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

Hi Brianna, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Authenticity matters most to me. In a world where we are told how to act, what trends to follow, and what a “successful” life looks like, following your own path is a powerful act of resistance and self love. Each of us has something unique and special to offer. The more we can tap into our authenticity, the more diverse, creative, and engaging the world will be.

For me, going inwards and remembering what lit me up as a child has been instrumental in connecting with my truth. I spent my 20s in Boston working corporate sales jobs because it was the “smart” thing to do, all while disregarding my creative side. I found meditation after struggling with depression and through it, remembered the musical dreams I had when I was younger. From that point on, I decided to listen to my intuition which told me to work through the resistance I had about singing publicly and pursue my music whole-heartedly. I haven’t looked back and have never been happier.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The heart and passion that goes into my music is what I am most proud of and what sets me apart. Songwriting has become a potent healing modality for me and the more vulnerable and authentic I am in my writing, the more it resonates with others. Through it, I have faced many parts of myself and my past that I kept hidden for years. Art has an incredible ability to alchemize pain into beauty and my intention behind releasing music is to do just that. I hope to inspire others to follow their passions and face their shadow while on their own healing path, knowing that they are not alone.

It has been quite the leap going from the stability of a 9-5 to full-time musician, as you can probably imagine. There is so much uncertainty associated with pursuing a career in the arts. It certainly has been a grind, in a completely different way from my corporate life. However, I am grateful for my business background as it has been helpful with finding / negotiating gigs and putting myself out there. Another challenge has been having to face off with my fear of being seen and worthiness around sharing my voice and music. Many of us, especially women, have been conditioned to play small and not take up too much space. The truth is, ALL of our voices were meant to be heard and ALL of us are worthy of taking up space.

Even with that being said, there are times when feelings of doubt creep in. When this happens, I try to slow down and feel into how far I’ve come on this journey. I moved across the country with my dog and a dream. I gathered the courage to start performing at open mics and immersing myself in the San Diego music scene. In a relatively short period of time (I left my job a year and a half ago), I’ve performed at iconic venues like Music Box in San Diego and Belly Up in Solana Beach and am working on my debut EP with my band. Recently, my single “Red and Blue” was nominated for the Best Acoustic/Folk song in the San Diego Music Awards. I have also started to host healing musical events, something that I could have only dreamed about a few years back. And to think, we’re just getting started!

When you take the step, your path will appear 🙂

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?
If I had a friend in town, we’d likely spend our days outside and nights checking out local music. Between the beautiful beaches, hiking spots, and walkable neighborhoods, San Diego has plenty of opportunities to soak up the sun. We’d also have to go to a yoga class followed by an acai bowl or smoothie. I love Indie Yoga and Vili’s Health Bar in OB for that. Before hitting up Lou Lous or Soda Bar to catch a friend’s show, we would watch the sunset at Dog Beach, Sunset Cliffs, or the Gliderport.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to the San Diego music community. As soon as I arrived here and started immersing myself in the scene, I felt inspired and encouraged to continue. Folks here genuinely root for and support each other, unlike anything I’ve seen. There isn’t this underlying competitive energy because there is space for all of us to shine in our own right. The San Diego music scene today feels like a modern-day Woodstock and I am incredibly grateful to be a part of it. Also a huge shoutout and thank you to my band. You guys rock.

Website: https://www.briannagrace444.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannagrace444/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@briannagrace444

Other: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5zyCCTJozrdVav4TgcAO4d?si=2ihNANJQRV-Qh3xIEjDyVA

Image Credits
Palome Louise

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