Five-time Grammy award–winning singer-songwriter Brittany Howard is poised to electrify the stage with her powerful vocals at Wolf Trap’s second Out & About Festival, a celebration of LGBTQ+ artists and allies.
The Alabama Shakes singer who went solo headlines the festival on June 22, capping off a full day of captivating performances. Across three stages, concertgoers will experience a diverse blend of genres, from Jenny Lewis’ funky folk-pop tunes to a performance by punk-rock icon Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth fame. Those are tough acts to follow, but Howard is up to the task. Ahead of the event, we asked her about her latest album and her aspirations for the future.
What does it mean for you to be part of this celebration?
I am so proud to be headlining the Out & About Festival this year. I think it is important for festivals to showcase artists that have been under-represented in the past on big festival stages, and I know there is going to be a lot of love in the air at Wolf Trap. The lineup looks absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to see Kim Gordon.
What message do you hope to send to young LGBTQ+ fans who see you perform?
In this crazy time, let’s love and support each other. Let’s figure out a way to join together to change laws that need changing.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process for the album What Now? How do you approach writing such emotionally charged and introspective music like “Every Color in Blue” and “Red Flags?”
You picked two of my favorites! It is interesting, you picked two songs that were instrumentals that I had been working on for a few years. We were debating until the last few days whether to keep these songs as instrumentals, and in both cases I had this last-minute lyrical stream of consciousness moment in the studio. It was pretty wild.
Are there any new directions or projects you are particularly excited about exploring after What Now?
I have been so focused on this album and touring that I have not had a second to come up for air to think about other projects. But I am hoping to write a book real soon about my life. And writing and recording new music is my favorite thing to do, so I have started to think conceptually of where I want to go musically with the next one. It probably will be the polar opposite of What Now!
Feature image of Brittany Howard by Bobbi Rich
This story originally ran in our June issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
