BiB: Britnee Kellogg – What Taylor Swift Told Me in the Studio

0:10 Bring it backwards. Bring it backwards. Bringing it backwards. Bringing it backwards. Bringing it backwards. Bringing it backwards. What is going on? It is Adam. Welcome back to Bringing It Backwards, a podcast where both legendary and rising artists tell their own personal stories of how they achieve stardom. On this episode, we had a chance to hang out with Brittany Kellogg over Zoom Video. Brittany was born and raised in Vancouver, Washington, and she talks about how she got into music. At six years old, Brittany's grandma and grandpa took her to see Johnny Cash and June Carter perform. And literally at that moment leaving the show, she said she could remember the smell of the concert and everything that was going on. Just vivid memory of all of this happening. And that's when she decided from that moment forward, she wanted to be a singer, a country singer.

1:10 So Starting at age 6, Britney started to perform, took voice lessons. She did that all the way through high school. She told us about writing songs at a very early age. She ended up winning a Sound Like Taylor Swift contest, I think, in 2010, where she had the opportunity to fly from Washington state to Nashville, meet Taylor Swift, and actually show her some of the songs that she had been working on. Brittany was also on American Idol for two seasons. So she talks a little bit about that and we hear all about her new album and her viral success. Many viral successes on TikTok. A really cool story about how she said she was going to post every day for 90 days to see if anything happens and it was the 89th day that everything changed for her. So she talks about that experience and then again all about the new album which is called She's Come a Long Way. You can watch our interview with Brittany on our Facebook page and YouTube channel at bringing It Backwards. It'd be amazing if you subscribe to our channel like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok at bringing back podcast.

2:20 And if you're listening to this on Spotify, Apple Music, Google podcasts, it would be amazing if you follow us there as well and hook us up with a five star review. We'd appreciate your support. If you follow and subscribe to our podcasts wherever you listen to podcasts or. Bringing It Backwards with Brittany Kellogg. Hi, Brittany, how are you? How are you? I am great. Thank you so much for doing this. Yeah, thanks for having me. Of course. I'm Adam and this is about you and your journey in music. And we'll talk about the new song you put out, Shiny. I put the video on. I was like, whoa, she's shiny.

3:04 Well, awesome. So I always start off with born and raised, I think. Are you originally from Canada? Is that what I was reading? Vancouver, Washington. So a lot of Vancouver, Washington, Canada. Yep. Okay. That's where I got confused. I just read Vancouver and went with that. Yeah. So tell me about Vancouver, Washington. Yeah, a lot. It's so funny because people think when I say Vancouver, Washington, they're like, oh, B.C. and I'm like, no. And they're like, oh, Washington, D.C. i'm like, no. So basically, I tell people it's like, Portland, Oregon, right across the bridge. We can literally see Portland from Vancouver, Washington. And born and raised there my entire life. It's a beautiful place to grow up and live. So super green. A lot of rain, but it's beautiful. Are you still in Washington? I am not. I am in Arizona. Just getting a little closer to Nashville as time goes on. My husband got transferred to the Scottsdale, Arizona area for work last June. Been here for about a year. Right on. I'm in Nashville now. I'm originally from. Amazing.

4:07 Yeah, I love Nashville. It's beautiful. I love it, too. Very, very cool. So grew up Vancouver, Washington. And what about music? Do you come from a creative household, musical family? I do not. It's so interesting. I went to a Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash concert when I was 6 years old with my grandparents. They loved music, loved old country. That's kind of where, like, I started. My love for country music was their love also. But they took me to this concert, and it completely changed my life. I was like, that's what I want to do forever. And so pretty soon after, I started taking voice lessons. But, like, no one in my family is musical. Um, so it was definitely kind of like a left turn, for sure. Wow. I mean, so just going to that show, you knew, like, watching it was crazy. You know, I was sick. So, like, I think about my daughter, who's 6, and I'm like, I can't imagine her having that experience now where she's like, okay, that. But I was watching the show and it got over. And I looked at my grandma. I mean, I can remember the way it smelled in the room, what they were wearing, what the weather was like outside. Like, it was one of those just transformative moments in my life. And I looked at my grandma and said, like, okay, like, that's what I want to do forever. I actually told her, like, I'm not going to school anymore because I know. What I'm going to do.

