A relatively new act, MaMa BriBri and The Stranger are excited to showcase their music and connect with their growing audience. A mother of three and musician, Briana, or MaMa BriBri, spends her days in the Halifax area; Jeremy Strange (The Stranger), guitarist, moved around from Colorado, North Carolina, and Nashville, before settling back in his hometown of Danville.
Both Briana and Jeremy grew up with supportive parents who influenced their tastes in music. Briana, rock singer and rhythm guitarist, draws inspiration from her parents and the music they introduced her to, “So many of the songs I cover in our band are songs my mom used to play when I was a kid…my dad is responsible for the quirkier side of my tastes.” Jeremy Strange, an audio engineer and guitarist, was introduced to music through his parents listening to country music on local radio station WAKG and expanded his interests through video games and movies.
Both artists cite a wide variety of genres as their favorites, ranging from Fleetwood Mac and ABBA to Ennio Morricone and John Carpenter, to Jimi Hendrix, Nine Inch Nails, and Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath guitarist). They both share a love for grunge-era rock, which helps them connect musically.
As far as instruments that they play, both Briana and Jeremy have a repertoire of at least three instruments. Briana answered that her voice is her main instrument, but “I play guitar and dabble with other instruments like ukulele and bass.” Jeremy stated he has been playing the guitar since he was fourteen and he also plays “bass, and a little keys.”
Both artists mentioned a true love and passion for music, even going as far to say that the act of performing, practicing, and even just listening to music is “medicinal and therapeutic.” While the creative process looks different for every musician, Jeremy and Briana both agree that their work is important and the reward greatly outweighs the necessary work and practice.
When asked about the most important skills for a musician to have, Briana emphasized the importance of connecting with the audience and reading the room, saying, “being able to share energy with the crowd is really important… that’s the whole goal, to connect.” Jeremy highlighted the importance of staying calm under pressure, working as a team, and having confidence without an ego. He also noted that understanding marketing and business can go a long way in the music industry.
As for their goals for the next year, Briana and Jeremy both aspire to play as many gigs in as many venues as possible. Briana said, “We are a relatively new act, so just getting our name out there and playing more is the main goal.” Jeremy added, “Our goal is just to keep on creating and sharing our music with as many people as we can.”
Overall, Briana Dawn and Jeremy Strange share a deep love and passion for music and a commitment to continuously improving and growing as musicians. Briana’s advice to aspiring musicians is to “never give up and dedicate yourself to always becoming a better musician,” while Jeremy urges others to “practice, learn what you love, and don’t give up. Also, never be afraid to try new things.”