Lucky 13 with Laura Bryna

Having toured the world with Taylor Swift, Emmylou Harris, Clint Black, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw and being a Billboard Top 10 Artist, Laura Bryna has also recently been able to add going viral on TikTok with over 1 MILLION views of her jaw-dropping song rendition of her single “Stars are Falling” which earned #2 on the UK based Music Week Commercial Pop Chart.

@laurabryna

Get vibey with me…. 💖🎶 #Ashes #Stellar #DuetMe #PopcornDuet #SingingChallenge #SingWithMe #PopcornKaraoke #Karaoke @rnbstellar

♬ original sound – Laura Bryna

With her latest track, the infectious dance/pop jam “Way That It Was,” the veteran singer takes the “anthem that meets our collective moment” concept one thematic step further. Encapsulating our emotional exhaustion with this crazy new normal and hopes for future restoration, its words were originally written about a broken relationship but now have powerful universal applications: “Both of us knew it’d come back around sooner or later. . .Back to the Way that it was/It shouldn’t hurt but it does/Back to the way that it was.”

The song was co-written and produced by Grammy Award winner Damon Sharpe (Ariana Grande, Pitbull, J Lo, Anastacia, Nelly), who also co-wrote and co-produced “Stars Are Falling” and “Sweet Revenge,” Laura’s 2019 hit single that established her fresh and innovative hybrid country, New Wave and electronica vibe after years of success as a mainstream contemporary country artist that included touring on bills with superstars of multiple generations – including Taylor Swift, Emmylou Harris, Clint Black, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan.

Citing musical mavericks like Grace Potter, Chris Stapleton and Etta James as inspirations, the Los Angeles based artist feels she’s coming into her own, establishing herself as an artist unafraid to venture outside typical genre norms and expectations. She credits meeting Damon Sharpe through a mutual friend with opening her creative eyes to exciting new sonic possibilities.

“Nashville will always be number one in my heart, but my love for so many kinds of music led me to a point where I wondered, ‘What else do I want to say?’” she says. “Listening to all these different styles made me who I am as an artist, and with so many opportunities coming my way, I thought, why not take the plunge and create my own thing?”

“Damon comes into our collaborative process from the electronic dance world, and I come as a country girl,” Laura adds. “I like to say we are ‘smushing’ our individual styles together. I love that he didn’t want to change me but broaden my horizons and take my artistry a step further. When we met, he knew I was country at heart, but in his forward-thinking way, he envisioned what we could create if we married dance and country together. We clicked immediately and I knew that the songs we recorded were the perfect response to my question about what to say next as an artist.”

Lucky 13 with Laura Bryna

1. What was the first song you ever performed? 

“The Rose” by Bette Midler.  She’s a fav!

2. What personal advice would you give to someone wanting to pursue this career? 

Always learn, always take a meeting, a coffee, a lunch with someone…You never know where or when that opportunity will knock on your door.  Learn as much as you can!

3. What are 3 things that you have to have with you at all times/never leave home without? 

MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish-Soft and Gentle, whipped cream, and a great bra!  MAC is amazing and very philanthropic, whipped cream is my indulgence, and a great bra is a necessity! Hehe

4. How would you describe your music to someone that has never heard you before? 

I would describe my music as sassy, edgy, emotional, and authentic!  My new song, “The Way That It Was” fits today perfectly.  Although it was written about a relationship it doubles in the sense that it’s what everyone is hoping will happen soon…Getting back to dancing in clubs, dining out, being with friends and family, and most of all HUGS!!.

5. Do you have other interests or talents you would like to share with us? 

I make animal noises…my specialties are a cow, a pig, a horse, and a monkey hehe.  I’ve written a series of children’s books about my parrots that will be coming out this year.  Who knows, maybe I will incorporate some of the animal noises when I am on tour to promote the book. Hehe  Can’t wait to get back to touring and seeing everybody!!!  Been way too long!