5:24 And so it was just from that moment, I started pursuing my career. Wow. Yeah. I have A eight year old and I can't imagine being eight. Oh, that's. This is what I'm going to do forever. Yeah. You're like, oh, yeah, maybe. Yeah. Okay, so six, you saw the show, you start taking voice lessons. Do you like pursue that? I mean, from that moment on or is it like voiceless and you're like all in? You love it. And you continue doing that, what, through high school and everything else? Absolutely. So from like age 6 to age 9, I kind of just did like talent shows, fairs, that sort of thing. And then at nine years old is when I started taking voice lessons and really started performing. I, I would say like semi professionally was getting paid to do like little fairs, you know, a hundred bucks here and there. And then I did pageants as well. Not the like scary JonBenet Rams makeup kind, but it was a pretty amazing, like weren't allowed to wear makeup until you were in the teenage division. And just they really focused on like interview skills and community service and poise on stage, all that stuff. So that was the talent competition really helped me to kind of get used to performing on stage and then.

6:37 Yeah, choir in high school, drama, theater, all the things. And then I got married outside of high school to my high school sweetheart and kind of took a little derailment from, from music for several years and then decided after I, we said we got a divorce, I was like, okay, I'm never going to let anyone ever again keep me from what I love to do. And so from that back into it, hitting the ground hard. Yes. Wow. Okay. Did you, I believe you play guitar and stuff, right? That's like. I do. And actually guitar is a later in life thing for me. I picked up guitar in like 2018.

7:18 Just decided like I want to be able to actually my manager at the time was pushed me and said I booked you a show in three months. You have three months to figure it out. And it was amazing because it's like what really got me, you know, to be able to play the guitar. And I'm not a great player, but I can go anywhere and play by myself, which is so great. So once you, you, you said you got married like right out of high school, so you didn't go to like college for music or anything like that. You totally, your, your life just changed completely, obviously at that moment. 100%. Yeah. I had two kiddos and when I was pregnant with our second eyes, when I. There was a lot of just infidelity and not good stuff going on in our marriage and I decided to walk away. And it was at that moment that I was.

8:04 I realized that I had really been putting my music on hold for him to be able to pursue his career and that the support just wasn't there for me to do it. And so I, as soon as, like that was over, I just. That's kind of when I did a Taylor Swift competition when my son. I think I read about that old. Yeah. And that was. Gosh, she was a couple of weeks old when I did that. And then American Idol as well. Wow. The Taylor Swift thing was like 2010 or something, right? Yeah, she was like a newish artist. It was like the Fearless times. That's right. Fearless came out. So she was. She was big, but she wasn't like, yeah, she's not world, you know, the biggest thing on the planet. And it was great. Like we spent the day together in the studio and she's lovely, just as you would imagine her to be. But my. I'm actually. My son, my 14 year old is a huge swifty and I have a. Huge post over right here.

9:03 She's amazing. He's literally like exact. I mean, I don't know if you've met her or interviewed her, but she's lovely. I've never had that chance. I worked on terrestrial radio for ever up until the pandemic and I was on an alternative station. There was a top 40 station in the building and I begged the program director let me go, but he's like, I can only, you know, blah, blah, blah. I went to the show, but I didn't get to meet her. I was so pissed. Yeah, but he did come back with like, it was their 1989 tour and he, he gave me like a picture. She signed a thing for me. Like, you know, I was like, okay, that, that made my life. That's so awesome.

9:44 I have a guitar that she signed for me that has like my name. She wrote my name on it and signed it and my son has it in his room now because he's like a giant swifty and it's so awesome. My mom met Taylor Swift. That's so crazy. Yeah. I've seen her so many times that I've never been able to meet her. I've tried. I've tried. So you. Yeah. What was that contest? It was like, sing like Taylor Sword. Or sound like Taylor Swift. Which is so funny because I don't sound anything like her. But it was through a local radio station and I. My son was born in August and I. It was like, I think September that they Started this competition and I. It was sing us Taylor Swift song and, like, record yourself doing it.

