Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayley Brownell.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in Fresno, California and was lucky enough to attend a week-long percussion camp when I was seven years old. As a kid, you just do the things that make you happy and playing drums/music was everything. From then on, I just never stopped.
It grew into playing for school, taking lessons and being a part of a traveling youth percussion group called We Got The Beat. Fortunately, I had very supportive parents that always wanted to lift up my dreams and if it wasn’t for that, I’m not sure I’d be where I am today.
Then I went off to graduate from CSUN in the Jazz department in 2015 and started my freelance career immediately after. Along the way, I picked up guitar, piano, songwriting, and production. So now, at 25, I freelance on drums full time, usually singing background vocals, running tracks, etc. and I have recently started a solo project called “Changeling,” in which I write the music and co-produced with my great friend, Elliot Glasser of FYOHNA. That music will be releasing in the next few months so be on the lookout 🙂
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life is hard, no matter where you come from so we all have our struggles. But for me, not only being a musician but also an artist, you really question your worth and ability constantly. Comparison is inevitable and is probably one of my biggest struggles in pursuing this career that I believe in so strongly. However, with all of those dark thoughts comes a quick relief of remembering that it must really mean something to me if I question it.
Like most musicians (who happen to be women) would say, it has always been a struggle to hear, “oh, you’re a musician…so, you sing?” It seems to be the common thread. And for me, I get that on the regular, especially playing drums. When in reality, yes I do sing and I play drums and I write my own music and I produce, blah blah blah. At some point, you kind of get used to it but I don’t think there will be a day when it doesn’t irk me in the slightest. But like most things in my life, I try to focus on what’s important, which is me doing what I love to the best of my ability, regardless of a preconceived notion someone might have about me or other badass women.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to bring my own distinct taste and style to peoples’ music. If I’m playing for an artist I have never played for before, I really take the time to listen to the lyrics, the shape of the song and the feeling. Then I figure out how to properly orchestrate on the drums to best serve the songs.
Coming from a jazz background, that’s what I grew up doing but I also have a songwriter mentality which really helps me to hear what needs to go where and especially, when not to overplay.
For me, music isn’t about showing off what you can do and playing by yourself on stage. It’s about blending in with other musicians, playing off of each other, feeling the emotion together and lifting up the songs in the right way. One of my favorite things to do is to take someone else’s music and give it life by translating what their hearing in their head, to a live situation.
No matter the genre, people want to watch a show that makes them feel something!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Honestly, I don’t think I have one thing that can capsule an all-time proudest moment but now, I look back at my 25 years and see so much commitment and growth; that makes me feel insanely proud to be able to do everything that I am doing. The biggest moments for me are when I get to make music with my friends and create something collaboratively. And yes, I have played a lot of cool shows, big and small, toured around the world, etc. but for me, every moment is an opportunity to love what I do and I 100% am proud of it all, regardless of the natural ups and downs.
ALTHOUGH, I think putting out my EP, “Go, Grow” under my new solo project, Changeling, will be one of the bigger moments for me. It has been a freakishly long journey finding my voice and I am so thrilled to be releasing it into the world finally.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hayleybrownell.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @hayleybrownell / solo project: @iamchangeling
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hayleybrownowl
Image Credit:
Skylar Brunzell, Mathew Tucciarone, Dave Schewp, Molly Adams, Chloe Chaplin
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