Brittany Campbell from the Cast of Hamilton Has A Band Also

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Brittany Campbell talks about her life after Hamilton and her New CD coming out in April

Interview Conduct February 21, 2018

By Daniel Locke

Brittany Campbell will be receiving a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical.
The multi-talented singer-songwriter-actor-animator, currently cast in Hamilton Chicago, was nominated for her dynamic performance as the character Eliza Doolittle in the Olney Theatre Center’s production of My Fair Lady.

In addition to her musical theatre endeavors, Brittany is preparing for the April 10th release of her album, Stay Gold. Featuring original songwriting by Brittany, her soulful sound is reminiscent of a mix of Erykah Badu and Aaliyah, with a fresh twist. Standouts from the album include “My Garden,” “Stay Gold,” and “Buzz,” the latter of which was featured on Spike Lee’s Netflix Original She’s Gotta Have It.

Unratedmag: Tell me about your background. How did you get interested in Music?

Brittany Campbell: I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. My family is from Jamaica. My two brothers and I are first generation. I come from a family of music lovers. My mother introduced me to Motown, Elvis, The Beatles, the Beach Boys …at a young age. She also has a very very deep love of reggae, so I came up hearing Dennis Brown, Beres Hammond, Sanchez, Barrington Levy etc… I grew up in a two family house. My grandmother lived above us with her husband and her brother, Uncle Lloyd. Uncle Lloyd had/has a vast collection of vinyl records. I think he has about 80,000 records to date. I used to sneak into his room and play records on his portable record player. I found Ella Fitzgerald, The Rat Pack, and Coltrane that way… I found a lot of cool music that way. Then there was Flatbush itself…there’s always music in the street…at least in my memory there was…Aaliyah, Lil Kim, JayZ, TLC, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Missy Elliot. Music was simply my environment from the very beginning.
As far as singing goes. I was pretty much forced into it. I would entertain myself by singing. So the adults in my life kind of heard that had this oddly mature voice. Despite my incredible shyness, I would be forced to sing at community public events. I remember when I was 5, my school asked if I would sing for a benefit. My mom, of course, said yes. I closed my eyes the whole time and cried as sang…the grownups thought I was just really moved by the song lol. It’s funny that overtime I’ve become more at home on stage than anywhere else.
The event that sealed my fate was when my music teacher entered me into the Rosa Ponsell Competition for Young Classical Voices. I was 7 then. From there I was recruited into the Metropolitan Opera which opened so many doors.

You are a Guitarist, Producer, and Vocalist. How did you learn how to play guitar?

Brittney Campbell

The first instrument I ever played was the piano. It’s the first instrument I ever started composing music on. Kind of the gateway. I started playing the guitar because of this really cute guy in high school. He thought he was the second coming of Kurt Cobain and I thought he was too lol. He taught me Overlong and I taught myself Purple Haze…I never had formal lessons…just this video that my mom gave me with my Esteban signed guitar. It showed me open chords…the rest I figured out along the way.

Your album drops April 10th are you excited?

It drops actually on April 28th now lol. Yes, I’m excited to finally be sharing this music 🙂

How is this album going to be any different from your previous one?

It’s more thoughtful…a very introspective album. It’s also got my band (Joe Etzine, Julian Edmond, and Campbell Charsee) on many of the records which I am so stoked about! Overall, it an honest album.

Is there anything on the album that you think will be hit and why?

Idk lol…maybe “Alright” …it’s got that thing

You got your musical start in NYC in 2011. Where you met producer/engineer, Rich Keller (DMX, Danity Kane, and Mariah Carey) helped navigate through your first EP (NERD). Take me on that journey?

Rich, more that anything was a mentor to me at that time. I was pretty much trying my own production for the first time and he gave me a mic to record demos on my own. My friend, Benedetto Antonio Caccavale (“Nino”) gave me a preamp and I spent that year either in the studio with Rich, at home making beats, or sneaking into clubs. I was obsessed with louddddd. I was obsessed with fun and genuinely attracted to pop. It felt like there were really no rules so I was just writing and writing at a fast pace. It was meeting so many people in the business and started performing my own music in clubs, mostly gay clubs so it was turnt! Nerd came from all this. I felt invincible.

NERD reached on the chart at #7 in Paper Magizine’s club playlist and make top 10 on Next magazine’s Summer Playlist alongside artists such as Rihanna and Robyn. How did you feel once you heard you had a hit on your hands?

