Raised in Athens, Alabama, Brittany Howard was musical from a young age, singing in church and for her family and friends, and soaking up sounds of the records and the radio that were playing at home and at her grandmother’s house. As Brittany puts it, music was her educator. Right from the start, she was exposed to, and influenced by., a huge range of genres - from the classic rock of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, to pop innovators Prince and Michael Jackson, to Dion’s doo-wop, 90’s country hit radio, 70’s funk, and Elvis.

In this episode of Mixtape Memoir, we’ll hear how, in spite of knowing that she’d have to chart her own path, Brittany’s passion for all of these sounds ended up finding their way into her own, as she went from playing in a punk band at twelve, to joining forces in high school with future bandmate Zac Cockrell, and then forming Alabama Shakes, which would change her life in ways she calls a miracle.

Now a sixteen time Grammy nominee, including six for her stellar 2019 solo debut, Jaime, and a five time Grammy winner - one for the song “Stay High” off Jaime, and four as lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of Alabama Shakes - Brittany Howard will describe how throughout that journey, the power of positive thought, starting with that little voice inside her head that told her “there’s more than this” has become the key to her success and happiness.

Credits:

Host/creator - Carmel Holt @carmelholt @sheroesmixtape @sheroesradio
Producer, Engineer/Mixing/Mastering -
Mitra Kaboli
Additional editing: Daena Winston
Theme music - Lucius @ilovelucius
Cover Illustration - Jaf Farkas @jaf_farkas
Guest: Brittany Howard / @blackfootwhitefoot
Label: ATO Records / @atorecords