We had the good fortune of connecting with Briyanna Wilson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Briyanna, why did you pursue a creative career?
I think I decided to go down this particular path because of how different I’ve always approached life from a very young age. Using creativity and thinking for myself has led me down a more creative lane. I was also very artistic as a child and followed through with my desire to make things throughout all my years of schooling. It was only natural I decided to start a brand for myself driven by my own kind of creativity and love for curation, as well as for writing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I make art here and there, but I think my true passion is in playlist curation, and writing about music. I feel like there aren’t a lot of black men and women on the ground in my city doing things to the extent of what I do completely by themselves. My goal is to be known for my writing and respected for my opinions within the field of music journalism and curation. I spend hours and hours on what I do, whether it’s setting up interviews, responding to emails from artists all around the world for playlist placement , or spending time writing a review of some of my favorite albums. It’s all for the love of the music. I have a genuine place in my heart for using my platform to amplify incredible voices. I’ve built this brand from the ground up with my own ambitions. I haven’t taken a day off since I started almost 3 years ago when my profession now was only a hobby then. It’s been a challenge figuring out how to be taken seriously, but now I’m at a point where people come to me wanting to know what I think of their music on a professional level. Artists want to sit down with me and they trust me with putting their words down for others to read so the world may better understand them. In my years of experience, I’ve come to realize that level of trust in this industry doesn’t come easy. I’m just a normal person, but people value my thoughts because I’ve worked hard to become a dependable source and a sound opinion. I’m someone people trust.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I feel like I shouldn’t answer this considering we’re in a panorama, but I would probably want to show my bestie the nightlife on the east side of Austin. Brunch and etc. is cool but, man, there’s nothing quite like the dope gatherings and events you used to come across on the East Side. You’ll meet friends for life and have unforgettable experiences.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to say that I’m very lucky to be driven by such a creative community. I’m friends with so many amazing creative people who push boundaries and work hard on everything they want to accomplish. I’d like to thank Brown State of Mind for giving me a place in this community. Through them, I’ve met so many incredible people that I’ve been able to watch level up and inspire those around them- including me!

Website: https://fngr.food.blog/

Instagram: @_bvmbi_

Twitter: @TheFreshJams

Other: The Fresh Jams Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vPVyQLu1Aa7lyL5Vl0rtO?si=z6yAweIWRmaZfo7uv4XI1A

Image Credits
@_maryssarosephoto @ps_slim_ @kay.a.photography_atx

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.