Meet Brandi Powell | Writer, Producer, Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brandi Powell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brandi, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m from a tiny, two-stoplight town in West Virginia. I grew up resentful of living in what felt like a very remote part of the country (I was an angsty teen!), but I now know how lucky I was to call it home. My hometown is full of blue-collar, hardworking people who are as resilient as the ancient Appalachian mountains that cradle them. People there move slower and make more with much less than people in the city. They are storytellers at their core – from fables, to ghost tales, to exaggerated memories. The oral storytelling tradition is strong in the montains, and perhaps influenced me to be a writer myself.

After moving to New York for college, I embraced the ability to blend in rather than be part of a town where everyone quite literally knew your name; they had been at your parents’ wedding, worked with your cousin, and had gone to school with your grandfather. Everyone is tied up like an intricate knot, and I deeply wanted to get untangled.

The more time I spent away, the more I felt like an alien coming back to West Virginia. Nothing ever changed: the same empty storefronts, the same dilapidated buildings, and the same people. I was the outlier. I was rapidly changing to adapt to my new life.

Despite this, I found myself reflecting on how this place had shaped the core of me. My innermost values were forged by the coal-black hands of this community. The work ethic that was standard there felt rare in New York in a way that made me appreciate the sturdiness of us Mountaineers. I’m someone who finds purpose in her work – no matter what it may be. I enjoy working with my hands and developing ideas alongside a team of like-minded creatives. I’m at home when I’m making a project that will ultimately enjoyed by others. I find all of this roots back to my home, back to a sort of people that spin stories down generations simply to be enjoyed, no strings attached.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a writer/producer who straddles two different worlds in each career. As a writer, I tend to focus on underdog stories with dark humor and high stakes. Writing was a hobby, then an escape, and now part of my professional world. As a producer, I work on a variety of television specials, mostly live and mostly within music. I love working on the archival documentaries we build to capture the stories and success of musicians because I love using my storytelling muscles in a different capacity. When working from an existing story, I’m challenged to build a narrative with a set of tools, rather than the ability to conjure it up from my imagination. It’s almost like a puzzle to produce from archival footage and photos, which is perhaps why I love it so.

Music was my first real love, and without much musical talent, I still love to be a part of that world. The reactions of fans to the live concerts, award shows, and specials I work on make it feel tangible and real. I found myself at home at concerts growing up, and to bring that joy to other people is fulfilling in ways I couldn’t have possibly imagined.

I did not have the easiest start between growing up with no connection to the entertainment business, being a first-generation college graduate, and graduating into COVID-19, but I made it work. I chalk it up to my annoying refusal to quit. I just never saw another path that made me happy, so I kept fighting to make it work.

I’ve learned to be kind to everyone, at every level, and never take someone’s passion for granted. I also strongly believe in working laterally across the business, meaning working alongside your peers and friends rather than shooting your shot with someone a few levels above you. There is enough space for everyone to succeed, and your friends will bring you up with them if you treat them well and cheer them on.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love prioritizing three kinds of spots when in a city, so I usually plan under the guise of 1.) hitting up indie bookstores, 2.) eating great local food, and 3.) finding some music. If a friend needed Los Angeles recommendations, I would first make sure they do an independent bookstore tour between The Last Bookstore, Skylight Books, Book Soup, and Small World Books. For food, I would go with Guelaguetza for great Oaxacan mole, Jon & Vinny’s for the iconic spicy fusilli, and Tartine for some baked goods. As far as music venues, there’s always something great at institutions like the Troubadour, Whisky a Go Go, or The Viper Room.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to shout out my biggest supporter, quite literally from day one – my mom. She passed away unexpectedly this year and I already feel like she is missing moments that she invested in with me. She was unequivocally on my side, to a point that was almost comical. She was the kind of mom who would bury a body for her kid without a second thought. Her humor and kindness continue to influence every line I write. Sometimes she would come up with these grand dreams of what would happen to me, and although I would attempt to pull her expectations back down to Earth, she was certain it would all come true. I almost fear success now, however I measure it, because she won’t be able to experience it, and I feel she is owed it more than I ever will be.

Website: https://www.brandijopowell.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandijopowell/

Twitter: https://x.com/brandi__powell