10:26 And so I did. And it was like a nationwide search. And, like, it was wild. There was. I don't even know how many hundreds of radio stations involved, and I won. Somehow, I don't. It was wild. And it was honestly, like, I feel like it was one of those things where it was like, you know, the one. The first thing, if not one of the first things I did after leaving my marriage. And it was kind of one of those, like, this is where you're meant to be moments. Yeah. Like a validation for. Yeah, absolutely. And I was like, okay, like, let's do this. And it was an amazing experience. I got to fly to Nashville with the radio programmer and meet Taylor, hang out with her. I had a meeting with Scott Borchetta, which was super disappointing. Oh, really?

11:11 He told me that I looked like Britney Spears and so I should change my hair color and my name. And I was just like, no, because she was kind of big still at that time, so. Damn. Yeah, it was kind of. Kind of rough, but that's what they're there for, I guess. Yeah, exactly. Well, so you sing. What song do you sing of hers? I sang Teardrops on my guitar. Okay, cool. So then you make it. You meet her, and then when you get back, are you like, amped, like. Okay, now I need to start. Right. Were you songwriting at that point or are you just. I've been writing music since I was in sixth grade, so, like, for me has always been like, I. The songs that I played for Scott Burchetta were all original songs. And so I think for me, it was just kind of like a propelling, like, to continue doing what I was doing. And I really did. Like, I just. I tried out for American Idol and in that period of time and then just was doing a lot of opening gigs at radio stations. I was at the time also playing for, like, a 12 piece dance and show band, which was so much fun and really helped me kind of hone in my performance skills and my vocal skills because I was singing like Whitney Houston and crazy. Damn. Yeah.

12:24 Yeah. Wild. Yeah. And you. I said you were on American Idol a couple times, right? I was, yeah. Season 11 and season 12. Okay. And then after. After those experiences, I mean, from that on, I mean, that was like, still pretty, you know, 10 years ago or so, right? Yeah, yeah, it was a long time ago. It's kind of just been one of those things where it's like every experience leads me to, like, Be more hungry. Um. I love music so much. I love country music so much. And I just continue to. To fight and write. Write music and put it out and try to connect with my fans and the people that support me along the way. And I think those moments, those like, little wins and even the hard, like, even getting cut from American Idol for me was really transformative because it really, like, it just teaches you, you know, the fight, either it either can, like, break you, and you're like, I'm done. Like, I'm clearly not good enough or it's gonna cause you. Which for. For me, it was like, okay, like, you made me want to do it even more. Right, right, right.

13:29 So after that, are you continuing to just write songs, put out songs? And what was. I mean, during that. Those. That period up until. I don't know, I'm just looking at Spotify, like 2017. You put a record out. Yeah. So in the interim there, were you just trying to put songs out, trying to develop your, you know, find your sound, or were you just playing locally? Like, how do you kind of. I was definitely playing locally. It's hard because. Because my two boys. Washington state has really hard laws on moving if you're divorced, custody wise. So I was literally not allowed to move. And that was devastating, to be honest. For me, like, I wanted to pick up and move to Nashville and hit the ground running and like, never look back and unfortun, unfortunately, it just has never. I've never been able to. My boys are now 14 and 16, so once they're 18, then I can obviously do so. But, you know, I've lost. Not lost, you know what I'm saying? Like, as far as. Yeah, 100. Yeah. You couldn't just get up and go. Absolutely.

14:29 So for me, it was like anything I could do, playing locally, playing not locally, you know, touring as much as I could. But I was also a single mom for eight years of that, and so I had to work full time. So I was working at a bank and then evenings and weekends, and my job was super supportive. So if I had to go, like on the road for a couple days, they were great. But I was playing locally and touring as much as I possibly could and then going to Nashville, you know, several times a year to write and record and do writers rounds and all of those things, because it's really been important for me. I think one of the most important things has been building community in Nashville and not just, like, showing up to do a writer's round and then leaving. I've never Wanted to be that person that just, like, takes what Nashville has to give and then walk away and go do my own thing. Like, I really believe in the power of what Nashville has to offer for artists. And I think it really isn't. You know, there's so many thousands of people that move there and give up their whole life to move there and pursue this career. And for me, being a mom, it just wasn't. Truthfully, like, I wasn't going to leave my boys to my babies were much more, you know, important to me. But I also wanted that. Wanted that fight and had that fight. And so I just would go to Nashville, put out music as much as I could. Again, being a single mom and independent, like, money was also super tight. And so I did it as much as I could. Did a Kickstarter for my EP and now

