Meet BRASSIE | Singer/songwriter

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

Hi BRASSIE, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Enjoying my journey without impeding anyone else’s. I’m very ambitious when it comes to my career/life in music. I have big dreams that may be realistically unattainable, so it’s important I don’t stake my entire life’s happiness on the accomplishment of those dreams. If I find happiness in the pursuit of my goals, then it’s all still worth it in the end – regardless of achievement. Furthermore, we all have our own pathways but we share the world that forges them. I don’t want to get in the way of anyone else’s happiness – and I hope others show me the same courtesy.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I like to think my songwriting, specifically my lyricism, helps set me apart from others. I’ve solidified my writing style over the past few years and found my voice through frequent rhyming, wordplay, and dark subject matter. Some of my favorite stand-alone lines include: “You were assured the world; blurring burden or gift you burned it” – Buyer’s Remorse by BRASSIE
“If using me’s a breeze then they can f**king blow me” – friends like these by BRASSIE
“Stolen honey is sickly sweet” – buzzkill remix (feat. BRASSIE & Tokiejoestar) by MOTHICA

I’m really proud of how far I’ve come with my music. I’m at a point in my career where people are actually reaching out to me to play shows or write/record songs together. It’s an amazing feeling and it’s consistently taking me to some pretty exciting places. There are several projects I’m working on now that I’m really, really excited about. I’m collaborating with some incredibly talented artists who have pushed me to do some of my best writing. I wish I could say more but nothing’s announcement-ready yet. Soon though – keep an eye out!

I started pursuing music professionally about 4 and a half years ago. Up until that point, I didn’t think being an artist was even an option for me because it wasn’t seen as a viable career path. And that’s probably been the biggest challenge throughout all of this – doubting myself. Doubting myself because of my own insecurities and shortcomings but also because of nagging cultural expectations. I’ve since learned to ignore all of that (although it remains a challenge). Music is the defining part of me and it would simply be inauthentic to pursue anything else. That’s all there is to it, I’ve realized. And I feel very fortunate that my life’s direction has presented itself so clearly to me.

There’s nothing I really want the world to know about my “brand” or my story. My only hope is that my music speaks for itself. And so far, I think it has.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I don’t get out much so if my friend wanted to have the best time in DC, I’d tell them to ask someone else. That said, there are a couple cool places I’d recommend:

-Any venue – Seriously, any music venue in DC. They’re all great. Pick a show to see at any one of them and you’ll have a good time. My favorites are probably DC9 and 9:30 Club. DC9 has fantastic food, staff, and shows. Grab a burger downstairs, sip a drink on the rooftop, and/or catch a sweet local band on the middle floor. 9:30 Club has amazing staff and shows as well – I practically live there so come say hi!

-Capo Deli – It’s right near DC9 and 9:30 Club. Great sandwiches and very friendly staff. Plus they have a secret speakeasy-type of club in the back on weekends. I haven’t personally checked it out but it sounds like fun whenever I’m there for a late-night bite.

-Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden – I love a good art gallery and the Hirshorn always has captivating exhibits. Plus it’s free! (I’m pretty sure most of the DC museums are free so any one of them would be an excellent way to spend an afternoon.)

-The National Mall – This goes without saying. If you’re in DC, you have to check out the monuments (and the Tidal Basin’s cherry blossoms in the springtime)!

-The Wharf – Everything’s pretty expensive on The Wharf but it’s still a nice place to just hang out. It’s great for being by the water, people-watching, dog-watching, and maybe catching some free live music on summer weekends.

-Capital One Arena – You have to catch a hockey game when you’re in town. Non-negotiable. Even if you’re not a fan, a game is just too fun to miss. Go Caps!

-Places I haven’t been… There are a ton of places in DC I’d love to check out but haven’t yet. At the top of my list are Artechouse, Renwick Gallery, the National Arboretum, and the DC Botanical Gardens. I’m sure there are a million cool bars and restaurants too – but I’m an artist so I eat ramen at home.

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?
There are many people I can thank for helping me in my artistic endeavors, but if I only get one shoutout this time, I have to give it to my producer and friend, Elijah Cruise. We’ve only released one song together under my solo project, but we’re working on more and really defining the produced BRASSIE sound together. He’s so creative and passionate about my project so I can trust his judgment when making decisions. At the same time, he’s flexible and amenable to my needs as they pertain to my artistic vision. Elijah and his amazing partner, Olivia Perdomo-Cruise (who does my photography and cover art), have opened their home, studio, and creative minds to me so that I can pursue BRASSIE in a way that’s most authentic and comfortable. I am so incredibly grateful for them both!

Website: https://brassie.bandcamp.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelbrassie

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

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7mEgHnF1FvDGiUg2K1Pt2n?si=89wtfhFaRZCWgskg_JisFw TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelbrassie

Image Credits
Lucas James and Alec Pugliese