#Localmusicmonday Brittany in Naked City Magazine

#LOCALMUSICMONDAY FEAT. BRITTANY NICOLE

Jessica McKim November 10, 2014

NC: When did you start playing music?

BN: I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember but have been playing guitar since I was 16 years old. I played at church and local competitions and talent shows. As I got older, I was able to play more gigs in more places.

NC: Who has been the biggest influence in your music over the past 5 years?

BN: My friends and family have always been there no matter if it was a big competition or a ‘hole in the wall bar’ gig. They keep me going and life me up. I always get the encouragement I need from them.

NC: What do you do outside of the music world?

BN: Most of the time I get to travel around with my better half. He works on the road so we get to see a lot of places! We have two fur babies. A Blue Heeler named Remy and a Boxer named Darsi. They’re our very spoiled kids!

NC: What recent accomplishments are you most proud of.

BN: In 2011 I won the regional competition for the Texaco Country Showdown. I was able to compete at the state level which was held at the Oklahoma State Fair. I lost by only 5 points to a full band. It was devastating but it was one of my greatest performances and I also played my original music. More recent, I was able to perform at the Wormy Dog Saloon in downtown OKC. It may not seem like much to most people but that was a personal accomplishment of mine.

NC: What is your most memorable performance?

BN: I really enjoyed playing at the Red Dirt Rising. It was a tornado relief benefit concert that was held at the Arbuckle Ballroom in Davis, OK. It was a full day of music and there were so many bands that came together to help the victims of the May 2013 tornados. However, I honestly can’t say that I have one a most memorable performance. Each performance is unique in its own way. There’s always a new face or a new feeling that I get at each show. They’re all very special to me and I always make sure to do my best. Ya never know who’s watching!

NC: What artist are you listening to or are a fan of at the moment?

BN: My set list is very diverse. I’m influenced by a little of everything. As a musician it’s important to know who you are and where your strong points are but I also believe it’s important to play all types of music. I grew up listening to a lot of classic rock, pop, but mostly country and I absolutely LOVE Red Dirt music. Some of my favorite Red Dirt artist are Aaron Watson, Wade Bowen, Turnpike Troubadours, Cody Johnson, and Rich O’Toole, whom I got the privilege of opening up for at the Arbuckle Ballroom a few months ago. I’ve recently discovered ZZ Ward and I’m definitely a fan of her!

NC: Where do you find inspiration to write your originals?

BN: Most of the inspiration comes from things that I’ve been thru personally. They aren’t all personal though. I think about other people and what they’ve been thru. When you write a song that relates to someone’s life, they like it, the remember it, and they want to hear it again. That’s a way to make fans too.

NC: Do you prefer performing or songwriting more?

BN: I can’t say that I prefer one over the other. They’re both great talents to have and I feel like I have a decent strength in both. They’re both personal aspects of an artist. You have to be personal when you perform. That’s how you draw people in. You can’t just get on stage and sing. You genuinely have to feel it and make people feel it too. I’ve had so many compliments from people saying that I’m good but when I sing my own songs, they can feel it even more. So I guess I prefer performing the songs I’ve written!

NC: Where can people go to check out your music or find about upcoming shows?

BN: My artist Facebook page will always have my upcoming shows posted. I have a YouTube channel as well and you can learn more about me at http://artistecard.com/BrittanyNicole and you can follow me on Twitter!

Youtube: Brittany Nicole Youtube Page

Facebook: Brittany Nicole Facebook Page

Twitter: @BrittanyNStokes

To see the interview on the #NakedCityOKC website, click here.