www.themusicedge.comNovember 18, 2005
An in-your-face, refreshing, assertive, and confident breath of fresh air is broadcasting her music through the hard ear pieces of your iPod, through the crackly speakers of your mid-1990’s four-door sedan, and the one-inch speakers of your computer. Her name is Brie Larson, and her honest sincerity and insight into the young female mentality is not only enlightening, but it hits home when someone (such as I) becomes slightly removed from the emotions and turmoil of growing up (as I find myself mostly grown up). Brie Larson’s newest release, Finally Out of P.E. connects to the listener on many levels as it opens the pages of Brie’s diary and reading each word out loud.
Growing up is hard enough as it is, seeking to find similarity with peers, companionship and camaraderie with fellow combatants of the same sex, fighting the fears of dealing with the opposite sex, and a thirst to discover who you are and what you’re supposed to do for the rest of your life. It feels as if it all has to be decided in a single moment and be inscribed in stone once it catches up with you and those around you that you’re no longer a kid, doesn’t it? Well, I have good news: Finally Out of P.E. is a document to reassure those of you who haven’t figured it all out, that it doesn’t have to be that way— that quite oppositely we have our whole lives to find out who we are and what we want to do.
Brie has a talent for turning her life experiences and emotions into something young girls and other teens, and even people in their early twenties can relate to, as the process of growing up realistically spans the better part of a decade of our lives. Who’s to say the cartoons and video games have to end when we graduate from high school? Finally Out of P.E. brings to mind and immortalizes those crazy butterfly-giggly schoolyard crushes, the hustle and bustle of school hallways, and the transformation that happens when the note passing and middle school relationships stop, and when real-life relationships take hold of us and mold us into young adults.
I think what is most energizing about Brie and her music is that she hasn’t become untouchable yet. She hasn’t removed herself from the grasp of reality, and still understands the important things in life. She’s just a normal and talented teenage girl that happens to have an extremely successful career in music and a well-weathered acting career. She’s a goofy, full of life, authentic young woman that has goals and embarrassing moments just like any other 16-year-old girl. Finally Out of P.E., released early this fall on Universal/Casablanca Records is an invigorating and enthusiastic pop collection that carries sounds likened to that of Edie Brickell, Hilary Duff, Pink, and perhaps even a twinge of Liz Phair, Vanessa Carlton and Michelle Branch. Throughout the album Brie stays true to her sound, polishing it with vivacious vocals and striking rhythms. The Music Edge recently caught up with Brie as she was relaxing at her Northern California family home, watching MTV’s TRL and playing with the family dog.
The Music Edge: What was the first concert you ever went to?BL: It was Leanne Rimes. My Grandma actually took me when I was like 7 years old. I was really into country music when I was younger and I still am to an extent. I like to listen to really sad folk (music), but not as much as I did when I was younger. My grandparents used to live on a ranch, so we used to go stay with them, and all they played was country, so I knew all the words to every country song.
TME: Was your family involved in music or acting before you started your career?BL: No, not really. Everyone was doing different things, and I ended up being the fluke kid who got involved in acting and singing. I’ve always loved music and acting, they are just such a beautiful balance for each other, I couldn’t imagine not doing them at the same time.
TME: Where was the first place you performed?BL: The first place I performed was Florida, and it was the worst show EVER. It’s utterly laughable, and that’s the fun part about it. I have a pretty good sense of humor and am able to laugh at myself, so looking back on it now I don’t really care. I think it’s important to not put too much pressure on life and not make things that happen a huge deal, because I think in this industry especially, there is a lot of room to mess up. I was like 12 when I had my first show and I knew about it for months and I was just dreading it. I was used to having a safety zone of being with my producers and family, and not being in front of a crowd. So at my first show, it was just like me and my guitar, and I forgot some of my guitar parts and then I forgot the words to my own song, and then my microphone got turned off. It sucked because it was like this mall tour thing and I was introducing this fashion show, and the only people there were the moms of the girls in the fashion show, so nobody cared that I was there. I was horribly embarrassed and I never wanted to do it again.
TME: Oh but you did—BL: I did, and I love it! It’s not even an issue anymore— I think it’s gotten to the point now that I don’t even have any memory of what I do on stage, I just go out there and do my thing.
