In Your Own Backyard
Words: Megan Leppla
Photo: Roth Conrad

Lorna Bracewell – St. Petersburg

What She Sounds Like:
A deep, soulful voice bellows from her petite frame. Any attentive listener could easily recognize the parallels between Ms. Lorna Bracewell and her much admired influence, Melissa Etheridge. Lorna is even quick to acknowledge the way her sound mirrors Bruce Springsteen's, “if he were a skinny girl,” she says. This skinny girl is doing everything in her power to raise consciousness through the strength and power of her voice, in hopes that others will hear and develop an awareness for many of the problems facing our world today.  Currently out on the road, Lorna was able to take a few minuets out of her crazy schedule to exchange a few words with me. 

In Her Words:
REAX:  What do you hope to express with your music?
Lorna Bracewell:  Something! Anything! I just want people to feel and/or think SOMETHING as a result of listening to my music.

REAX:   Do you feel like you take on a new persona when on stage versus how you are in your daily life?
Lorna Bracewell:  I'm going to say no, but I'm sure my family and friends would answer that question in the affirmative. I feel more like myself up there than I do down here. I guess up there I'm who I want to be and down here I'm stuck with who I presently am.

Why You Should Check Her Out:
While some of her lyrics still tell the stories of moving on from broken hearts and love lost, Lorna is determined to convey an honest conversation with her audience at live shows. She is on the level in the eyes of both local activists and music enthusiasts, and is committed to music as not only her art form but her bread and butter; leaving little room for distractions from her passion. I admire her tenacity towards fighting for what she believes in, and I find it commendable that she uses her talents in music as an outlet for such causes. On October 27th, Lorna will be doing a show from her series of On This Earth benefit concerts at the Pro Star Sound Stage in St. Petersburg.  Specifically, this show is out to put a stop to domestic violence.

www.lornabracewell.com