Meet Brenden Solomon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenden Solomon.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born 10/27/94 in STL, Missouri. My family is from Guyana and I grew up surrounded by religion. My parents were never married and I stopped seeing my biological father around 2nd or 3rd grade. Around early middle school, the fact that I was attracted to men started to become overwhelmingly unavoidable. As I got to know myself, it was almost as if who I was was in conflict with everything around me.

I went to a mostly white Christian School. I was one of the very few black students, and my found myself not being “black enough” for either of them. Never could seem to figure out how to code switch as efficiently as I wanted to. I came out very, very, very slowly. First to a best friend during our junior year (who was also gay). I later told him I liked him and that only put a wedge between us. Our friendship didn’t last much longer after that. I manage to find others to get close to. I always had a love for music and my friend, Jack, used to invite me to the choir room during lunch to sing show tunes. He introduced me to musical theater. Seeing him sharing his gift inspired me to start developing my own. I moved to LA right out of high school. I majored in musical theatre and hoped to be on Broadway. During college, I finally learned to love both my queerness and my blackness. Seeing other black like-minded people who didn’t discredit my black experience finally allowed me to find peace with who I was as a gay black man. I was surrounded by queers! It terrified me at first and then it eventually liberated me.

After I graduated College, I dove into auditioning, but singing started getting harder and harder. I went to the doctor and she said I had a pollup that needed to be removed. The price was 5,000. Safe to say, I couldn’t afford it so I had to rearrange my plans completely. It was difficult but I eventually was able to find my new artistic path. After getting dropped by my agents and struggling to find new representation, I finally was able to find someone who was perfect for me. I started booking more and then covid happened. It sucked at first but I used the time to really unpack my trauma and find peace with many of the struggles that for so long I was content to avoid. It was hard but now I’m stronger and happier than I’ve ever been.

Has it been a smooth road?
So hard. I’ve had financial struggles and medical struggles. I had to learn to love myself for being queer and black. I had to stop running from trauma and start facing it. I had to learn to tell people no and stand up for myself. I had to learn that I am allowed to take up space. To be present and confident in who I am regardless of whose around.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a storyteller. Whether it’s through acting or photography, I love telling important stories that help people connect to through their own experiences. I love sharing the human experience on both stage and screen. I’m at the beginning of my career still, but as I do the work to improve myself more and more opportunities have been presenting themselves. What sets me apart? Nothing. I’m not exceptional. And that’s ok. I am hardworking, kind, and diligent. I strive to create space for those that I love through all the stages in their life and encourage them to keep pushing and improving.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The diversity. For most of my life, I was surrounded by white people. I will never live in a predominantly white place again. I love being around culture. There is so much we can learn from people of different backgrounds.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: brenden.emmanuell
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brenden.emmanuell/

Image Credit:
David Muller Photography and Ashley Doris Photography

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