How This Started!! 🌻

 Hello, beautiful soul!

Thank you for checking out my blog!

It's only fair for me to share a bit about myself, so, I may as well begin.

You can call me Bri - although my name is Brianna! Ever since I had the opportunity to love something, I focused my attention to something unusual since I'm a GenZ-er - music from the 60's and 70's.

It all began with a video that dealt with stars that had died tragically. Featured on the cover was Cass Elliot, and without even hearing her music, her cheery dance shuffle and lovely psychedelic print dress in hues of purple, royal blue, and pale hot pink led me to a Youtube search. 

It isn't hard to tell it was then, listening to the Mamas and Papas, that I was captivated. 

Creeque Alley - Twelve Thirty - California Dreamin'

And Denny Doherty with his gorgeous tenor and dark chocolate hair? (sigh)

Everything was a blur from there. 

    Soon, the Monkees. 

Their amicable music was the kind of thing you could like.

I didn't focus much on them at first.

    Then the Seekers rolled along - aussies, four of em'. 

Conservative and Christian enough for my parents (who banned anything rock-y or secular) to allow their folky songs on car rides. 

And I began archiving. 

In honesty, I had already been storing posters and pictures of The Mamas and Papas, informally, on my laptop. But with the Seekers.... a portal was opened. 

So was a Youtube channel. 

And a sort of hungry quest for more. You stumble upon things, read lyrics, save - save - save. 

Two weeks later....Youtube had a copyright problem.

Notable Seekers songs like Blowin' in The Wind, The Times they are a Changin', and Don't Think Twice, it's Alright were taken down in an issue with Bob Dylan.

I had never gotten to save them.  

And it was then I realized - anything can be lost, anything can be taken down, and anything can disappear at any given moment. As I patiently checked in every bit to see if the unsaved videos would be accessible again, I decided I wouldn't sit there and allow media to vanish. 

And from there, I was on a roll. 

As I began college, I was quite the odd student. With only 15 years of age, a miniscule stature of 5'1, and the constant commentary of having the mind of "a 6 year old who had never seen the internet", it seemed as if I'd always be the odd one out. It was quite the slap-in-the-face to be re-introduced to in-person school, after 5 years without (during which I was fully online homeschooled). 

College offers a lot of opportunities, and amongst those was a composition 102 class in which I acquired the bravery to finally be open about my old-school-rock tastes, projects, community efforts, and to my surprise, I was met with embrace. And, ultimately, (after a life of tumult) - it gave me the courage to pursue and continue forward.

Soon after, I developed a love for a band named The Left Banke - and you can say, it's around that time I decided - I am doing everything in my power to preserve the legacy of these beautiful, talented, and heart-wrenching angels. 

Emotion is music, I tell you.

(And have you seen, and heard, their lead singer!?)

Like with Cass Elliot, it was via a Youtube video - "Forgotten Bands of the 60's" or something of the sorts. I was immediately hooked when I heard the addictive chorus melody to "Walk Away Renée". The video made a remark along the lines of: "You will remember the song but not the band".

Boy, were they wrong. 

It took some time, but my list of bands was piling high. I learned to appreciate everything about these bands.... groovy outfits, epically adorable hair, genuine musical talent, the ability to create such masterpieces.... 

It served as cushioning when my life took a negative harsh U-turn in the months to follow. Yet I daresay, the God-given gifts of music and a legitimate friend or two pulled me through. It grounded me, pulled me out, or even just allowed me to cry along (to Mike Fornatale's voice) or float away (To the harmonization of the Marmalade). Someone must be thanked for such powerful art.

And while I'm at it, why not learn more?

My curiosity took over and soon, I was talking to people, interviewing members of other groups, and rapidly finding out so much.

And I've come to the point where I've decided - I'd like to take this on. 

And, here I am. 

My love for the 60's and 70's has also taken shape in my love letters to the decades - via my developing book series (in the working!) set in Michigan (Birmingham, Detroit....), their sketches, future animation project(s), and the score for such!! 

So, please, take my (digital) hand, and let's embark on this together.

Blessings,

- Bri