Beyond the Notes
Bryce Fleming's Vibrant Entrance to the Westwood Music Scene
February 6, 2024 | Ingrid GruberThe Westwood music scene has much to look forward to now that Bryce Fleming has arrived.
Fleming, a second-year student studying music industry, has grown up surrounded by music. Her dad, a jazz musician, got her started early, playing casually with friends and family, learning guitar and piano, while her mother encouraged her to take singing lessons after a German opera singer in an airport said she “had a voice.”
While she had been immersed in music for the majority of her life, she began writing songs in middle school. Once she taught herself piano after watching the 2016 romantic musical La La Land, Fleming subsequently started coming up with original tunes.
“I'm surprised I stuck with it because they all really sucked,” she said.
But as she continued to find a routine, she learned to start her writing process with a chord progression that would carry her into a lyrical melody. Through this, Bryce Fleming quickly found a deep connection to lyricism and creating poetry through her music.
Since then, Bryce has continued to write, and she doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon. As she has gained more writing experience, she has pushed herself to write new sounds and approach each song in an abstract way, prioritizing writing music that remains unpredictable and creates a new perspective for listeners.
Fleming isn’t new to performing, either. While she has done a couple of shows around town, she already has some iconic venues under her belt, singing the national anthem at Angel Stadium and singing at the House of Blues – a “core memory” that encouraged her to pursue music. Further encouragement came from SZA’s recognition of her talent. In her senior year of high school, Fleming posted a short cover of SZA’s “Broken Clocks,” which was quickly appreciated by the artist, who liked the post within seconds.
Although Fleming grew up with music, she was unique in her passion for pursuing it. Playing with her parents’ friends and professionals introduced her to the scene, but studying the industry has allowed her to expand her musical circle and expose her to collaborating both in the studio and on stage.
“Everyone wants to play with each other and connect,” she said. “I think if I didn't have this environment, I wouldn't have been able to expand my creativity and dive into all these unique sounds.”
Because of her diverse musical background, Fleming is currently experimenting with her sound. Inspired by a variety of artists – including Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, Sade, Earth, Wind & Fire, and most recently, SZA – Fleming’s sound combines indie, rock, and R&B to create a unique musical style that can be heard in her first release, “Close.”
Creating the debut single was unintentional. While working on a song that wasn’t quite clicking, after hearing an old friend’s beat in the studio, “Close” was written in just a couple of days. The production experience was one of Fleming’s first, as it was her first time writing a Rhythm and Blues song and professionally recording music.
“It was really cool to write a story that was also out of my comfort zone,” she said.
While her sound may be transforming, the themes of Fleming’s songs are both relatable and consistent. She said, “I’ve definitely stuck with drastic and deep storylines,” often writing about overcoming challenges, intense connection, and imaginative subjects. Taking inspiration from both her own life and abstract narratives, Fleming intends for her music to be up for interpretation and relatable for all listeners, simultaneously demonstrating that she can push the boundaries of genres while still conveying an important message.
Fleming is optimistic and thrilled to write, record, and perform more in the upcoming years, hoping to release an EP and play both house shows and iconic L.A. venues like the Troubadour and Whisky A Go Go. Although she’s been at it a long time, Fleming’s career is just getting started.
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