Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: Wendy Wei
Canadian singer-songwriter Vicki Brittle recently released her compelling new single “20 Somethin'” on January 20th via Coalition Music and all streaming platforms.
“20 Somethin’” intensely explores the trials and tribulations of becoming who you are and demonstrates how Vicki’s art is fuelled by vulnerability and honest connections with others. The music video for “20 Somethin’” was also released along with the single on January 20th.
Directed by Paige Foskett, the new video follows Vicki at a party with seemingly cool friends, feeling uncomfortable as she tries her best to fit in and have fun. Surrounded by people she can’t quite connect with, she slowly wanders around until she takes refuge in the bathroom and we watch as party-goers experience the different highs and lows of a house party in their 20s.
Born and raised in the town of Arnprior, ON, Vicki began playing and writing music at a young age, developing her craft at the town’s local hockey games and bars.
Remaining a small-town girl at heart, Vicki released her debut EP, Candy, in 2016, followed by her first full-length set, One Love, in 2019. Vicki also released the emotional single “It’s Only Love” in 2019, which she re-recorded a new stripped-down version of two years later at the Coalition Music’s headquarters.
Vicki’s soulful voice accompanied by her richly detailed songwriting has an undeniable charm. This is displayed in her other previous releases, “Sweet Melody,” an effervescent and soulful love letter, and “Come Home,” which captures the essence of missing someone when they are away from home.
Vicki has performed at incredible venues around Canada such as the RBC Ottawa Bluesfest, Cityfolk Festival and Canadian Small Halls Festival, and has opened for established artists including Sass Jordan, Adam Gantier and Jeff Martin. She was also previously nominated for “Album of the Year” by Faces Magazine.
I had the opportunity to chat with Vicki about their new single, what she’s learned along the way, and what’s next.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your new single “20 Somethin’”?
Vicki: Being in my 20’s has been a rollercoaster, and I haven’t met a lot of people that have called their 20’s a “breeze”. “20 Somethin’” is an honest letter to myself and others while we are still so young, yet some days feel so grown. “20 Somethin’” is an emotional progression from first word to the last, meant to embody the space of chaos, love, heartbreak, impulse, anger, joy, jealousy, loneliness and so many more emotions that find a home within our bodies during our 20 somethings. On the days the river feels like it’s overflowing, and I have not a clue what I’m doing – this will be my anthem. A reminder that I’m just like the rest, trying my best.
Kat: What do you hope fans take from the new single?
Vicki: I hope people find comfort in my new single. A new melodic home to express and feel not so alone. A space for understanding that none of us know what we’re doing, especially during the younger years.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Vicki: Personally, I find the “determination” phase one of the most challenging. It’s easy to fall in love and float on the river of endless possible melodies and lyrics, but determining which of those ideas will honour my truth yet connect and feed the music hungry people is a hard call sometimes, and somehow other times you just know when it’s right.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way?
Vicki: I have been reminded yet again this past year, how uplifting and important live music is for this world, and how much it can affect the right person at the right time. I continue to learn how important music is, and how helpful it can be on hard days. A basic, yet big learning curve for me was learning to push past the feeling of not believing in myself on the days I don’t, not listening to the little voice in my head, just like this new song states. A big highlight has been seeing people know my lyrics. There’s some vulnerable truth behind knowing an artist’s lyrics, and that feeling on the artist’s end isn’t easily explained, but it’s truly magical. Tied to this highlight is playing Ottawa Bluesfest in 2022, and seeing people from where my roots are planted knowing and experiencing these songs, singing them back to me.
Kat: What can we expect from you in 2023?
Vicki: In 2023, I will be releasing new music, spending a lot of time writing again and playing live shows.
Connect With Vicki:
Instagram: @vickibrittlemusic
Twitter: @thevickibrittle
Facebook: /vickibrittlemusic
Website: www.vickibrittle.com