Brenda Burch is back with an upbeat new single for the new year. “Big Wide World” features rich country vocals coupled with a high-energy pulsating drumbeat that drive this uplifting anthem from beginning to end. Lyrics of encouragement and strength are performed with a versatile range while rhythmic piano and retro guitars amplify the song’s message of living a life inspired by purpose.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Brenda about the latest single, adapting during a pandemic, technology and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Where are you from and how do You describe your style of music?

I’m originally from the beautiful state of Utah. Many of my music videos have been shot in the mountains, valleys, golf courses, rodeo grounds and stunning red rock hiking trails throughout the state.

My music can be described as western-rooted country music with elements of pop, rock and soul.

How did you get here? As in, what inspired or motivated you to take on this journey through music and the music biz?

My first live performance was when I was 3 years old for a crowd of 2,000 people. From there, I began recording professionally at age 6 singing the soundtrack for an educational film. I went on to record several children’s albums, but it wasn’t until a near-drowning experience at age 12 that I discovered the true healing power of music. Listening to songs, performing music and songwriting have brought a lot of joy to my life over the years, and being able to share that joy with others makes me feel alive. I love it.

How does your latest project compare/contrast with your previous release(s)? Were you setting out to accomplish anything specific, follow a specific theme, or explore different styles of creation?

My new single, “Big Wide World,” is an uplifting anthem I wrote about following your soul’s passions. It will be featured in my “Keynote Concerts” where I combine my message of living a joy-filled, purpose-driven life with my original music. The response I’ve gotten from “Big Wide World” has been moving. Some are calling it their theme song for the year, others are saying it’s inspiring them to do more of what they love each day, and that warms my heart because it’s exactly why I wrote the song.

My previous release, Sparks Will Fly, is a 6 song EP that has a focus on relationships. The title track, “Sparks Will Fly,” is a tongue-in-cheek take on the dating world that hit #1 on the Hotdisc Top 40 in Europe and stayed there for 6 weeks straight. It was a fun song to write, and to this day, people tell me how much they relate to it.

While “Sparks Will Fly” showcases a more traditional country vibe, “Big Wide World” has a crossover country flavor with high-energy pulsating rhythms that drive the song from beginning to end. And I’m excited to share that, “Big Wide World,” also hit #1 on the Hotdisc Top 40. I’m thrilled with how well it’s been received.

Name the biggest challenge you faced as a creative during these unprecedented times? How did you adapt? How have you kept the creative fires burning during all this?

I started writing Big Wide World alone in my home studio during the pandemic. With all the stress and chaos going on in the outside world, I was grateful to be able to play music. I wondered what the world would be like if we were all doing what we loved each day. With that thought in mind, I began playing around with chords and melodies on the piano. Once I had the lyrics, vocals and music ready to go, I connected with Nashville producer/drummer, Kyle May (Kelsea Ballerini, Billy Ray Cyrus, Runaway June) to work together on the production.

We got some talented Nashville players on board who would have normally been out touring with headlining acts, but due to the pandemic, weren’t out touring, so that worked in my favor. Keeping health and safety in mind, we each recorded our parts separately in our own studios to bring the track to life. I’d never done that before – I’m usually in the studio with the players when recording a project. But it all turned out great, and I couldn’t be happier with what we created.

What was the last song you listened to?

I just listened to, “Tumbleweed,” from the album, The Speed of Now, by Keith Urban. He’s such a great entertainer. I’ve seen him live in concert a few times and am always impressed with his performance. I’m so glad to have live shows coming back.

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? 8-tracks? Cassettes? CDs? MP3s? Streaming platforms?

My dad had an extensive vinyl collection when I was growing up. We’d listen to oldies but goodies like Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline and Jerry Lee Lewis. I still love vinyl, but I do listen to CDs every so often, and it’s convenient to have playlists on my phone to listen from wherever I am – even the golf course.

Where is the best place to connect with you and follow your journey?

The best place to connect with me is my website at https://brendaburch.com
You’ll find my music, videos, more info about my speaking, and I’d love to connect on social media (i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube), all of which are accessible from my website.

I really appreciate Your time. Anything else before we sign off?

Thanks so much for this interview, and I’d love for those who are interested to watch my new music video for “Big Wide World.” From the mountains of Utah to the beaches of California and beyond, filming this music video reminded me how much beauty we have in this big wide world of ours. Doing more of what you love is what “Big Wide World” is all about because I believe we each have a gift and the world is waiting for it.