Leo Cabal (@leocabal)
Brenzy is a Virginia-born, Los Angeles-based Pop/R&B singer-songwriter and musician. Brenzy combines his soulful voice with elements of classic Funk and modern Pop and R&B sounds. She’s been killing the stage for over a decade, performing at numerous venues in major cities and regions such as the DMV, New York, Philadelphia and Phoenix. Brenzy recently showcased his vocal prowess at Breaking Sound Los Angeles. She has also been featured in various media and has amassed over half a million streams and amassed a significant social media following. The 22-year-old singer is covering ’22.
With his single “brunch”, out now, we took the time to learn more about Brenzy. Read below to learn more about Brenzy, the story behind her latest single and what’s to come.
Hi Brenzy! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
Good morning! Funny enough, I’m actually not the original Brenzy – my brother is! Brenzy was his “gamer tag” on PlayStation and ended up sticking as his nickname. Since I’m his little sister, they used to call me “Little Brenzy”, but if I were to make that my artist name, people would think I’m a rapper, which I’m definitely not. All in all, Brenzy is a surname based on our last name, Brennan, and even my parents are known as “Mom and Dad Brenz”.
What city are you from and where do you currently live?
I am originally from Sterling, Virginia and am currently based in Los Angeles, CA.
When in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you start?
From a very young age, I knew that I loved to sing and be on stage. My parents were in bands together while I was growing up, and they were kind enough to let me sing backing vocals from time to time. I sang my first solo on stage at a church camp when I was 8, and started writing songs and playing instruments a few years later. I always did it because I loved it, and I never really thought about making a career out of it until I was 11 and saw the movie “Never Say Never” by Justin Bieber. I saw how he got to the top, how the music worked behind the scenes, and I remember thinking, “Wow, I can do this; I’ll do it.” Since then, my whole life has been dedicated to my musical career.
Did your upbringing play a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
My upbringing played a huge role in shaping who I am and how I define my sound today. My parents are great musicians and played in every genre you could think of! The two artists who have marked me the most are Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson, who both have a definite influence on the music I make today.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not know you?
For those who don’t know me, I would describe my sound as a mix of classic Funk/Soul and modern Pop/R&B. I love groovy bass lines, funky guitars and heavy drums.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
I really like fitness and I love doing my nails, but my favorite thing to do outside of music is spending time with my friends and family. Not only is this what brings me joy, but it also fuels my creativity as my music is inspired by my stories and lived experiences.
What are your main musical influences?
Some of my main musical influences are Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars and Ariana Grande.
Who would you dream of collaborating with?
I would say my dream musical collaboration would be either with Silk Sonic or Victoria Monét.
What are some of your future music career goals?
My biggest dream is to fill stadiums and go around the world. I love performing and there’s nothing like connecting with an audience through music. I am also currently pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Music Business, so I would like to venture into the world of music business in artist management and talent development.
Now on to your outing, “brunch”. What inspired this song?
“brunch” was ultimately inspired by the fact that I was becoming a young woman and wanted to experience this with other women who are on the same path. I’ve always had girlfriends, but not a designated group of friends to call on a Sunday and plan brunch with!
What is “brunch” in your own words?
For me, “brunch” is not only about wanting to have girlfriends to go to brunch with, but also about wanting girlfriends in general. I’ve been burned in the past by girls I thought were my friends, so I’ve kept a guard up over the years. But a lot of this song refers to my hopes of letting those guards down as I grow into a young woman.
What is your favorite song in “brunch” and why?
I have so many favorite lyrics in this song, but I think my favorite is the pre-chorus where I say, “I don’t choose to / This ain’t what I’m used to / I wish I knew you .” sounds extremely simple, but I like that there are two different meanings behind it; the first being that I don’t have these friends to go to brunch with, and I would like to know them! The second meaning is a reference to I don’t know who this side of me is because I’ve never met it and I’m afraid to.
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and the brunch?
I hope this song can make some people feel a little less “out of it”. I feel like a lot of people open their phones every weekend and watch other people enjoy fancy nights out and brunches with their friends, and it makes them feel left out. I am one of those people! So, I hope the song will help others feel less alone in that way.
What is one of the proudest moments of your musical career so far?
I would say one of the proudest moments of my music career so far has been not giving up. Although it’s not necessarily a moment, it’s definitely something I’m proud of. Working as a freelance artist can be very difficult on some days, but I’ve persevered on many occasions where I felt like giving up.
What do you think are the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far is that God’s timing really is perfect timing. I think back to when I was 17 and 18 and I think, “Wow, I’m so glad that didn’t work out!” Because I know I wasn’t really ready for that. I’ve also learned that there are a lot of people who want more from you than you do, and it’s important to only let certain people have some access to you.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects that we should watch?
I have a lot of music coming out this year, and I can’t wait for the world to hear it!
Where can we follow you on social media?
All my social networks are here!
Website: http://brenzy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_brenzy/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6G6qP0sP4oPveQ4bzizz4Z
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/brenzy
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_brenzy
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/brenzy/1492505965
Tide: https://listen.tidal.com/artist/16799369 / http://tidal.com/browse/artist/16799369
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brenzymusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brenzyofficial/