One of the bonuses of being a talented musician is the ability to be in front of many different people. With this platform, you can choose to share a message that is truly meaningful to you. Stephanie Braganza is one such artist that takes advantage of this.
The singer-songwriter from Toronto has some true diversity on her sound. She brings a blend of pop, dance and now rock music to the stage. With powerhouse vocals she lets the fans know what is in her heart and the causes she is passionate about. The latest music video by Stephanie Braganza is an amazing piece of work with a real message behind it.
We had a chance to sit down with Stephanie and get behind the music and inside her head for a minute. Enjoy the interview below:
Your music and career have taken some twists and turns. Tell us how you got here?
I’ve been performing professionally for 10+ years and the journey has been an incredible learning experience with a lot of ups and downs. I think a lot of it has been about finding what I’m most passionate about and having the courage to write about it and share it with the world. I started my journey in music with a degree in Jazz Music, and over the years have discovered and challenged myself by performing many different genres in the Top 40 scene. When I became an animal activist, I knew that I had to write a song that encompasses the injustice and lack of awareness that I have seen.
What is your songwriting process?
When I work with my co-writer Kolin Stewart, we will usually work out a riff and I’ll improvise a melody over it. After working out a bunch of ideas, we choose one that we feel will work best with the lyric concept that I have. Then I work on the details of the lyrics.
Take A Strange Trip With Stephanie Braganza on “Chains Of Silence”
The “Chains Of Silence” video has a lot going on to think about. Tell us your message with the song and video?
The lyrics to “Chains of Silence” actually cover the overall injustice of our fellow earthlings having next to no rights on the planet that we share with them. I wanted the music video to focus on the horrors of the dairy industry, as I believe that the dairy industry is arguably one of the cruelest industries, and dairy seems to be the most difficult animal product to eliminate from people’s diet. The video puts women in place of a dairy cow. Not a lot of people realize that in order for a cow to produce milk, just like a human they must become pregnant. Dairy cows are forcefully artificially inseminated, they carry their baby for 9 months just like us, and when their baby is born, they are ripped from their mothers. The milk meant for them is given to us. A mother cow will mourn for days for her baby. This cycle is repeated over and over again until the dairy cows are spent and then sent to slaughter. Male calves are usually killed for veal, and females are fated to live the tortured lives of their mothers. I have had many people tell me that the video is disturbing, but that’s the whole point… This is standard practice in the farming industry and the fact that it has been normalized and accepted is more than disturbing.
What is next for Stephanie Braganza?
I know that I will be writing more music with eye-opening messages. Making music to bring people together to share compassion for the animals and for the livelihood of our planet is what I live for now. It may go against the grain of the mainstream, but music and art should be about truth, and I’m used to the awkward distance I feel from my non-vegan peers at this point! It is my hope that those who listen to my music will want to join the conversation with me about these difficult topics.
What advice would you give to other independent artists on the rise?
I think musicians today know that the music world is not what it used to be. We are constantly fighting to be seen in an industry where “hits” have half the longevity they used to, and where people would rather spend $4+ for a coffee than $1 for a song that has had a ton of money, blood, sweat and tears put into it. You have to REALLY want this life where you have to reveal your vulnerable sides, be strong enough to face rejection, and always strive to be better musically. Choose a job that allows you time to create, and surround yourself with supportive friends, family, and musicians. Most importantly, as cliche as it sounds: be true to yourself. It’s tough enough in this industry without also having to conform to what’s mainstream.
Keep up with more music and meaning with Stephanie Braganza at: