Aubrey Burchell’s cheery exterior doesn’t always match up with what she’s feeling inside. Her new song “Spinning Out” expertly conjures the feelings of an anxious person with a big smile.
Aubrey recently spoke with WYEP's Joey Spehar.
What’s your musical history up to this point?
My dad has been a musician my entire life and he shared this music with my two younger siblings and me. We wrote cute little songs together and we were exposed to music ever since we could process sound! I had always been interested in singing ever since I could form words.
Around 11 years old Jamie’s Dream Team graciously allowed me to sing at their fundraising events for many years! From there I was introduced to the Keynote Cafe in Jeannette at about 14. The Keynote fostered many young local musicians as a soft place to land and a home to grow as people and performers. HUGE shoutout to Jill Sorrels, who helped raise a plethora of Pittsburgh musicians with talents as large as their hearts.
I have been performing professionally since I was 16, which is when I started writing for the first time with my dad. In 2017 I was on Season 1 of the reboot of “American Idol.” Some years past and in 2021, I was lucky enough to have made it to the semifinals on “America’s Got Talent” Season 17!
Shortly after I met Kurt Giamattei, my writing partner for this most recent album, and in about two years we had written "Performance Review." During that time, I had a stint in Vegas for about two months and am very heavily involved in Pittsburgh community theatre having done 13 shows in the last two years!
How do you describe your sound?
I would describe my sound as soulful R&B pop!! Very retro!
Tell us more about the song "Spinning Out." What inspired you to write it and what does it mean to you?
“Spinning Out” was inspired by what it felt like to live with clinical anxiety. The turmoil is much deeper hidden within as indicated in the almost cheery vibe of the song in contrast to the tortured feelings expressed in the lyrics! It is about fighting to stay afloat while you’re smiling on the outside!
What was the first album that really changed your life?
The first album that really changed my life was "Back To Black" by Amy Winehouse. At the age of 9-10 I could sing the whole thing from memory back to front. It was our family’s cleaning music; it has heavily inspired and influenced my writing and singing for as long as I have been performing!
Who are some other Pittsburgh artists you think more people should listen to?
More people should listen to Noah Myers and Lorelei Page!! Both completely different in genre and both with recent releases/continuous releases!!! Grateful to call both of these artists true friends and true talents.
Any other super interesting things about you we should know?
Honestly, I think I covered everything interesting lol! I love cats!! I have three!!! And I love my boyfriend, Jeremy! I have one! Haha HUGE shoutout to the Pittsburgh musicians and Klint Macro at Cobblesound studios who DONATED their craft and passion. We handed them charts and they made these songs what they were destined to be. I am incredibly blessed.
"Spinning Out" features:
Kyle Jaster on bass
Jon Reider on guitar
Jake Leya on drums
Kurt Giumattei on piano, organ, and background vocal
