“The story of dreaming too big and loving too hard.”
About the music
Dreamer is Bryna Maeve’s debut album. “Dreamer” is a deeply layered record that touches on every part of heartbreak that there is.
Get to Know Bryna Maeve
1. The album is titled Dreamer and described as “the story of dreaming too big and loving too hard.” How did that idea first come to you, was it a lyric, a feeling, or something you were living through?
The first time I really started thinking about the word ‘dreamer’ was actually in an argument with an ex a few years ago. They said that I’d always been a dreamer, and it was one of the reasons we never would’ve worked out. It wasn’t the first time that my goals had caused tension in my life, but it was the first time it had been given a name. The themes of this album were built from there: heartbreak, ambition, and the experiences that have shaped me.
2. Your lead singles like “Losing Bet” and “Subtext”, ended up defining the tone for the album. What made those the right songs to introduce Dreamer to the world?
The lead singles for Dreamer felt the most classic to where I began as an artist. “Losing Bet” and “Subtext” were the logical step up from my earlier releases. On the full album, I took some more room to experiment with different topics and styles of music, but I wanted the lead singles to start in that acoustic-pop, breakup-ballad vibe that has become my comfort zone.
3. How did you decide the order of the tracks, were you thinking of a narrative arc, or did the songs find their own place naturally?
I was planning the tracklist order before I’d even finished writing all of the music. Dreamer goes through an arc of feeling untouchable, to getting hurt, to moving through it, and finally coming out on the other side, changed. The songs get more vulnerable as the album goes on. I wanted listeners to get to know my outer self before I shared my deeper feelings.
4. Is there anything about Dreamer, its making, its message, or what it means to you now that it’s finished, that you haven’t had the chance to talk about yet but wish people knew?
The journey of making this album possible was just as important to me as the music itself. There’s no big-name producer or fancy overseas team that did this (even though at times I’ve wished there was!). Instead, it was really special and valuable how Dreamer came together with the efforts of myself and some close friends who believed in me. I’ll always be grateful for that.
5. If you could ask listeners to walk away from this album with one feeling or one thought, what would it be?
I hope that listeners can walk away from this album feeling seen. I started sharing my songwriting because so many artists have helped me through difficult times in my life, and I wanted to pass that on in any way that I could. I try to tell my truth, even when it’s embarrassing or uncomfortable, because if even one person can relate, and it helps them, then it’s all worth it to me.
Final Thoughts
Bryna Maeve clearly puts so much heart, passion, and meaning into her art. Art, and music particularly, are about expressing your truth, fully, and unapologetically, “Dreamer” is an invitation for all of us to do exactly that.
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