NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Logan Brill
Photo Credit: Cassandra Leete
By Bob Doerschuk
© 2014 CMA Close
Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.
Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.
If
we were to judge Logan Brill by the lyrics on her debut album, Walking Wires, we might feel a little worried. After
all, she sings about being haunted by a lost relationship on “No Such Thing
As Ghosts” (written by Chris Stapleton), the consequences of staying with a
stranger in a hotel room on “Month of Bad Habits” (Andrew Combs and Doug Johnson),
forlornly “going from bar to bar” on “Rewind” (Paolo Nutini), being “too
tired to swim, too weak to crawl” on “Seven Year Rain” (Heather Little and Travis Meadows) …
we were to judge Logan Brill by the lyrics on her debut album, Walking Wires, we might feel a little worried. After
all, she sings about being haunted by a lost relationship on “No Such Thing
As Ghosts” (written by Chris Stapleton), the consequences of staying with a
stranger in a hotel room on “Month of Bad Habits” (Andrew Combs and Doug Johnson),
forlornly “going from bar to bar” on “Rewind” (Paolo Nutini), being “too
tired to swim, too weak to crawl” on “Seven Year Rain” (Heather Little and Travis Meadows) …
But don’t call for an intervention. Instead, marvel at
how this upbeat, positive 22-year-old brings a sad story to life. Brill was born
with a strong, assertive voice, which she has sculpted into an expressive instrument.
When she interprets Patty Griffin’s “Nobody’s Crying,” she animates the
melody with tasteful filigrees, and on key words she subtly hardens her timbre
to more vividly convey anger. Yet she also maintains a conversational quality — no easy feat.
how this upbeat, positive 22-year-old brings a sad story to life. Brill was born
with a strong, assertive voice, which she has sculpted into an expressive instrument.
When she interprets Patty Griffin’s “Nobody’s Crying,” she animates the
melody with tasteful filigrees, and on key words she subtly hardens her timbre
to more vividly convey anger. Yet she also maintains a conversational quality — no easy feat.
Raised in Knoxville, Tenn., Brill enrolled in Nashville’s
Belmont University in 2009 as a vocal performance major. Location and talent combined
to connect her to Carnival Music, which released Walking Wires on Oct. 15. Produced by Matthew Miller
and Oran Thornton, the album is also a sonic triumph. Layered guitars, meaty organs
and, on Audra Mae’s “Ne’er Do Wells,” some imaginative voice processing
combine with Brill’s delivery to create a winning combination.
Belmont University in 2009 as a vocal performance major. Location and talent combined
to connect her to Carnival Music, which released Walking Wires on Oct. 15. Produced by Matthew Miller
and Oran Thornton, the album is also a sonic triumph. Layered guitars, meaty organs
and, on Audra Mae’s “Ne’er Do Wells,” some imaginative voice processing
combine with Brill’s delivery to create a winning combination.
IN HER OWN WORDS
ALBUM ON YOUR PLAYLIST
“Dawes, Stories Don’t End. I’ve been wearing that album out the past few months.”
DREAM DUET PARTNER
“If I could go
back in time, my dream duet partner would be Ray Charles and we would sing ‘Georgia on My Mind.’”
back in time, my dream duet partner would be Ray Charles and we would sing ‘Georgia on My Mind.’”
BOOK ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND
“A collection
of love poems. It has everything from Shakespeare to Emily Dickinson.”
of love poems. It has everything from Shakespeare to Emily Dickinson.”
LUCKY CHARM
“Before I play a show, my two
main men are Van Morrison and Jack Daniels.”
main men are Van Morrison and Jack Daniels.”
FAVORITE FOOD ON THE ROAD
“The veggie burger at Burger King with a large fry and
some zesty sauce. Delicious and easy to eat on the go.”
some zesty sauce. Delicious and easy to eat on the go.”
SOMETHING
WE’D NEVER GUESS ABOUT YOU
WE’D NEVER GUESS ABOUT YOU
“I have a degree in French.”