After a Two-Year Hiatus, Brynn Elliott’s “Shiny Happy People” Signals a Fresh Start

After a two-year hiatus, singer-songwriter Brynn Elliott is stepping back into the spotlight with a fresh perspective and a deeply personal new single, “Shiny Happy People.”

Brynn opens up about her journey through grief, the healing power of music, and the creative rebirth that has shaped her latest work. Teaming up with her longtime friend and producer Nathan Chapman, Brynn shares how this next chapter feels like a new beginning—one filled with vulnerability, honesty, and a willingness to embrace every emotion along the way.

PC: You took a two-year hiatus from making music. How did you know that now was the right time to return to your craft and release such a personal song like “Shiny Happy People”?
Brynn: My friend Nathan Chapman encouraged me to move forward. I sent him the demo for feedback, and he ended up asking to produce it! Working on it with him was an incredible experience, and after that, I just knew I wanted to share the song with my listeners to show where I’ve been over the past few years.

PC: Music has a remarkable way of healing. How did writing “Shiny Happy People” support you in navigating your own journey through grief?
Brynn: This song serves as a reminder that truly grieving means allowing myself to feel all the emotions, even the difficult ones. It’s my way of giving myself permission not to always be happy, strong, or positive—traits that come naturally to me but can sometimes become ways to avoid hard or painful feelings.

PC: You’re also releasing a music video for “Shiny Happy People,” a powerful way to visually represent the theme of grief, especially how it’s such a unique and personal experience for everyone. Can you talk about collaborating with your longtime friend Aaron Craig and how you worked together to bring this vision to life?
Brynn: I knew I wanted the video to follow a narrative. All I really told Aaron was that I wanted a “creepy old country church” vibe—maybe with a mine. I’m very inspired by Marcel Marceau, so I envisioned a mime in the video to explore the idea of performing emotions in front of a crowd. Aaron completely understood the vision and brought in incredible talent, like Lillian Brown, who plays the main character. Lillian beautifully captured the feeling I wanted to convey: that raw hurt and frustration you experience when you’re utterly crushed inside, yet there’s an expectation in public to stay positive and happy, even as your world feels like it’s falling apart.

PC: After taking a two-year hiatus, how would you describe this next batch of songs? How do they reflect on or build from the success you’ve already achieved?
Brynn: I’m not sure if these songs build on past success—this feels like an entirely new chapter for me. I do believe they’re my most honest and vulnerable work yet, each one telling parts of my story and the characters who’ve been part of it. They dive into my deepest and most personal experiences of faith, hope, heartache, and love.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2024 and into 2025, can we expect more music from you? What’s coming up?
Brynn: There might just be more music on the way! I’ve got a few things in mind for next year, but that’s all I’m sharing for now!

To keep up with Brynn, follow her on X, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Stream “Shiny Happy People” today.