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Artist Spotlight: Brianna Mai Colliard
Brianna Mai Colliard & The Desert Marigolds’ debut album, Queen of the Mountain, arrives March 27, anchored by the lead single “Listen to the Voice.” The song explores anxiety and the struggle of listening to the positive voice amid nighttime ruminations, delivered through intimate, unvarnished production by Jason Cirimele.
Queen of the Mountain features ten tracks—eight written by Brianna, two by Vincent—celebrating connection to the natural world and their musical roots. The album release party is on March 28 in Carmel Valley, and the band will perform at the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival in August.
In this heartfelt exchange, Brianna Mai Colliard reflects on the milestones, missteps, and music that made them who they are today.
FreshMusicWorld: How did you get started in the music industry?
Brianna Mai Colliard: It happened very gradually, actually. After graduating from college, where I majored in music performance, I started playing gigs locally, and that’s where I met my bandmates. From there, everything has happened pretty naturally. Every gig we play tends to lead to a new opportunity, and our momentum has been building in the past year. This year, we have a lot of really fun festivals and house shows planned, and we’re always on the lookout for more!
FreshMusicWorld: Who was your first major musical mentor, and what did you learn from them?
Brianna Mai Colliard: It’s funny, I actually never had any sort of true mentor in music. I was always very secretive about my love of singing and my interest in music, so that made me pretty isolated musically. I will say, though, when I was really little, my dad played guitar and sang, and my brother and I would join him sometimes, before I got too self-conscious about it! And now, I learn a lot from my bandmates, whether it’s learning new songs together or tips about improvising on guitar.
FreshMusicWorld: What legacy do you hope to leave with your music?
Brianna Mai Colliard: My biggest hope is to leave a legacy that reflects the things that are important to me, and my outlook on life. Mainly, that you don’t have to follow the path that people expect from you, and that your insecurities don’t define you.
FreshMusicWorld: What accomplishment in your career are you most proud of?
Brianna Mai Colliard: So far, it’s my first album that is about to come out! It’s been years in the making, and I almost can’t believe it’s finally done, but it’s very exciting!
FreshMusicWorld: How do you balance your personal life with your music career?
Brianna Mai Colliard: It’s definitely hard to balance everything, especially now that music is taking up a lot more time in my life. I think the biggest thing is just time management and maybe compartmentalization. For me, I feel like I have 3 different lives: one of them is being a musician, one is being a flower farmer/business owner, and the other is the one who has to take care of my home, pets, and property. So it’s definitely a lot to manage!
FreshMusicWorld: What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long day of recording or performing?
Brianna Mai Colliard:After a long day, my favorite thing is to just lie around in bed and doom scroll. Or watch reality TV and have some snacks… anything that involves lounging is good with me!
FreshMusicWorld: What’s the most challenging aspect of being a song artist?
Brianna Mai Colliard: For me, it’s staying positive and motivated about my music all the time. There are definitely times when I just feel like maybe I’m not good enough and that it would be so much easier to just give up, but thankfully, I have people around me who are there to remind me to keep going, even when I don’t believe it.
FreshMusicWorld: What’s one thing you wish you had known when you started?
Brianna Mai Colliard: Don’t worry so much about what’s coming next, and just enjoy where you’re at! It can be really stressful trying to pursue music, and it becomes exhausting if you don’t find a way to make it fun. I think that’s something I need to continually remind myself!
FreshMusicWorld: What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about your music?
Brianna Mai Colliard: When people compare me to my heroes, it does feel pretty good! I’ve had people compare me to Linda Ronstadt and Joan Baez, and while I think I sound quite different than them, I appreciate the compliment!
FreshMusicWorld: Are there any upcoming projects or releases you’re excited about?
Brianna Mai Colliard: Yes, my first album called Queen of the Mountain is coming out March 27th, and I’m so excited about it! This is the longest I’ve ever spent on a creative endeavor, and it’s pretty amazing that it’s finally complete!
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