By now we’re starting to feel like we know a little about Myrna Braza of Bergen, Norway. We’ve featured her a couple of times… Here is the proof. Be sure to check out the post on “Go!” – her latest video.
Myrna is a part of the Artist in the Plus Festival and is so sure of the positive impact the whole group are having that she and her partner Tom Tom have become official team members, running the Norway branch of the group.
We talk a bit about that and her other passions and obsessions, below.
Let’s start at the beginning. Tell us a little about yourself. how and when did you start making music?
I´m an unsigned, independent artist & songwriter who´s born and raised in Bergen Norway, and of Norwegian & Philippines origin. I write soulful music. I started performing at the age of 7, wrote my 1st song when I was 12 and recorded my 1st song in the studio a year later. I also work as a vocal coach, have my own record label, manage my own artist career, and have the great honor of running the European department of Artists In The Plus!
I grew up in a family of musicians, so music is as natural to me as breathing and talking, and is the biggest part of my life next to family and friends.
Why do you do it, now?
It´s love, a passion, an obsession, a curse and a gift. I just cannot manage without it, haha! I find myself writing music to express my feelings. I also try to create something that is timeless, soulful and beautiful, something that people can enjoy no matter the age, place or time. Something that lasts. The songs are quite personal, some of which are my own experiences, and I believe that many can relate to the topics. I titled my latest EP release «Moments» to share exactly that with my listeners.
What were some of your early influences and what inspires you today?
My dad was like a mentor to me when growing up. He´s featured on my 1st album «Free As A Bird», and plays the guitar on almost every song! If you check out my music video «Free As A Bird» it´s him playing at the very beginning! He always used to play the guitar for me when I´d written a new song that needed some chords, so it was only right that he would be a part of my 1st official video too. He´s featured on some of my unreleased songs too by the way 😉
I was always inspired by the music he used to listen to; Earth Wind and Fire, Beatles and the soul music from back in the days. I grew up listening to artists like Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Michael Jackson and the list goes on and on. They´ve always inspired me and my vocal sound and writing. Now I mostly listen to Melody Gardot, China Moses and Molly Johnson when I´m not busy playing or singing.
How did you connect with Artists in the Plus and what attracted you to working with them?
About 1 year ago I noticed that AITP was sharing my videos and tagging me on G+, and writing lots of compliments for my music. I was so grateful and excited and became a follower of this awesome community with lots of great artists and musicians from around the world, mostly independent ones like myself. As a result of this I also started using G+ more as a marketing and communication tool, and suddenly I found myself being voted Artist Of The Week and at the end of the year I was Artist Of The Year!! I was so grateful and happy and felt like giving something back to the network, and released the Artists In The Plus Compilation Album together with AITP founder John Voshell and my producer tomtom, featuring 23 artists from around the world! And what do you know? Today I have the great honor of running the European department of AITP! I´ve gotten to know so many awesome people from all around the world on this 1 year journey with Artists In The Plus and am looking forward to everything the future has to bring!
Last year’s festival was a huge success and changed a lot of things about music on the net. Were you a part of that?
Yes! I had the pleasure of kicking off the entire online festival last year! I performed from tomtomstudio where I record all my songs. I remember all the artists performed from their homes and studios, and John and the team hosted eveything through YouTube from their homes.
So it´s amazing really that this year I´ll actually be performing at the special live event at Biblioteket Bar together with MadCraft from Finland and Ilona from UK! And that there´s going to be a huge live event at The Village Studios in LA too where they´ll be hosting it from this year! Not to mention all the artists that´ll be performing though hangouts from around the world! The festival has grown so BIG! How cool is that?!
What would you like to see as a result of the festival, this year?
I wish lots of success to all the artists performing, that they reach thousand of new fans and followers and that they have a great time! I´d love to read success stories all over the net, all about how this online music festival changed everything into more awesomeness! And I hope that new artists and bands from all around the world want to be a part of this amazing and free network, and that we ride a huge tsunami wave up to the festival in 2014 which will be just as awesome as 2013, and that we take the world with storm!
Have you been using services like Hangouts On Air, U-Stream, Street-Jelly, or others to perform live via video on line? What kind of reaction are you getting?
I´m the first Norwegian artist to do live concerts using Hangouts On Air, and I´ve received amazing feedback. This is a way for me to finally share my LIVE performances with the world and I get to reach out to a much bigger audience, and even connect with them and talk to them. It´s like one step closer to reaching the dream of doing a worldwide tour!
Where can we find you and your music?
Search for my name «Myrna Braza» and you´ll find my music in lots of digital music stores around the world like GooglePlay, Amazon, iTunes, Deezer, Spotify and so on. If you´d like to check out music videos you´ll find them on my YouTube channel: youtube.com/mbraza. My latest video is called Go! and is meant to inspire and motivate you to go for your dreams! Enjoy and thank you for supporting me!
In closing, is there anything you would like to add or anyone you would like to shout-out to?
Absolutely! First of all I send love, big ups and thank yous to my amazing sweetheart, best friend and producer Thomas «tomtom» Haugland! I´d also like to thank my amazing band who´s such a big part of my musical journey, and my friends, family and followers for your continuous love and support. I also want to give a shout out to all my awesome song students, and also to my fantastic Artists In The Plus-team here in Europe; Ivar, tomtom, Heli and Arne! And last but not least the amazing US team who do a remarkable job making the world know about us everyday!
