Rising Stars: Meet Brianna O’Dell of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna O’Dell.

Hi Brianna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started at a very young age. My family likes to tell the story about how the teachers would tell them that I would sing on the toilet at daycare at the age of three. My mom and grandma also say that I was humming Barry White at the ripe age of eight months old, which I can believe because my daughter did the same exact thing at that age. The moment I realized that I had a passion for music was in elementary school. Music was my favorite class and I found myself the happiest during that period. I also was the only child to sing in the adult choir as a child so that was pretty cool, and intimidating at times. I come from a very musical background. My father sings, my grandparents and aunts are/ were in a jazz and blues band in NYC and my grandmother plays the drums. My uncles are also producers and DJ’s. There’s always a wide genre of music playing in the background of my families homes, though my current household mainly listens to Ms. Rachel and Gracies corner jams with two toddlers running around. I grew up singing gospel, being in musicals all year round, singing jazz and ultimately ended up minoring in jazz and classical studies in college. From there I kind of branched off and created my own genre of music which consisted of jazz, r&b, funk and a little bit of folk.

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?
There’s so much beauty in the struggle. I mean, how can you appreciate the good when you never experience the bad, ya know? My first e.p. was written sitting on the couch of a home I shared with an abusive partner. I wrote the songs to describe the pain I was going through and the hope that I had for the future, knowing that I would leave him soon. Ultimately, I ended up leaving everything behind. I secretly had my mom come and pick me up. I packed one bookbag. I left my clothes, my furniture, I even left my car and told myself that my life is more important and that one day I know God will give it all back, plus some. I now listen to those songs and smile knowing that I had to go through that in order to get where I am now. Now, I’m able to create amazing music alongside my amazing husband and children.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a registered nurse by day and when I clock out, I am an artist, a mommy and a wife. I believe that everything I am correlates with the type of art I create. I bring art into my professional workplace as a nurse as well. In my opinion, music is universal and helps bring everyone together. I have sang at my job publically and privately. I have sang at my jobs professional events, I brought in my own acapella group to sing in the lobby at my hospital during Christmas time. I have also sang bedside to my dying patients during covid. Most of the time it would just be me, them and a song, which is so beautiful to me. I am just grateful that I am able to incorporate art into my everyday life. I have written songs about and with my children. My three year old walks around singing songs that we’ve made up together. My husband, Antonio is also an artist so were able to collaborate as well. The things I am weaker in, he’s strong in and vice versa. I think I am most proud to be able to create art and be my authentic self. I really just create what pops into my head. I have so many ideas and if I want something, I will work my hardest to get it or create it. I think that is what sets me apart. I don’t really have much fear when it comes to creating. People may love or hate what I create but as long as I love it and it came from my brain, nothing else matters to me.

What matters most to you? Why?
God comes first in my life at all times. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Gods grace. My family is one of the main reasons why I continue to grind and try to set the standard higher than ever. When I say set the standard, I mean setting the standard and going even higher than my own standards. I’m not competing with anyone but myself. I now have children who look up to me. That matters to me the most! The things that I do will contribute to the things that they will think about and accomplish through adulthood.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breyoncebear/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianna.odell.7/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYvikzhyiMQ
• Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/brianna-odell/1590572875