{"id":6311,"date":"2019-12-09T10:36:38","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T15:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/?p=6311"},"modified":"2019-12-09T10:36:38","modified_gmt":"2019-12-09T15:36:38","slug":"interview-bri-tolani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/wtbu\/2019\/12\/09\/interview-bri-tolani\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW: Bri Tolani"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Brittany Moura<\/em><\/p>\n

The new song \u201cHazy\u201d is amazing<\/b>. <\/b>You should be really proud. I could really relate to the meaning behind it<\/b>\u2014<\/b>dissociation.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Bri: That\u2019s the reason I’m so excited about the song is I really want it to connect with people. I\u2019m actually proud to talk about it, and I want to encourage other people to talk about it. It\u2019s a lot more common than you think.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The song sounds fun, like a radio pop hit, but it touches on something so important.<\/b><\/p>\n

It is juxtaposition. You think it\u2019s a chill, fun happy song, but you listen to the lyrics and it\u2019s like, \u201cFuck, this really means something.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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How did the song come together?<\/b><\/p>\n

My mom was visiting. We were sitting at the pool at my apartment complex, and I was having a panic attack for no reason. I couldn\u2019t calm down, so my mom suggested, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go write a song to get your feelings out?\u201d So, I did. The hook, <\/span>\u201cEverything is just so damn hazy<\/span><\/i>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/i> just popped into my head out of the blue. I was just writing what I felt. Once I had the hook, I produced it out, added some chords, listened to other music for inspiration, and it just all came together from that one day.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What were you listening to?<\/b><\/p>\n

My taste is really diverse. One day, I\u2019ll listen to Linkin Park. The next day, I\u2019ll be into Louis The Child, Wafia, Post Malone, WHETHAN, or Lauv.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Were you afraid about opening up this way?<\/b><\/p>\n

I have two options. I can write those universal love songs, which we all love, or I can actually talk about what I\u2019m going through in the moment. It\u2019s very real to me, because I\u2019m documenting it as it happens. It does feel good to let it out. It\u2019s a very vulnerable thing that I’m doing, but why wouldn\u2019t I be vulnerable? We\u2019re all human. I\u2019ve already gotten so many fan DM\u2019s telling me how the music has helped them through mental struggles, and if I can do that, that\u2019s all that matters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The music video further drives your message home. Did you come up with the concept?<\/b><\/p>\n

Honestly, the video was definitely a team effort. I had an initial concept from the song, and we brought in a lot of incredible creatives like the directors, producers, and MadHappy. It was amazing being able to include our friends and make something so meaningful visually for the song.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tell me about #MyThunderstorm.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

So, everybody has their own <\/span>\u201cThunderstorm.\u201d<\/span><\/i> Mine is dissociation and feeling hazy. I wanted to invite my fans around the world to share their Thunderstorm, in hopes to start an open discussion about mental health where they can feel heard and welcomed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Is it important for you to have that connection with your fans?<\/b><\/p>\n

Extremely important. I wouldn\u2019t have anything without them. If my music can help them deal with whatever they have going out, whether it\u2019s mental illness or not, I\u2019ve succeeded.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When does the song come out? <\/b><\/p>\n

November 20th. I\u2019m so excited. It\u2019s the best song I\u2019ve ever written.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n