By Casey Rafter
Embracing the ethos of a self-described “DIY singer-songwriter with a folk-punk soul,” Brianna Carmel’s eclectic and multifaceted musical career defies being restricted to any single description.
Carmel is currently part of three musical acts, though the singer, guitarist and ukulele artisan lends their talents to many of Sacramento’s creative folks. Their solo releases date back to 2018, with some of their first rudimentary recordings posted on a Soundcloud account as early as 2012. The bands are collaborations with musical partner Josiah Masteller: the duo Blooming Heads and the trio Little Tiny Knife.
Growing up in Sacramento, Carmel was inspired to take the mic themselves after watching performers like Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato on TV. They also spiced their musical tastes with exposure to bands like Green Day and Paramore.
“A notable thing that made me think about singing in front of people was the era of TV that I grew up in,” Carmel says. “I feel like I’d known since I was maybe 10-ish that I could do it in front of people. I just didn’t have a way to work with other people who were interested in music.”
Leaning on the programs available at Skip’s Music in Sacramento, Carmel began vocal training with then vocal coach Elizabeth “Merlot” Prince in 2012. The following year, they began enrolling in the store’s Stairway to Stardom program, which presented an opportunity to experience their first collaborations with other young musicians.
“That was how I first started playing guitar in front of people,” Carmel says. “After that, I was [confident that] I’ve at least helped write a song that I’ve sang and played at the same time [on], so I’ll start trying to write more.”
In 2013 Paramore released their self-titled album, which featured singer Haley Williams’ energetic voice accompanied by guitarist Taylor York strumming on ukulele. That stuck with Carmel and caused a desire to play the ukulele, which led to the 2022 release of their three-song EP “Building Blocks.” Carmel says the small stringed instrument was their way of feeling more at home in the folk-punk community.
“I feel like by then, I’d figured out more of my sound,” Carmel says. “I don’t want to [admit that] I’m small and [the] ukulele’s small and it’s easier, but that’s kind of what it is.”
After a few unsatisfying early collaborations, Carmel focused on solo releases — but didn’t want to be defined by those. “The reason I like having different projects is because I like approaching them in different ways,” Carmel says.
In 2016, Carmel began volunteering to work the door at Cafe Colonial, the rock venue where they were already attending and booking their own performances. From that experience, and to fill a need within the local music community, Carmel soon started a project called 916 Growth Gigs to help other local musicians promote and book local shows.
Through 916 Growth Gigs, Carmel also releases compilations of songs, mostly covers following a theme for each album. “Queermore,” Carmel’s first compilation for the project, was a Paramore tribute album 916 Growth Gigs produced with profits going to the ACLU.
In 2018, came Blooming Heads. Carmel says the songwriting process they share with collaborator Masteller is emotionally driven. They also said that the two meshed so well because both of them partially process music, art and life through the lens of autism and ADHD.
“It’s just kind of two neurodivergent people clicking,” Carmel says. “I wanted to be in a band. I always wanted to ask Josiah, especially once I got to know them better. In hindsight, Josiah’s always said that if someone asks if people want to start a band, why not? If it works out, cool. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
The band has been steadily building material for an album.
On Carmel’s latest release, “Bri Earned the Power of Self-Respect (the EP),” Carmel recorded with locals Sarah Reiwitch, Octomammoth and Lucy Broom. Their other collaborations include sessions with Ninefingers, Wow!Youmadeit and The Nicolas Cage Mayhem Delivery System.
Carmel also used the 916 Growth Gigs Bandcamp page to release Little Tiny Knife’s latest album, “Wayne’s World/Almost Alive From Dustin’s Kitchen,” which dropped digitally in July.
After years of carving out a place in the community, Carmel says they finally found their crowd. The honesty and earnestness of punk music resonates with them. “All the bands I used to see back in the day were a part of a local, full punk community,” Carmel says. “You can just say anything, as long as you mean it.”