in kindergarten. I remember as a kid sitting in the back seat asking my mom to play them over and over and singing along. Recording a song with them would be such a full-circle moment for me.
Loryn: What is the story behind your recent song Too Warm For Autumn?
Brina: It’s actually an old song of mine that I just rarely play because it’s so quiet. Oftentimes in Nashville, we’re playing in bars and restaurants, singing over people talking, and it never felt right to perform that song in that kind of environment, so I never did.
This is one of the first songs I ever wrote in Nashville. It’s about realizing the person you want to be with is pulling away, and that the end of your relationship is near. Rather than trying to fight the inevitable, you choose to hold on and quietly cherish the fleeting moments you still get to have with them.
I always thought this concept was beautiful because breakup songs are often loud and dramatic, but real life isn’t like that. Breakups happen gradually and can happen for as simple a reason as your person slowly losing interest in you. In those moments you can choose to fight for it and make it messy or you can hold on for as long as you can. It’s something I tried my best to do with someone back in college.
Loryn: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Brina: I am Basque, which is a unique cultural heritage that not a lot of people know much about. The Basque region is located between Spain and France and the Basque language is one of the few not based in Latin. My dad is from Idaho where there is a large Basque population, so growing up I was able to learn some of the cultural traditions like dancing and even attend Basque festivals. I would love to eventually learn the language and travel to the Basque region one day. It would be so cool to implement more of that culture into my musical style.
Be sure to stay updated with Brina Kay by checking out her website: https://www.brinakaymusic.com/. Be sure to follow her on her social media platforms:
FB: Brina Kay
TW: @brinakaymusic
IG: brinakaymusic
YT: Brina Kay