TME: Is it hard to balance school with your career in music and acting?BL: Yeah, I mean school has always been something that is important to me. I always did very well in school because I wouldn’t accept anything less than an “A.” But I always felt very under stimulated in school because I knew what I wanted to do. I’ve always felt school was there to give you the tools to help you figure out what you want to do, and to learn good work ethics and good learning habits, but I felt I already knew all that and just wanted to focus on what I was already doing. I didn’t really want to be sitting there talking about Geography. All I wanted to do was sit at home and play my guitar. So, I left high school to be home schooled, and then I got offered a tour, and knew that this was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life so I just finished out and graduated. I’m so glad I did, because I know a lot of people who drop out of school or let their grades suffer just because they want to play music. You can do both. It was the right decision for me, and I know that if all of this were to end tomorrow I would want to go to college. I really want to go to Cal Arts.
TME: How do your friends react to all of it?BL: To be honest, I think they all think it’s pretty comical. Most of my friends have known me for so long, and know that it’s something I’ve wanted to pursue for awhile, so I think they think it’s really cool but it’s not really something we talk about on a daily basis. They’re the first ones to make fun of my songs, and they’re also the first ones that are always there in the front row singing along with me at my shows, and telling people about my music, and buying it the day it comes out. I have pretty great friends, they’re the only one’s that tell me I smell and look fat, and I think that’s awesome, I love it.
TME: Do you have any traumatic P.E. stories?BL: Yes. I have so many, that’s why the album was called what it is called, Finally Out of P.E. Because like I said, I did very well in school, was in all honors classes, was the teacher’s pet. But I had this P.E. class and the teacher was just out to get me. Absolutely, 100% did not like me, and I think it was because I wasn’t a suck up in the class. I just came to class and did the best I could. Even though I wasn’t the best runner, I tried to surround myself with other good runners so I would try harder. But we had such strict rules about P.E., and I would miss a lot of school because of shows and flying around. And so if you miss a run, you have to make it up, and I would schedule them but he wouldn’t show up, and finally it was the last day of school and I had to make up a run and he didn’t show up and my mom was just furious. So yeah, that's where Finally Out of P.E. comes from, it’s about finally being out of there and those situations and doing what I love.
TME: So you were 12 when you started playing the guitar, how old were you when you picked up the other instruments you play?BL: Yeah I play the piano and bass, and I’m starting to learn how to play the drums. Instruments fascinate me because they’re completely awkward. When I picked up a guitar for the first time I was like, “What is this?” because it’s so foreign and unknown. It just takes practice to feel comfortable with an instrument, and it’s taken me years before I finally felt even a speck good at the guitar. I guess I was 14 when I took the piano seriously. There has always been a piano in my house so I’ve always been around one, but it’s kind of been on and off, it’s just something I enjoy doing.
TME: What is your song writing process?BL: I don’t really have one. I think it starts to feel really redundant when you start to do something the same way over and over again. I don’t think it’s good to become so dependent on a certain writing process. Being that I was so young when I started writing, I was writing with all these different producers, each of whom I really respect, and each of them had their own way of running things, different ways of writing, different places they like to work. Some of them liked to write at night, so I’d be over at their houses writing songs until like midnight. Each person made it so fresh and interesting, and brought something different out in me, so that’s what I think makes my writing so diverse.
TME: Do you have a special place you like to go to write?BL: I write in my room. I have a bunch of books full of lyrics and drawings and diary entries. It’s interesting to go back and read through them. I usually write at night though, I’m usually a night owl. I usually get my lyrics when I let my mind wander, when you’re not really awake, but not yet fully asleep. I keep an open notebook by my bed and then just write whatever comes to me.
TME: What was it like starting your professional career at the age of 7? Do you remember any of it?BL: I think that it was all very interesting to me, especially looking back on it now. It’s all the little moments and snippets of memories that fueled and still fuel my passion for it. For my first job I got to work on a skit on Jay Leno, and I thought that was it, that I had made it big. Then I did a commercial for “The Club” the device you put on your car steering wheel so it won’t get stolen. And that was it for me, I remember thinking, “Man, I am going to be SO famous!” But you get to a certain point, it’s like steps on a ladder, you get up a step and you’re like, “Oh I did it!” and then you just realize there’s another ladder. I don’t think I’ll ever be at a place where I feel like I’m ready to stop. I know there will always be another ladder.
