Q+A With Bratty: The All-Encompassing Release of ‘Tres’
Sam Plascencia and Wendy Rosales
Mexican singer-songwriter Bratty recounts her deepest anxieties and sentiments in her recent third full-length album release, TRES. The in-depth project solidifies Bratty’s rising stature in the Mexican bedroom pop genre.
Photo by Krishna VR
We had the opportunity to chat with Bratty about topics surrounding her musical background, vulnerable storytelling, and future aspirations. Read more about the artist’s passionate process through the creation of TRES and how she prepares for her first-ever U.S. tour.
Bad Wreck: As a rising artist, how has your background shaped your musical career as a bedroom pop artist?
Bratty: I think that I discovered a lot of music thanks to YouTube, a lot of indie alternative bands. Among those, I discovered the surf-pop garage genre. I listened to a lot of Best Coast, Alvvays, Snail Mail, and Clairo when she was starting. So, all of these artists who are also women and made this type of music have always been my influences.
BW: You are now at your third album, how has your work evolved since the previous albums?
Bratty: I feel like every album is like a chapter of my life, what I’m living in that moment so obviously my way of writing, storytelling, and types of stories is always evolving and changing. I feel the difference between the others and TRES is that with this album I went back to writing for myself. When I started writing it was to let things out and express myself or to put into words something that I couldn’t figure out in my head, I used music as a medium to accomplish that. I feel this album got me back to when I first began writing for fun and to let off steam but I didn’t think of how many people would hear this song or if people would understand this song, so this album I think is more personal because of those reasons, because all songs are a reflection of me writing for myself. It’s about myself, when I’m growing, when I don’t understand certain things, or when my anxiety wins, like an identity crisis you know? What’s happening? When you’re growing and it’s normal. For me, I think this album was literally that, how to speak about my identity and what I’m becoming.
BW: From TRES what was your favorite song to work on for the project? What was the creative process like?
Bratty: Musically, “La Última Ves”. Lyrically “Que Yo A Tí” I liked a lot and “¿Qué Será De Mí?” I could say all the songs, but those are the ones that stand out in my head and when I play them. In this case, it was also different because I worked with a new co-producer, named Julián Bernal, he’s Columbian and has worked with Cuco, Kali Uchis, and other artists. So I feel like I put into perspective what Julián hears and what I hear and how to create something based on that. It ended up being two minds combining and creating a new artistic product. I really liked working with him because he gave me a lot of creative freedom and respected it. I’m very thankful, especially for his experience and ability to teach me how we could restructure a song. It was very much a learning experience in that way, but we also had fun in the process and I tried to reflect that in the album and for it to be an honest project.
BW: What was the hardest challenge to face while crafting TRES?
Bratty: It was difficult because in the end, it’s what I was truly living through a hard moment in my life, it was a little bit of an identity crisis. So I think all the songs reflect that a bit of “Who am I? Who am I as Jenny, as Bratty, an artist, as a woman, as a person?” The whole album touches on that so I think it was difficult in that aspect because it’s like writing a diary and sharing it for the whole world to hear. And they interpret it in their own ways.
BW: You’re touring all across the U.S., as an international artist what places/venues are you most excited to perform in?
Bratty: I’m excited about the show in San Francisco, I’ve heard that it’s a really cool place to play. I’m also playing in Los Angeles at the venue called The Roxy. People have told me many famous artists played there when they first started out. So I think that will be awesome. I’ll be thinking about that when I’m there. I’m excited to play in Chicago and explore the city. But honestly everywhere will be a new experience because I think every place is special because the audience makes each show unique.
BW: What are some preparations/rituals you have for embarking on tours?
Bratty: This is my first experience being on a tour on this scale. This tour is the biggest one I’ve done to date. I feel like little by little I’m finding out things that make things easier. One of those things is drinking water and staying hydrated. Taking care of my voice. I feel like I’m not used to the weather, especially where there is different weather. So it’s important to do that and eat well. Before I thought I could get by eating hamburgers and pizza and now I’m more conscious of what I eat because at the end of the day, I’m always moving. I’m constantly doing things physically and mentally. Now I take care of my body, which is something I was not doing before. This tour I’m taking care of myself.
BW: You’ve been able to accomplish some of your biggest goals such as playing Coachella, what is another big goal you strive to complete in upcoming years?
Bratty: I feel like that’s tough because before I used to say Coachella and I didn’t think that it would happen this soon and now I have to think of something new. Now I’ll think of something even more crazy, which would be to play in Japan, that would be so cool. It’s somewhere that’s always sounded interesting to explore so it would be amazing to play there one day.
BW: What do you want to say to your fans?
Bratty: To my fans, come out to the tour, it's truly going to be a beautiful show, different and evolved in many ways. Overall I’m excited to play the new songs, that’s what excites me most about this tour and to see you all singing with me for the first time because it’ll be the first time singing these songs since the album came out. Don’t miss out on the show, who knows when this will happen again or if the world will end, we don’t know what will happen. I invite you to come whether you know one or two tracks or the whole discography.
Listen to TRES here!