Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Bryan.
Vanessa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Eagle River, Alaska. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a singer. I trained with a vocal coach who always encouraged me to sing in LA, even flew down for a couple of singing competitions with him. I moved to LA and attended the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood within six months of graduating high school. From there, I began making money as a studio session singer, wedding singer and background singer. My biggest dream was always to tour and I finally realized that dream in 2016 with the artist Olivia Holt! It took me 12 years since moving to LA to tour. From there, I got the opportunity to work on two world tours with Idina Menzel, a tour with Gwen Stefani, The Killers, an appearance with ODEZSA and sang on Lady Gaga’s grammy nominated album Chromatica. I fell into teaching voice and realized I loved it. I’ve opened a music school in North Hollywood, CA and have worked as a vocal coach with several signed artists including the Kidz Bop Kids.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The struggle has always been to continually place fear aside and push to be the best version of myself at every opportunity. That little voice inside that tells you that you’re not thin enough, not pretty enough, not talented enough… it can be crippling. It takes enormous strength to believe in yourself and remind yourself everyday that you have passion and that no one else can be you. That special magic that makes me Vanessa is worth showing the world, and I push myself everyday to remember that. The LA music scene is tough… but so are you.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I own a small business, built it from the ground up… I am extremely proud of that. Music Lessons Los Angeles in North Hollywood, CA (www.musiclessonla.com) It is my baby and I put a lot of time and effort in making it one of the best parts of myself! I love my students and I give them everything I have gained from my career. Moving from a small town, singing on commercials, tv shows, records, touring the world as a background singer with incredible artists, playing hundreds of weddings and corporate events, small restaurant bar gigs. My coaching is a mentorship, and my students are the apples of my eyes. I teach them how to approach their career as professionals. I, for one am best known for my live performance.. every time I step on that stage I come alive, I truly LIVE on stage and I think that is how people best know me.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
The biggest supporters of my career who deserve all the credit have to be my mother and my teachers. My mom always instilled in me to be the very best at whatever I should choose to do with my life… and not the best in terms of competition with others, but the best in competition with myself. My vocal mentor Big Mitch. He sadly passed a few years ago, but he always knew I had something special and he fought for me to get out and sing for the world… Mitch I did it!!! My teachers Mike Campbell and Mama O at the Musician’s Institute taught me how to be a real working professional singer in the LA scene. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for them
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.musiclessonla.com
- Instagram: @vanessa_bryan
- Facebook: facebook.com/vanessabryanmusic
- Twitter: @vanessa_bryan
Image Credits:
Todd Kaplan, Sarah Junker, Eric White
