Exclusive Interview: Brett Landin Chats About Her Debut Single, “Small Town Girl”

Brett Landin is an emerging singer-songwriter who is breaking down barriers in country music. The Dallas-based artist’s innate ability to pour her heart and soul into her lyrics has not only connected with peers but a community of listeners. Tomorrow, she releases her highly-anticipated debut single, “Small Town Girl,” and Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with her about the release, her songwriting process, and what’s ahead for the rest of 2023!

PC: There are so many different facets to your talent. How did you discover your passion for the arts? What came first?
Brett: I have always been a creative. Ever since I was a little girl, I was putting on shows, banging on pots and pans on the floor, and dressing up in my dance costumes to entertain my family (and myself, really). It feels like creating and having a passion for the arts has always been innate. I fully credit my mom for seeing that passion in me and facilitating “special time,” which was our weekly mother-daughter time where we crafted, explored, and created. So I couldn’t tell you what came first. I think I more so evolved and grew up, and so did my preferred outlet of creating. I am so blessed to have grown up in a household where the arts were celebrated and creativity was nurtured within me by my family.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Brett: That is a tough one, but I would say Kelsea Ballerini has had the most impactful and long-lasting impact on me as a person and artist. She’s my Taylor Swift. I feel like I’ve been following her since her first era when she debuted her EP The First Time in 2015. I was fourteen years old and just beginning to really write up a storm and sing. She is an incredible lyricist, vocalist, and performer. Now I’m twenty-three and she is in a very different era—and I am loving it! You may be wondering how this has had an influence on my career, but I really think that if I hadn’t seen her at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles this past fall, I wouldn’t have decided to take the leap and find the courage to play live shows and release my music finally!

PC: Tell us about “Small Town Girl” and the inspiration behind the song.
Brett: “Small Town Girl” was written by Grammy award-winning songwriters Paul Overstreet and Christopher Harris. I am so honored that I am able to share their stunning lyrics and music with y’all.

I think for me “Small Town Girl” really embodies the story of a relationship that is changing because life happens. It shares the heartbreaking reality of a breakup that has nothing to do with falling out of love but instead with choosing to move in different directions as they chase their dreams. When I first heard the song, I was in a relationship that was ending for a reason that was outside of the love and care we felt for each other. Our paths were just taking us to different places. Those endings are the worst type of breakup because they end not because of a lack of love but instead an abundance of it. You want your partner to go chase their dreams, even though it hurts. Yet you know that you are awesome and that a breakup doesn’t define you. We need that narrative! We need a breakup song that is equally a self-confidence and self-love song.

PC: How did you decide that “Small Town Girl” would be your musical introduction?
Brett: “Small Town Girl” was the first song I recorded on my EP, so it felt like it was the perfect introduction song to what my EP has to offer and what I want to share as a first glimpse into my music. It means so much to me because it was in singing this song casually a few years ago that Christopher Harris (one of the writers on the song) asked for me to sing it. This song kick-started my entire musical journey, and I wanted to honor those moments and memories I have with this song. I also think that at another level “Small Town Girl” is a fun “windows-down” song for the warm weather that hopefully is starting to roll in with spring and summer nearing.

PC: In addition to music, you’re also an actress. Actor-musicians have often said that there’s a different level of vulnerability that you need to tap into when you’re releasing your own music. Do you feel similarly? How has your work as an actress impacted your career as a singer-songwriter and vice versa?
Brett: It’s funny because everyone thinks that being on stage as an actor would have prepared me for standing on stage singing my music and releasing music. While I do think that the body awareness and stage presence that I had to have when acting did prepare me for the strictly performance component, I think that nothing could have ever prepared me for the emotions and nerves that come with standing on stage as yourself sharing a piece of yourself with an audience. I am still grappling with those nerves and emotions that come up and that are all rooted in how truly blessed I feel to have the opportunity to share my heart with others through music.

With regards to vulnerability, I think that performing is only as vulnerable as you make it. As someone who has always been an empath, being vulnerable on stage acting or singing is something that I lean into and take a lot of pride in (though it’s scary at some points). I have learned so much in my journey over the past few months as a singer-songwriter, and I can only imagine that this entire experience will heavily and beautifully impact my next role.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2023, what can fans expect from you?
Brett: At this time, all I can share with y’all is that my EP is releasing later this year (hint hint, maybe another single release before then) and that I am back in the recording studio with even more new music as well! So excited for y’all to hear what I have been working on!

To keep up with Brett, follow her on Instagram and Spotify.