16:02 releasing an album on Friday. So I'm really excited. That is so amazing. Yeah. And you have this massive following on online. I mean, between TikTok even and Instagram, really, Like, when did you. Where did that start? Like, can you kind of talk to me about building? Yeah. I saw. I had a friend, her name's May Estes. She's incredible. And she went viral on Tick Tock. And I was like, how did you do it? So we had this conversation. She was like, I was just consistent. So I. My manager at the time, I said, I'm gonna post for 90 days. And I posted every single day for 90 days. And it was funny because I was trying to figure out, like, my, like, what I should post. So I was, like, flocking a Christmas tree and, like, doing dances and then put throwing music in there and doing my makeup and, like, doing all these things. But I would post every single day. And on the 89th day, I literally had 700 followers and, like, nothing had gone viral. And so on the 89th day I posted. It was on Valentine's Day, and I posted, like, an anti Valentine's. It's my biggest song, back of my mind.

17:06 And I said, have you ever felt sorry for your ex's new lover in the back your mind? I wrote a song for you. And like, 10 minutes later, I realized it was very quickly going viral. And it was like my first viral moment. And then it just kind of blew up from there. That's so crazy. I mean, that's. It's awesome that it was also your music, right? I mean, it's an 80, and you're like, all right, I get. Here it is 89. We'll see what happens. And then. Yes, you know, it ends up working out. Obviously. That's so true that you say that, because I even still today it's like I have a hard time, you know, I think people focus so much on the numbers of social media and it's really hard to get into that kind of rut where you're like, I want to, I want to make sure that whatever I post goes viral. And I've definitely recently just been like, I'm just going to post what like I love and what makes me happy and then if it doesn't like do what I want it to do, then that's fine. But I think there's such a like pressure to go viral to make it these days that it just becomes like once you have one viral video, you're like, oh, now everyone has to be viral.

18:12 Right? Right. It's interesting too, I was going to say, because I've had a lot of artists on here that have had those moments on TikTok where. And it's 90. I don't, I don't think I can even think of one off at all. That was like, oh yeah, I wrote this song. I knew it was going to be a. Yeah, I knew it was going to work on TikTok and I put it up and it's always like I was in my bedroom and I just did this thing on the guitar and that's what worked out. It's never the video that you spend all this time and you're like, okay, the edit has to be this and the audio and this. It's just like whatever the, the, the, the, the universe will, you know, want what it wants and you can't try to like make it happen.

18:56 I did that. There was so I, after that I was trying to really trying to post consistently every day. And I still do, but I'm not as good. My kids are at really hard ages right now. So like posting and doing that content every single day is just not realistic for me right now. But the full time thing in itself. I know it's crazy. So I'd say four to six days a week I'm posting. But I at that time was posting every single day. And I was like, okay, I gotta get this up. And somebody had requested a song about having boys. And so my husband was like, just so. I was like, this is so terrible. It was terrible. Like the lyrics, the melody, like everything. But I was just doing a verse and a chorus and I was like, I'm just gonna get it out there. He's like, just post it. If it, like, flops and just delete it. And I go to the gym and I come home, and it's, like, massively going viral. And I'm like, this is. This is the frustrating part, because now. Now I have this song that I don't like that I have to, like.

19:49 You know, I mean, I don't have to, but I feel like now I'm, like, obligated to put this song out that I don't love. So I ended up, like, writing it and really. Or rewriting it with friends and releasing it, and people still were like, it's not the same. Oh, really? Is that. What was that? Hey Mama? No, it's called My Little man, and it's like a. It's like a wedding dance song. Sorry, I have a chihuahua that is a psychopath, so if she barks, I apologize. So it's a mother son song. And originally the song was, like, upbeat and basically just like a song about the little boy, like, being a hurricane, but he's my little man kind of a thing. And it just was not. And I. Originally, I wanted it to be like a wedding dance song because there's not a lot of songs for mothers and sons to dance to. It. Yeah. When I got married, it was like my. I.

