Meet Brea Burns

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brea Burns.

Brea, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in Southern California, outside of LA. Both my parents were in the music industry and met at MCA records. My mom was a musician and graphic designer, and my dad was a record exec. I may have found music regardless of that, but growing up around it made it even more obvious to me that it needed to be a huge part of my life. I always dreamt of traveling, touring, being on stage, and getting to play music with a great group of people I considered friends.

I got my first guitar when I was 12. We moved to the outskirts of Nashville when I was 14 for my dad’s job. George Jones was our neighbor at the time. Moving from Southern California to rural Tennessee as a teenager was a bit of a culture shock to say the least

When I turned 18, I quickly moved into the actual city of Nashville and had alot of fun working at a coffee shop called Bongo Java, that was basically a hub for all the local musicians, artists, music row people, etc. Everyone I worked with (literally everyone) was a musician, and I played my first show in the upstairs theater of that coffee shop. I discovered my love for Classic Country Music after acquiring an old suitcase record player and wearing out Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn records.

I got sick of Nashville after a few years and was ready for a change. I moved to Arizona. I finished hair school and began building my career with that, as well as learning dozens of old country standards by myself in my room, and going to country shows in town by myself, because at that time I didn’t know anyone else in Phoenix that was into that kind of music. I cocktail waitressed at The Rhythm Room which was a total blast, and again put me around so many great musicians all the time. It was very inspiring.

I put my first Honky Tonk band together (Trailer Queen), and we quickly got some pretty decent gigs and found a niche in the Arizona Country scene. Our first big show was getting to open for Wayne Hancock at Rhythm Room, which was a really cool ‘full circle’ kind of feeling for me after being a waitress there. We were also welcomed into Dana Armstrong’s ‘Valley Fever Country Music Night’, which at the time was every Sunday at Yucca Taproom. Through her and the community she’s created, I’ve met some of my favorite musicians and friends, and got to play and be a part of some of the most fun shows to date.

After a few years, I changed my band name to Brea Burns and the Boleros, which is the current name. We play regularly all around Arizona, and have also toured Europe, the West Coast, and played in and around Nashville. We are returning to Europe this Summer to play The Green Escape Festival in France, and a few more European dates. Also, another West Coast run in mid-September. I feel so lucky that I get to do this, although I don’t really like the word ‘luck’. I know how hard I’ve worked to make this happen, as so many other musicians doing what I do have. It doesn’t really feel like a choice, just something I need to do…as cliche as that may sound.

We’d love to hear more about your music. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I play Classic Honky Tonk Music. I am the front person and songwriter, but I have always had the honor of having really great musicians in my band over the years. I couldn’t do what I do without them. It’s cool when a mutual love for something brings people together in a really natural way. I’ve always appreciated that about playing live as well. On a good night, the band, the bar, the dancers, the dj and the audience all get into a ‘zone’ together, and you kind of time warp to another place for a bit. That’s what I hope people take away from our shows. A feeling. And forgetting about their problems for a little while. Staying off their phones and being present with each other and having a good time.

What do you think it takes to be successful?
I think the idea of success is very personal to each person. I guess for me, an essential characteristic to success is happiness/satisfaction…is what I’m doing meaningful, at least to me and hopefully to other people? Is it fulfilling something that I felt was missing? I focus more on those things first, and if monetary success also happens then that’s great too.

Do you have any events coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
We play live pretty regularly around Arizona and beyond. A lot of the spots we play make for fun road trips or day trips. I love playing in cities and towns ‘off the beaten path’, which Arizona is full of. We have shows coming up in Bisbee, Pine, Flagstaff and a few other spots this Summer.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.breaburns.com
• Phone: 615.491.1575
• Email: littleglasscat@yahoo.com
• Instagram: brea_burns
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/breaburnsandthebolero

Image Credit:
Dana Armstrong, Surreal Sister Photog, Dave Deluxe, Scott Moline, Amanda Collins, Tony Ziemba

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