Honestly, it didn’t feel like anything. What sent me to the moon was hearing my songs played in clubs and people knowing the songs. I couldn’t believe it.

The nice thing about the development of your started was you got into animation, which appeared on your videos and you were discovered by Super model Shaun Ross who used your talents. How did it feel to e wanted for your talent?

Well, what happened between Shaun and I felt like the natural progression of things. I used his face as the inspiration for the lead character in my first animation “Heroes”. I tweeted it to him and he helped get that video to many eyes. So, already, he was a supporter of what I do. I was honestly honored that he would think of me again for visuals to his own music. I’m glad to be a part of this new chapter for him as a collaborator.

Over the years you have played many different festivals: Afro Punk (2013, 2014), Music Matters (2014), Brooklyn Bazaar (2014), Brooklyn Music Festival (2014,2015), Brooklyn Wildlife Festival (2014,2015), Make Music NY (2014,2015),SPARK ANIMATION 2015, The Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival (POWFest) 2016, Legends of Hollywood Film Festival, Northside Festival (2013, 2014), CMJ Festival (2013, 2014). Which was the most fun?

Brooklyn Bazaar cause I curated it! I love curating a music event…I love talking and working with fellow artists. Plus it was pretty much a block party!!!!!

How was playing in Chicago, IL – Jan 29 at Lincoln Hall.

Brittney Campbell

The venue is sick and I got to play on the same bill as Fatai who is my new obsession.

Did you have a chance to check out Chicago?

Slowly but surly. The museums here are the dopeness. I’m still trying to find the underground artist night owl community.

Did you try any of the food while you were in Chicago?

Umm yeaaa…why is every restaurant here so good though…I like Girl and The Goat…I went to an AMAZING restaurant called “NEXT” (BANNANAS)), an amazing drink spot called THE OFFICE, CHICAGO DINER is unrealllllll, THE LITTLE BET is a sweet spot….most of the restaurants I’ve been to here have been excellent.

What are you doing during your off time at Hamilton?

Boring adult stuff. Nah I’m usually making music, shopping or drawing thinking about what an awful negligent adult I am.

What do you use to do your animation?

Toonboom and Adobe Premiere…a very trial and error broken method lol

Was call me Baby or was it let me stay a While which you beginning of animation? Where did you film it?

I guess Call me Baby was lol. Honestly, at that point i never imagined getting into animation. We filmed that video at Coney Island.

How is Darth Vader Sexy?

Cause he’s bad ass…and sad. I love sad guys…tortured guys…lol I don’t know why…something sexy about the complicated ones.

Give me some insights of Oceans and Waves?

I wrote in while I was still messing with an ex…I was just addicted and it was bad.

What is you’re feeling about Vinyl?

I’m obsessed. I’ve started my own collection…finally. It’s something that I’ve wanted for a while and I finally have a decent enough record player to start without guilt.

What is the biggest crowd you have play for?

5,000 people

Are you getting any air play from Buzz?

Yea, it’s being played on some college radio stations

What direction do you see your music heading in the next 2 years and your long term goals of your music?

I’d like to be at the damn Grammys in 2 years. The long term goal for music is to keep creating it and to keep connecting with people. Also to get a lot better at the piano and guitar 🙂

What music fests would you like to play in?

Brittney Campbell

Distortion, Astropolis, Polifonic, Rewire, and North by North East

Any special effects pedals you like to use?

Nah…I just like a good tone and reverb, man. Reverb is life!

How did you get picked for the Netflix original series She’s Gotta Have it? And how is it to work with Spike Lee?

I randomly auditioned for it and didn’t know that I was supposed to prepare some kind of dance…when they asked me to dance I just went for it. They called me about a month later.
Working with Spike was inspiring and weird. It’s weird to suddenly be working with someone that has literally shaped your life in some way. Do the right thing is one of my favorite movies and there he was, doing what he does best in front of me. I also learned that he is truly so dedicated to his craft, and the community.

If you had to pick three songs or video for someone who never heard you before what would they be?

Songs:
Mean, For You, Heroes

Videos:
Buzz, Heroes, and Mean (Lyric Video)

Any guilty pleasures your fans would be surprise you listen to?

Every once in a while I’ll bump Breathless by The Corrs…also Teenage Dream by Katy Perry…and Dearly Beloved which is a theme song of Kingdom Harts (The Video Game)

What music do you listens to relax?