Her series of children’s books with several writer and illustrator friends are based on her three parrots that are familiar to her longtime fans, Tyler, Harmony and Snuggles. She has used the pandemic-related lockdown time wisely and creatively, feeding off her partners in the venture via Zoom and Skype calls. She plans to launch the (thus far) four book series (which she affectionately calls “my passion project based on my crazy birds’), including her recently finished Christmas book, in mid-2021.

6. How do you like to enjoy your relaxation time away from the music? 

 I love being with My Babies, My Birdies…You don’t need TV when “The Babies” are around.  They talk, sing, dance…they love to entertain! hehe 

7.  Someone once said write what you would want to perform over and over. With that in mind, what song do you love to perform the most? 

I love performing, “Make A Wish!”  I love that this song represents children and their wishes! Children are our future, and they should always dream big, as I have!!  I am so proud of that video as there are several Make-A-Wish children in the video.  It was two days of filming and I formed such a special bond with each and every one of them.  Those children touched my heart forever.  When I sing that song it always brings back those special memories of being with those children.  Trey Fanjoy is an amazing director with an incredible eye and vision.  I felt so honored to be able to work with her in Nashville.   

8. What are your up-to-date performance plans? New Releases? Tours ? News? 

We have a new fun, up-tempo song coming out called, “The Way That It Was!” I’m really excited!  The video is fantastic! Eli did such an arming job with “Stars Are Falling,” he had to do “The Way That It Was!”  I’m hoping we can get back to performing soon!!  I miss being with everybody!

9. Have you been involved in any benefit performances? What was it and how did you become involved? 

I have had the honor of being involved in many benefit performances.  I had the privilege of doing a benefit performance for The Make-A-Wish Foundation and Disneyland in Anaheim, California. I got to perform the “Make A Wish” song in honor of Disney’s 50th Anniversary and Make-A-Wish’s 25th Anniversary.  I was really honored to be a part of such a monumental moment!  In 2018 we headlined a benefit concert for The National Guard and Homes for Our Troops in Washington DC and as a result, we joined the USO on a trip overseas during the week of July 4th of 2019.  We toured 7 countries in nine days entertaining our troops and bringing them a little piece of home. We have also performed at several fundraising events for Wounded In Action Family Foundation, Folds Of Honor, Wounded Warrior Project, and many more.  I love giving back and helping these brave men and women and their families.  They are all heroes!!

10. How do you think you would like to be remembered by everyone if something were to happen to you suddenly? 

I hope people would remember me for my heart and my love for others. I would also love to borrow a line from a Paul Anka song that he wrote for Frank Sinatra…”I did it…My Way!”

11. If you had only five minutes on earth to perform one song that could leave a great impact on the world today, what song would you perform and why did you choose this particular piece? 

 I LOVE the song, “At Last!” I love the blues and the emotion you feel when you hear a recording of Etta James singing that song.  It will just slay you. What a gift!  I had the privilege of seeing her in concert twice and touring Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals, AL where she recorded a lot of her albums.  I even got to sing on the mic she recorded on.  I wish she were still here with us!  

12. When things seem to go negatively at times, how do you turn things into something positive? 

I try to learn from the negative.  I try to figure out what went wrong and how we can do better next time.  You just keep learning and moving forward…always pursuing that dream.  As Winston Churchill once famously said, “You Never, Never, Never, Never, Never Give Up.”

13. As an artists, how would you define SUCCESS? 

 I define SUCCESS by being able to live my dream every day.  Being able to share my songs and hoping they will touch somebody and make their lives a little bit better, is the beauty of music.  I love hearing from my followers/friends/fans on my various social platforms. I love hearing their stories and how my music has helped them in some way shape or form.  We received a message on Instagram from a first responder who said they watch the video of “Stars Are Falling” every day when they get home from work.  They said it has helped them get through these difficult times.  It doesn’t get any better than that! 

For more information on Laura Bryna and her music:

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