We recently connected with Brianna Blankenship and have shared our conversation below.
Brianna, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Growing up, I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I always did activities that involved performing including dance, gymnastics and competitive cheer. I did chorus in school, but never saw it as a career for my future. My senior year of high school rolled around and we were having a musical called “Footloose”. I’ve never been in a musical, but my friends in chorus were pushing me to audition for it. I was in competitive cheer at the time and didn’t have time to do both. I ended up taking the leap and auditioning….and I got the lead as Ariel. Then, I had to decide if I wanted to do the musical or do cheer. I decided on the musical, and when I say that was the best decision I ever made, I mean it. Obviously it was a ton of fun, and I found a whole new love for music, singing and being on a stage, but I still knew in the back of my head that it wasn’t an ideal career. So, I went to beauty school and worked in a few different hair salons. Any off time I had, I spent learning the guitar at home. Once I finally felt ready, I started booking some gigs on the weekends at local bars. I ended up getting booked every Friday and Saturday for months on end. I felt like a horrible employee asking for every weekend off, so I quit that job and got one at a daycare where it was only day shift Monday through Friday and I could do my shows on the weekends. The daycare wasn’t the best pay and it took a huge turn on my mental health and I couldn’t do it anymore. I then, got a job at my local optometrist office. Although, I did enjoy working in an office, I was always looking forward to the weekends that I had shows. It got to the point where I was working a full time job, but playing 4-5 shows a week as well. It became way too much, so about 2 years ago, I took the leap and quit the job at the optometrist office and just decided to do music full time. That was the best decision of my life. But, whenever someone asks me, “when did you know you wanted to do music?,” I always go back to my senior year doing the school music. That’s when I knew I wanted to do music and it was my purpose in life. It was just figuring out how to make it work. And I did. You can do anything you set your mind to and never think your dreams are too far away.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a country singer/songwriter from a small town in Pennsylvania, but I am moving to Nashville this coming April to continue chasing my music dream. I have been traveling back and forth to Nashville the last few years. Playing bigger shows, writing and recording music, and just making as many connections as I can. I have been an independent artist all my life, but have played some big shows in Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, and more opening for artists including Dustin Lynch, Walker Hayes, Dylan Scott, Dan + Shay, Maddie & Tae, and many more. My main focus once I get moved down south, is to focus on writing and recoding. I just released my newest single called, “The Hardest Thing” which I co-wrote with my friends Brooke Klopfenstein and Aidan Scrivens about me moving away from my hometown and how hard it is to leave my parents behind. You can find it wherever you listen to music!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I did take singing lessons when I was going through high school and I believe that helped a ton with me finding my voice. I would just say, if you have a strong, burning passion for something, GO FOR IT. Whether it’s being a singer, or a model, or a pilot, or whatever your dream may be…GO FOR IT!!!! Nothing is too far out of reach. If you grew up in a small town, don’t let that define you. You have the power to be anything and do anything you want to do. Don’t let anyone try to steal your drive for your passion. if I had a dime for how many people said to me, “do you really think you’re good enough to make it?” I would be a millionaire!! Now I have people spending money on my merch and wearing it proudly wherever they go. I always dreamt of people wearing one of my t-shirts and now multiple people will come to my shows wearing it. It’s just crazy and you truly are so powerful and can do anything you set your mind to. Nothing is too far out of reach. GO FOR IT!!
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
This is something I’m still working on, but I’ll tell you what helps me. I deal a lot with anxiety and bad thoughts that will overstimulate me. The first thing I do is, realize what is happening in my head. Second, I will stop what I’m doing and take a deep breath. Third, I remind myself that I am in control. Sometimes, I let my brain take over and let all of these bad thoughts come in and just completely take over. So I just have to remind myself that I am in control. I am in control of my emotions, how I feel, the situation I am in, etc. I am in control. I’m actually about to get that tattooed on my hand (sorry dad lolol) that I strum my guitar with so when I feel overstimulated like that at a show, I can just look down and see “in control” and remember that I can control what I’m feeling. Like I said, I am still working on this. It’s very hard to not let your mind win and take over, but you just have to stay positive and remember who is in control. You.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://briannablankenshipmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannablankenshipmusic/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/briannablankenshipmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bblankenship___?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb3ZcRyaelMYAqfo_hdAg1A
- Other: https://linktr.ee/briannablankenshipmusic
Image Credits
Schroeder Shutters Fernando Del La Cruz Productions LLC Mettler Media
