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1. We’re super-excited to be speaking today with acclaimed Dallas-based singer and songwriter Brigitte Mena! Before we dive into the Q&A, how would you describe your musical stylings to a fan just beginning to get into your music? Listening to you, we hear the sweet drippings of pop music, but would it be fair to peg you as a strictly pop artist?
Thanks for taking the time to chat with me! I describe my music as a blend of pop & rock. I was involved in an indie-rock band before I started my solo project, so some of my current music definitely stems from more of the rock genre.
2. Congrats on the freshly-minted release of your beautiful new album After The Storm! What inspired one of the very best new LP’s of 2024?
Thanks so much and I’m glad you enjoyed listening to it! My latest album is all about rediscovering myself and the many facets of love I experienced over the past few years. When I started writing this album, I was going through quite a bit of loneliness and isolation. I wasn’t sure who or where to turn to except for music. I reconnected with my faith while writing this album and it led to a lot of questions about life in general and to my surprise, connection which I was craving so badly. So I would say my faith definitely inspired this album which is quite different from my last two albums.
3. We’re big admirers of the tune “Honeybee” which is off of the After The Storm LP! What’s the origin story of this track?
Honeybee is actually the first single I put out off the album! This song is about a metaphor between a bee and a flower which represents the relationship between two people. Both of them are reliant on each other for growth, but the bee is “free” and able to take and flee at any moment while the flower is rooted and stuck in its current place. When I was writing “Honeybee,” I felt a lot like the flower and how people can just take whatever they want, and once they’ve had their fill, leave without any intention of returning.
4. Can you introduce our readers to the incredible musicians who contributed their own musical alchemy to After The Storm?
Yes! The beautiful guitars you hear on the album were written by Jordan Shepard & Paul Thomas. Kris Hawkins wrote the boomin’ bass and beatmaster Mikael Aguilar wrote the drums.
5. Who was the producer on After The Storm and what did the collaboration between artist and producer look like in the studio while working on the new LP?
After the Storm was produced by myself, bandmates, and my sound engineer Chris Howell. When I’m in the studio, I have a pretty solid vision of how I want each song to sound and everyone is pretty great about contributing ideas, so I would say it was collectively produced. Chris is also great at adding in the final touches of different vocal and instrumental effects to give each song the fullness that it may have been lacking from beforehand.
6. What differentiates After The Storm from other releases in the 2024 music scene?
I feel like a lot of music being put out right now has more of a folky vibe compared to the album I just released. I actually have been considering putting out an acoustic album which I think would match more of what is currently being released. Stay tuned 😉
7. Who inspires you musically?
Right now it’s a blend between the bands Middle Kids and Slow Pulp. I feel like both of those bands have the sound that I’m going for. Definitely check them out if you haven’t already!
8. In the wake of the release of After The Storm, can fans look forward to catching you on the touring circuit in the coming weeks and months?
Yes! I am actually playing at a local Solar Eclipse Festival here in Dallas at the University of Texas at Arlington on April 6th! After that, I’ll be playing at Double Wide on May 10th.
9. How is After The Storm similar to your sophomore LP, 2020’s Element? How is it different?
I’d say they both have a similar style musically speaking, but my current release has a more coherent sound as all of the tracks were recorded at the same studio. Element on the other hand, was recorded at a few different studios and I also worked with various musicians on that album.
10. As a singer/songwriter, which generally comes first for you: The lyrics or the music?
That’s hard to say. Most of the time, I have either a lyric line or melody in my mind that I start playing around with. I get really caught up in the lyrics as they’re my favorite part of the writing process, so I probably spend the most time tweaking the lyrics.
11. Any final thoughts you might like to share with readers about your beautiful new album After The Storm?
I hope that when people listen to this album they are reminded of what will always come after the storm, a “rainbow” filled with hope, joy, and light.
