Song Introduction: The County Fair

"With daisies you show up at my door / You say we're late--I don't have time to ask what for, okay?"

Yesterday I received a letter in the mail from my niece--she sent me a bouquet she made of paper daisies with a ribbon holding them together, and that told me which song to do next in my ongoing series of song introductions.

And yes, daisies are my favorite.

The County Fair

Last fall, driving past the town of Omak, I saw the lights of the county fair in the distance, and that is where this song began. This one was so much fun to write because it came together so easily. It had a direction of its own, and I haven't experienced that as a writer too often.

A few lines: "We play the games like they're goin' outta style / A wagon full of kids gets every prize we won / Except a bear that's bigger than me / 'Cause watching me try and carry it is too much fun... for you..."

A lot of the inspiration for this song came from favorite memories, like high school Homecoming soccer games, Minor League Baseball games when I was young (the fireworks were the best!), and some more recent events like the Apple Blossom Festival and the R&B Festival...

But mostly, this song came from my imagination. Describe your perfect day...
If I were at the county fair, I'd love to do this. To play all the games, get an armful of prizes, and give them all away to a "wagon full of kids". Imagine the feel of that scene in the movie Tangled when Flynn and Rapunzel finally make it to the town outside the castle (I love it)... That's kind of what I was going for.

Like an old black and white movie, like Tony Kirby and Alice Sycamore, like a lasso around the moon... I hope I captured even just a little bit of that same magic.
 

-Brittany

Of the Post Office and iTunes

What a week it's been!

Thank you for ordering Leavin' Home!!
I've gone to the Post Office every day this week, and I've (happily) been that person in line with more than a normal amount of packages...

It's so exciting knowing these albums are getting out to you!

Thank you for sharing the album release with friends and family, thank you for caring about it, and thank you for being lovely people. I love you guys.

Also, Leavin' Home is now available on iTunes!
It finally made it to the party--late, but welcome!

Another also, for those of you outside of the US wanting the physical album, Leavin' Home ships internationally from CD Baby. (Let me know if you run into any trouble, and I'll see what I can do!)

Happy Friday!

-Brittany

Leavin' Home Album Release!

Album Release Day! I’ve been looking forward to this day for about a year and a half!

Leavin’ Home is available now!

You can get it here in the Store, on iTunes, or on CD Baby!

Leavin’ Home is my second album comprised of ten original songs (including hit single “Wildfire”) and two cover songs (one from the legendary Gordon Lightfoot and a classic from Ian Tyson–both being all-time favorites of mine). From songs about small-town days to songs about trying to find wild horses, the feel of this album is a little different than Whispered Stories. For most of these songs, I asked the musicians for an acoustic setup, bringing a new kind of life to our sound. I hope you love the difference as much as I do! Featuring the guitar, the fiddle, and the dobro, it was a lot of fun singing in the studio with my very own Union Station.

There’s a lot of love and time that went into the creation of this record, and I hope you love it. I hope it encourages you–lifts your spirit, and I hope you find new favorites on this album.

-Brittany

P.S. I’m having a livestream hangout tonight at 5:30 PM (Pacific Time)! If you want to check it out, the link to the livestream will be posted on my Facebook page at 4:30! :)

One Day More!

"... another day, another destiny!"

Leavin' Home is coming out TOMORROW!

I'm going to have a livestream hangout in celebration at 5:30 PM (Pacific Time) tomorrow (3/11)!

If you're interested, the link to the livestream will be posted on my Facebook page an hour before going live.

I'll be talking a bit about making the album, some of the songs, and probably some very random things... I might sing somethin'... I'll also answer questions; so if you have any questions, you can send 'em to me on Facebook or Twitter beforehand or in the chat section of the livestream itself!

If you can't make it this time, hopefully this will be just the first of many!

We'll see how it goes, "there's a first time for ever'thing". :)
 

-Brittany

Song Introduction: Wildfire

This song is one I've written and talked about and performed quite a few times this past year, and it's amazing where it has taken me since March 2015 when it was released.

This song was inspired by the 2014 Carlton Complex Wildfires in Washington state, my own experience, and the stories of others. Writing this song, I never imagined that we would have another horrible summer of fires just a year later. In 2014, the Carlton Complex was named the state's largest recorded wildfire. In 2015, that record was broken. I'm praying this summer will be different.

One Line:
"I'll hear the wind chimes sing all night..."
Before moving to Washington, we had wind chimes just outside the back patio door of our house in Illinois (same ones pictured up above). I loved the sound. After moving, the familiar ringing of those chimes felt like home.

When the fires came the closest to us during that week in July, the wind would pick up out of nowhere--wildfires create weather of their own, and going to sleep on those nights (wondering if I really should have been going to sleep or if I should have stayed awake), I noticed the wind chimes. I was very aware of that little piece of home amidst my fear and the danger.

This was not an easy song to write. The subject matter affected the people and towns all around this area, my friends, my favorite places... But I had to write it. The strength of the people fighting those fires every day, the unbelievable destruction that could tear down one house then skirt around the house next door leaving it completely untouched, the perseverance of those who lost so much... But most of all, the beauty that rose up from within those ashes. People helping each other (neighbors and volunteers from all across the country). Towns coming together.

These things were too powerful for this songwriter to ignore.


-Brittany

P.S. Happy Leap Day!

Cart (0)