Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Banowsky.
Hi Brittany, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Making music has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I used to play my keyboard to muted movies to try to create the soundtrack. Over the years, I’d fill up notebooks with songs I’d written on the guitar or piano. In 2009, I moved to Austin and shortly afterward I became part of an online composer community which led me to scoring some independent films.
This city also introduced me to the art of live shows. That is where I found my people: the freaks, the nerds, the outcasts, the gifted and talented. They were all on stage. They made me feel seen, and many of them became dear friends and collaborators. These connections also led me to several music gigs and event jobs.
At the end of 2019, I found out I was pregnant. I had just started a relationship with one of my best friends (who is now my awesome husband) when we were thrust into parenthood and a pandemic. This put a pause on music for a while, especially after we welcomed our second child in 2022. Being a new mom to two small humans during these unprecedented times has been quite the challenge, but I think this chapter of my musical life will be the most rewarding yet.
In 2024, a songwriting contest via Song Confessional reignited my spark to write music. Winning the opportunity to record in studio with professional musicians and have the song be featured as the KUTX song of the day reminded me that I have the talent to be working in this industry, and I am using my free time to do just that.
An album is currently in the works, which my producer, Walker Lukens, once described as “like Sade, if she did DMT.” So stay tuned!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think anyone who has to take care of other people knows how hard it is to get anything else done. It’s easy to think of music as a hobby and not a priority when you’ve got people who depend on you for their literal survival. Realizing that music is my therapy, and also my gift, has made me make it a top priority. I’ve figured out that I am a better mom when I make space for my own creativity, and when I put effort towards music, the universe responds in abundance. The struggle has been not realizing this sooner.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an Austin songwriter and visual artist. I just love to create, and I feel most at home when I’m creating music or moving imagery. I think what sets me apart is that I don’t write for just one genre. I write in whatever style is inspiring me at the moment. Sometimes that’s creepy instrumentals or experimental piano pieces. Sometimes it’s a freestyle beat. I’ve written hundreds of sweet folky singer/songwriter tunes. I am working on an album right now that sounds like psychedelic R&B (and I have so many incredible visual ideas for it!) I don’t think I could pick a lane to stay in if I tried. I look forward to working with artists from all walks of life.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I think the best thing about Austin are the creators. You can find real talent and inspiring works of art and music any time of day, if you know where to look. It feels like there is truly something for everyone, and there’s still plenty of weird out there. I also love all the nature and hike and bike trails. It’s what makes our city beautiful.
What I like least about this city has to be all the wealth moving in without regard to who or what they are displacing. I hope that future developers and residents realize what this city has to offer before bringing what they think it needs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brittanybanowsky.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittanybanowsky
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-banowsky/
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/brittanybanowsky
- Other: https://linktr.ee/brittanybanowsky