20:40 I can't remember what my mom chose, but it was like, this is, like, such an awkward, like, thing to find super hard. And I. It's funny because they really liked the upbeat version, and I was like, well, like, I slowed it down and changed the words. And so. But, I mean, it's. It has gone viral a bunch. Deal with it. My music. But that's a perfect example of, like. Yeah. You know, you think every time I'm like, man, this is gonna go viral, and it just doesn't. It doesn't. It's crazy. So. Well, so, like, this is happening. You put up this. You know, you put up your song or the. The Valentine's Day thing happens. Like, tell me about that moment. Are you, like. You said you went to the gym or something. You came back and look, we were. Like, outside in the snow. Okay. In the snow. Oh, yeah, it's Valentine's Day. It was Valentine's Day. It was randomly snowing in the Pacific Northwest, and we were playing in the snow, and I looked at the video, and I, like, looked at my husband, and I was like, I think this is. I think it's happening. Because it was, like, at 10,000 views, and I'd never had that many views on a video before, and it was, like, growing by Like a thousand every time I refreshed. And then it just. I think by the end of the day it was at like 220,000, which for me was like, wild. And I ended up getting to like 1.4 million over the next couple days.

21:55 And for me, that was just so transformative. And I feel like it was kind of in the beginning of when videos were going viral like that it's 2021. And it just. Now it's like a normal thing for a video to get a million views, but for. For people, not just for me. But I think for me it was just this, like, okay, this song is special. And, like, people love what I'm doing, and that made a big difference for me. And do you at that moment have the song recorded or was it just you playing on your guitar? So you try to strike. Why the. Yeah, the iron's hard. You're like, oh, shit. And I got to go record this song and I got to. So tell me about that. The demo at the time. And so I reached out to my co write and I was like, we have a situation. We need to get this recorded asap. So she was like, brittany, because she's, you know, like, don't do that. You gotta, like, have them. He's like, nope, this is how I want to do it. Go viral.

22:53 Then we record it. And so we. They recorded all the music in Nashville. I did the vocals in Portland, and then we were able to release it. And actually the same exact thing happened with hey Mama, where I posted it and it went massively viral. And then that was when she was like, okay, this is the last one. We're doing, like, this. And so that's kind of where, like, the album came from. Okay. It was like, we're done having to catch up on these that are. I kind of think it's awesome. Yeah, I do too. And it definitely makes it challenging because, like, you said, like, you don't know what's going to go viral. Like, you can assume something's going to go viral and then it just. Like, I have a song called Helena Handbag that I think is amazing and funny, and it just didn't do as well as I wanted it to do.

23:42 And it's on the project. And it's funny. I feel like this project, I'm so proud of it. But it's all, like, so planned and it's just different than what I've done before. Yeah, no, 100%. And with those moments too, it's like. But to be able to, you know, Then record the song, right? I mean, you put out the videos going crazy on TikTok, and then it's like, now you have to come back and be like, hey, it's recorded it now. Like, go find it in Spotify. And then to get people to leave that app to open Spotify, then stream it 5 million plus times. Like, in itself, like, that's such another hurdle that you have to probably. It is. And I feel like back then, TikTok wasn't as strict with their, like, keywords either. Now it's like, I mean, I just posted a video last week at the beginning of the week to pre save my album, and because I said the words pre save and link in my bio, they tanked my video. And it was like, at 9. 9 views. And I was like, you suck. Like, it's just. It's hard. And you're right. Like, getting people to leave the app, getting TikTok to show that is because. They don't want you. They don't want people to leave the app. So if you're telling them to leave, hey, go leave and pre save it there, then they're like, no, no, no, no. Yeah, I'm seeing this video.

