Bryony Matthews Releases Powerful New Concept Album ‘Brain Storm’ Ahead of NZ Tour

Ōtautahi-based singer-songwriter Bryony Matthews has today released her new album, Brain Storm – a deeply personal and powerful concept album that lays bare the challenges she faced after a life-changing accident. The record includes the lead single ‘Storm’.

Listen to Brain Storm / Listen to Storm HERE

Raw and honest, with dark undertones, ‘Storm’ comes from a place of vulnerability and quiet fear. “It follows the story of my head injury and the recovery afterwards. I cannot remember the accident, but this song came from strange, warped visions, fears and ideas that I had when I was released from hospital two weeks later,” says Bryony.

“It was a very intense, hard time and this song holds a lot of the trauma that I felt in the very early days of recovery.”

‘Storm’ serves as the first chapter in a story made up of six chapters/songs – each which reflect where Bryony was at the time in her recovery journey. It sits on Brain Storm alongside the already-released single Recovery (released on July 3), as well as new tracks Tinnitus Train, Drunk Symptom, Trauma Waves and A Letter To My Brain.

“I am very much a lyrically focused songwriter. Words are very important to me and I often write things as poetry first and then turn them into music, as I did with most of these tracks on this album. I was unable to make music for six months after the accident, but I could write things,” explains Bryony.

Brain Storm also marks a significant evolution in Bryony’s songwriting. “This song, along with the album, was an interesting time in terms of writing. I couldn’t sing as well for a long time after my accident and I decided to use those flaws in my singing style, instead of trying to perfect them.

“It was liberating and fun to use my voice in different ways. I feel this song and album reflects me feeling comfortable in trying new ideas that I enjoy, without inhibitions,” she says.

The strong emotion that ‘Storm’ evokes is depicted in a beautifully shot video directed by Maria Webb, with cinematography and editing by Harry Knight. The video conveys the dark shadowy ideas that go along with the song’s lyrics.

“Capturing the contrasts between light and shadow, sharp edges and blurry figures, this video is made to bring the watcher and listener into the gloomy depths of images that my mind created after my accident and how I pictured it all. It is made to feel sinister and unearthly, uncomfortable but artistically beautiful.”

To mark the release of Brain Storm – co-produced with Steven Marr (Doprah, The Veils, Yumi Zouma) – Bryony is embarking on a five-date New Zealand tour, giving audiences the chance to immerse themselves in her world. The multi-sensory theatre show will combine live music along with storytelling, soundscape and visual art.

Christchurch – August 13 & 14 – Little Andromeda Theatre

Wellington – September 2 – BATS Theatre

Whanganui – September 3 – Repertory Theatre

Auckland – October 14 – Tītirangi Theatre Lopdell Precinct

Hamilton – October 15 – The Meteor

“The purpose of this whole project is to help people understand others that may have gone through head injury experiences and the symptoms people can live with afterwards, and to hopefully help those people feel a bit more understood and less alone, hearing me talk about my own experience. I hope to make more people aware of Laura Ferguson Brain Injury Trust and what they do for people like me and the amazing support they have available.

Photo Credit:  Marc Wilson