Photographer Credit: Chalisa Singh

Rising alt-pop artist BRE is preparing to release a powerful, hard-hitting, and eye-opening activism anthem, “The Revolution,” an empowering call to action referencing the current events surrounding women’s rights. She is proudly and eagerly donating 50% of the proceeds from “The Revolution” to the Beto O’Rourke for Governor of Texas campaign.

Tell us about the idea behind your new single “The Revolution”

“The Revolution” is a protest song, calling out politicians who strip women of their bodily autonomy when it comes to abortion access simply because they know it will get them votes. It encourages people to use their voices and their vote to actively stand against these kinds of radicalized politicians. It also is specifically speaking to those in power who use their faith to justify creating this kind of backwards legislation and telling them that we will not stop fighting for our rights.

What life experience prompted you to write this?

“The Revolution” felt like a song that had to be written. It came out of a place of fury and a feeling of disbelief over the overturning of Roe V Wade, and the horror of listening to politicians who have sworn to protect us justifying taking away rights that women have had over their bodies for almost 50 years. I wanted to create this song to encourage all of us to not become complacent about this issue and to use the power we have in voting and protesting to fight back against these policies.

Do you see your music and art in general as an activism tool?

Absolutely. For example, music was a driving force behind the Civil Rights movement. It brought people together, empowered people, and shifted public opinion to sympathize and stand with those fighting for justice. Music is one of the most powerful tools we have for activism, and I hope to see more artists use it to stand for what they believe in.

What other creatives do you look up to these days?

I have been really inspired by the women in the industry who have been artists for a long time and are just killing it. Artists like Sevdaliza, Rina Sawayama, Grimes, etc. It’s easy to see the meteoric rise of viral sensations who are 16 or 17 years old and feel like musical success is only for those who can play the social media game really well. But looking at artists who are my age and older who have developed a strong following based on their incredible music and their willingness to grind every day to get to where they are now is incredibly inspiring.

What would you want to accomplish with your life overall?

I want my life and my art to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I want to create music that encourages people in their growth and helps inspire self-confidence and feelings of empowerment. I’m an entrepreneur and hope to be a leader in the businesses side of the entertainment industry as well, serving as an example to other young women who hope to break into what has been forever a male dominated industry. Overall, my hope for my life is that I can utilize all the talents I have to their fullest potential to be a positive role model and leave a lasting impact on people’s lives.

What inspires your sound and tone?

I wanted to take organic instruments like guitars and pianos and combine them with more modern sounding synth. I call my sound ‘Synth with Soul.’ It comes from my background as a dueling piano bar player where I only have the piano to work with to make a song sound great, alongside my love for modern music. I work to combine those elements to create a unique sound that kind of merges genres while maintaining the positive message that is present in all of my songs.

Future goals?

My biggest goal now is to be a creative full time. A lot of artists don’t like to share that they have day jobs or that artistry is not yet their sole source of income, but I think transparency is important to encourage those who are also in the process of trying to make a living as an artist, letting them know that they are not alone in their experience. I have HUGE dreams and ambitions in regard to where I want to take my music, but for right now, I’m focusing on reaching the next step in my journey by financially being able to put everything else aside and focus solely on my art.