24:55 Exactly. And so it's like, it's a challenge. And I'm really. That's. That's one of the things about that song that's so special is that people wanted it so bad that. And it wasn't. It was never playlisted. No one ever playlisted that song, which is so crazy to me. And it has that many streams. It's just crazy. Wow. Yeah. So tell me, when do you. So Helen Handbags out and that'll be on the album? Yeah. This mess is the newest one, but so talk. And the whole album is coming out on Friday. Yeah, this Friday. Okay, so talk to me about the album. Like, where was it? Did you fly to Nashville to record a lot of it or did. I flew to Nashville to do all of it. So we recorded it at Omni Sound, which is being demolished. And I'm so sad because it's such an iconic place. So pretty special that I got to record there, recorded there with an incredible band, and then did vocals in the same week. And they're just. They're songs that I've been writing for years and kind of narrowed it down to these 10 songs. And then we're adding hey Mama in back of my mind to, like, the printed album just because I want those to have their own place on. I'm gonna be getting vinyl and print CDs as well. So they're going to be a part of the album. But it's really just like storytelling, kind of autobiographical. Not only like my story. So there's a song called thank you Johnny and June that's about my experience that night at that concert. And then she's Come a Long Way as the title. So from, you know, six years old to

26:27 today, like how far I've come. A lot of songs in between of just my story and my life. And I really, really try with my music to write songs that are relatable to like people that have been through life. I miss 90s country. I miss the female storytelling country. I mean, thank goodness we're getting it back with like Cody Johnson and Jelly Roll Zach Top. Like we're getting that storytelling music back. But with the females, it's still seems like it's really hard to put. Turn on the radio and listen to someone sing about the hard stuff, right? Yeah, yeah. So with this album, did you have a lot of the songs done prior to going into the studio or did you work on them there as well or. No, everything was written before Love Thy Neighbor came in last minute.

27:20 I actually am one of those people. I don't love to release music that I didn't write, but love my autumn. The producer reached out to me and said this song was on hold by a big artist and it just got released and we were like heading into the studio in the next couple days. She was like, it's like been on hold and it. They just released it and I want you to do it. And I listened and I was like, I have to record this song. It was so fun, that one. Retail Therapy and Hell in a Handbag are all like very personality songs for me. So they're very just like funny, very Miranda Lambert kind of esque style. Just funny songs. But yeah, all of them have been written over the last several years. Just hanging on to them, waiting to get in the studio. That's awesome. And you'll be here in Nashville this week, I think, right? Yes, I'm having my release party at Little Red on Thursday. Super. That is awesome. Are you doing.

28:10 Are you. That's a cool spot too. I mean, you're playing, I'm sure, the stage in the middle and then around it and then. Are you doing what like a long. I mean people, when they play, there's like three and a half hours, right? It's doing a 50 minute set and. We'Re playing new music or. Okay. Oh, yeah. I mean all your music. I Mean. Yep. Yep. Okay. That's awesome. Yeah. So we're gonna play the album from start to finish for everybody to hear the whole thing as a whole. So I'm really excited. That is really cool. And then doing a home show, right? Portland show. Yes. So I'm flying to Nashville Thursday, flying back here to Phoenix Friday morning to pick up my daughter, who's 6, and then flying home to Portland. We'll be there for 10 days. I've got some shows around the 4th of July up there as well. But my album release on Saturday in Portland. It's gonna be so much fun. Wow. So you're doing like a pre album release show in Nashville? Yes. And then a post like the day after. We're in Nashville. Day after Portland?

29:09 Yeah. Exciting. Well, that's awesome. Maybe I'll have to head out to the. The Old Red. I love it. Come on. What time do you play? Sorry. Six. Oh, six. Rad. Okay. Awesome. Well, I'm a mom. I was gonna say I'm. I'm old and I'm a dad, too, so I can't be out. That's awesome. Well, I appreciate your time, Brittany. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you for having me. I have one more question for you. I want to know if you have any advice for aspiring artists. I would say just get out there and do it. I get that question so much, and I think people are scared and don't know how to or what to. I would say, like, look to the people that inspire you and see what they're doing and just get out there and do it as much as you can. You know, I think it's hard, especially being a mom, you're scared to, like, leave your kids and pursue your dreams because you want to make sure that your kids are taken care of. And being a mom, I will say my kids have been so much better because I'm filling my cup, and so they see me filling my cup, and it's inspiring to them.

30:16 And so I would just say consistency and get out there and do it and don't make excuses. You bring it backward, bring it backward, bring it backward, bring it backward, bring it backward.