TME: Did it affect you growing up at all?BL: I don’t think so. One thing that my mom takes pride in is that I’m pretty humbled and I have a good head on my shoulders. I’ve been told on many occasions that I act very mature, and I think that I’ve always had a healthy outlook on my life. It's good to surround yourself with people who help you maintain a grasp with reality and what is truly real and what is honest.
TME: Is it important to you to be a good role model for other teens and young girls?BL: Of course. The main reason why I feel it is so important is the reason why I started writing when I was 12. I would go into periods of depression in my life, and I would feel so alone. I felt that there was no one who understood how I felt, either on TV or in music, and writing really helped me change what I thought and how I felt about myself. I think that this album is definitely a gift to those girls, the ones who go through all the insecurities about their bodies and are unsure about growing up. The album is really about everything I went through when I was going through such a hard time in my life. Ages 12 to 14 are really hard; it’s a really trying time because you don’t know yet who you are or where you fit in. The album is really a big part of me and if I can give anything to those girls out there struggling to find themselves and their place, it’s these songs. I’m always there to support girls through their insecurities and doubts because I think it’s important.
TME: Who are some of your biggest influences?BL: I listen to so much music; I’m constantly listening to music. Whether I’m in the car, or in my room; my iPod is everywhere I go. I love the concept behind music. My aunt and my mom are really into music, and they’ve taught me really the classics and roots of music. I listen to The Doors, The Rolling Stones, The Shins, and also a lot of more contemporary stuff. I love Maroon 5, and a lot indie-rock and folk music, Loretta Lynn, and The White Stripes. Bright Eyes is my ultimate favorite band. I just saw them in concert and it was amazing, it was absolutely the best concert I’ve been to in my life. I was out of my mind. There were like maybe three people in front of me, and I know all the words to all of their songs, I look up to them a lot. I think they’ve had an interesting career and have created their own opportunities.
TME: So with whom would you want to share a stage with if you were to plan a dream tour?BL: Of course Bright Eyes. Them, and I would love to do a show with my friends, Simon Dawes, it’s always fun getting together with them. I think it’s really fun doing shows with people who are your friends and whom you appreciate musically, and at the end of the day it’s really interesting to see how small of a world the music industry really is. Everyone’s friends here, and that’s the greatest part of it, it’s a small community. So it’s fun to hang out and go to your friend’s show and write with them.
TME: What are some of your other favorite past times?BL: I like making my own movies. My parents bought me this amazing video camera that’s incredible. I also just finished making a movie called “Hoot” and a lot of the other kids in it love making movies too. There was this period of time where we were all on this island and we had it all to ourselves, and they gave all of us video cameras, so we went all over, in and out of houses, it was only 1/2 mild wide, and we all lived next to each other in these little retro houses, they gave us all our own golf-carts, and we would just go off with the video cameras making our own movies. It’s such a fun way to document your life because it’s something that’s fun and you can look back on it and reminisce. I love painting a lot also. I paint on my walls. I’m so lucky I have parents that support me in all my crazy projects and ideas. I think that it’s interesting to paint things on your walls and then have to live with it, whether you hate it or not. I make my own clothes too. I have to constantly keep myself busy.
TME: Do you have a favorite song off of Finally Out of P.E.?BL: I think my favorite would definitely have to be “Ugly.” It’s just the song that I put so much of myself into. It was the hardest one to write, just because it dealt with such a sensitive subject of personal identity and self-esteem issues that affect so many young girls out there.
TME: So you’re looking at going to college?BL: Yes I really am. It’s something I really want to do for myself. I want to get into more of the producing side of things and be behind the scenes creating and bringing ideas and schemes to life. I’d love to do what I do on a larger scale, and to do that professionally and learn how to do it well. The industry really has an interesting way of sucking you in and making you think that there is only one way to do something. That if you make a song it has to be on the Top 40, or if you make a movie that it has to sell a million copies, and that’s not really true, there are many ways of doing things artistically and creatively that involve thinking outside of the box, and that’s what I’m interested in pursuing. I think it’d be cool to go to a place like Cal Arts where it’s about the art, and to do it differently, so it’s not about what the masses are saying or what the media says is “hot.”
Thanks Brie!!
For more information visit:
www.brielarsonmusic.comOr add Brie on MySpace:
www.myspace.com/brielarsonmusic By Amanda Andreen