Every generation faces something, but we have to admit that reaching adulthood amidst a global pandemic is far from a walk in the park. For the Australian singer-songwriter Briana Dinsdale, it’s been…interesting but she didn’t let the chaos of the world deter her from pursuing her musical goals. Last month she dropped her debut album, ‘Beginnings,’ and this month she’s talking to ZO about the moods, the ability to let go, and more in this international back and forth.
Kendra: Whenever many think about Country music, their minds go to mostly American artists. Of course, many are still surprised when they learn Keith Urban is from your neck of the woods. When you were growing up, was he someone you admired being from Australia as well, or were you focused on the likes of younger artists like Taylor Swift who proved you could be any age and make it?
Briana Dinsdale: I grew up listening to Keith Urban. He has always been one of my biggest inspirations. We would listen to him driving to school and back home every morning for years on end. I am also obsessed with Taylor Swift and her songwriting style. I am a massive Swiftie and she has played a huge part in contributing to how I write my music. I’ve seen many artists play live but I have seen Taylor and Keith multiple times now and they have been my favourite concert ever.
Kendra: Do you come from a musical family at all, or was your interest in this creative career the first for the family?
Briana Dinsdale: My dad loves songwriting and performing on stage (and he plays guitar as well). My mum isn’t massive with playing music, but she used to write poetry a lot and novels, so I think I got some of my storytelling from her, and my sister is definitely up on the musical side as she loves everything to do with being on stage.
Kendra: Your debut, ‘Beginnings,’ dropped January 20th this year. What sort of themes and moods do you feel are displayed throughout?
Briana Dinsdale: In my debut album, there are so many different moods throughout it. I tried to create an album that would be able to reach multiple, different audiences through different styles of songwriting. In my opinion, there are no two songs on this album that sound similar. They all have differences about them and they are all unique in their own way which I am so proud of.
Kendra: The lead single, “Ball and Chain,” is aimed at people your age and about letting go and moving on. It made me think of the past year, and how insane it must be to be coming of age in such a strange time. How do you feel your generation will fare moving forward after the chaos of the pandemic?
Briana Dinsdale: For my generation, this pandemic has been eye-opening. I don’t think anyone in their life has ever experienced something like 2020, and I believe that everyone just has to do the best they can in working around it and ball and chain is a perfect example of this.
Kendra: Being in Australia, you’re already a bit ahead of the rest of the world in terms of getting back to semi-normal. With that, have you been able to make more concrete plans as far as touring goes?
Briana Dinsdale: In Australia, we are very lucky with how this pandemic has happened over here. I would love to tour, but still, there are so many restrictions surrounding crossing state borders in Australia right now. I am keeping my live music around the Brisbane area as this is where I am from.
