Unplugged Lounge Conversations with Brianna McGeehan

In our latest interview, we sit down with rising star Brianna McGeehan, who opens up about her remarkable journey into music. From her childhood in a musical household to her early start in piano lessons, Brianna's passion for music was evident from a young age. Influenced by Classic Rock, folk, and Classical music, as well as female icons like The Cranberries and Allison Russell, Brianna's unique sound is shaping up to be a force to be reckoned with. With her latest single ‘The Roses’ tackling the often-overlooked topic of platonic friendships, Brianna shares her personal experiences and hopes to create a sense of community through her art. Read on as we delve deeper into Brianna's inspirations, aspirations, and advice for emerging female artists.

Thanks for chatting with us at Sonic Sisters Magazine! Can you share a bit about how your journey into music began?

I grew up in a musical household, my dad is a musician (classically trained pianist/composer and multi-instrumentalist) and growing up he was a music teacher in a public elementary school. I decided around age five that I wanted to begin a more serious study of music. My older brother's piano teacher wouldn’t teach kids until they were a little bit older than me so my parents told me I had to wait. Instead of waiting, I asked his teacher to speak to me in the backyard and I let her know that if she let me start piano lessons then I would practice and work hard. She decided to give it a try and thus my musical education began. I discovered singing at age nine and fell madly in love. I guess the rest is history.

Who have been some of the most significant influences on your musical style?

Early on I was very influenced by Classic Rock, folk music (predominantly Irish), and Classical music. As a child, it was all about The Beatles and Tom Petty, but also Beethoven and I was deep into musical theatre. I see those influences as sort of my roots. Recently while producing the single I released in November, Mother Maiden, I found myself wanting a specifically Beethoven-esque climactic moment. The bridge of that song feels to me like parts of the second movement of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony. Many of my vocal melodies are undeniably influenced by musical theatre. And one more I’ll add, I discovered The Cranberries at maybe age seven…an influence I hope comes through in my music.

And which female musicians or women in the music industry have inspired your journey?

Honestly, lately, I find mom’s making art to be so inspiring. I know first hand how incredibly difficult it can be to manage all of it in a capitalist society. I find Allison Russell so inspiring. She has been making art for such a long time and is so talented but only recently has really gotten her due. It’s been so joyful to watch her succeed and get all of the accolades and attention she deserves. She has been through the fire and carries such wisdom and perspective. Leyla McCalla is another artist I find super inspiring. She is a mother of 3 and still manages to be a total badass. And of course, I love their music. 

How do your personal experiences shape your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners take away from those connections?

All of my songs are very personal to me honestly. They are inspired by something personal and then I do my best to widen the scope of that experience to find what is universal there.  I may be writing a song about a particular negative experience but really the song is about how change is the only constant and everything passes. My hope is that people find my music cathartic. It helps them gain insights and aids them on whatever healing journey they are on. 

Congratulations on your brand-new single 'The Roses' - what inspired this particular song?

‘The Roses’ is about the loss of a friend. Actually my childhood best friend, who suffered from mental illness got the advice from a therapist that she should cut off all ties with her past to fully move on from her problematic childhood. None of her childhood friends have heard from her in 10 years. There is so much content out there about breakups and romantic relationships and I think platonic friendships don’t get the spotlight enough. There is something so special about a very close platonic friend, and the loss of a platonic friend can be just as painful as the loss of a romantic relationship. I wanted to take a moment for that. 

What song (not your own) has had the biggest influence on you and why?

“Dreams” by The Cranberries. Honestly being the musician I am now I think it was the vocal melody and production that got me as a kid. And being Irish American I was drawn to anything Irish and I mean The Cranberries were just the coolest when I was growing up in the 90s… ok still are. 

Is there a song in your catalog that holds a special personal meaning for you? We'd love to hear the story or inspiration behind it.

Honestly, every song I write holds special meaning for me. I don’t think I would have the patience to sit down and write a song unless I was deeply compelled because of a need to process my life experiences. Mother Maiden is a little extra special for me. It’s about a very challenging moment in my life. And my older self is consoling my younger self. I was leaving a terrible relationship to be a young single mom, unfortunately, a fairly common experience. But the song is uplifting, it’s meant to be a bit of an anthem for woman empowerment. 

What are some of the aspirations you have for your music moving forward?

I keep my aspirations quite simple. I strive to always be making art in some way, daily. And I hope to build community and have more and more people hear my music and my stories. I will be releasing an EP sometime in 2025, which is exciting, but I really try to stay focused on the process rather than the outcome.

What advice would you give to emerging female artists who are just starting out in the music world?

Don’t rush! Enjoy making art and being an artist. So often we are rushing to get the album done etc. and I think that really takes away from what it means to be an artist. Artists need to take time, stare at the wall, do nothing.  Urgency culture has no place in an artist’s life. 

Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

Yes! I will be releasing more singles and eventually an EP in the fall so stay tuned! Go check out what I have released on Spotify and YouTube. I feel really proud of what I accomplished in 2024 and am so excited to share more in 2025.

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This release landed in our inbox thanks to Notion Music PR, who brought Brianna McGeehan’s latest project to our attention. It’s always a pleasure to discover fresh talent through their recommendations.