Thursday, May 26, 2022

Grammy nominated artist and multi-talented producer, Meredith Brooks, speaks with Janeane about the 25th Anniversary of her Grammy-nominated song “Bitch” from her multi-platinum album, Blurring the Edges, and being honored at the 2022 SHE ROCKS Awards June 2nd, 2022


Meredith Brooks

For 25 years, Meredith Brooks’ Grammy-nominated song “Bitch” from her multi-platinum album, Blurring the Edges, has served as an empowering anthem for women around the world. She was among the first to reclaim the once derogatory term, and in doing so, pushed back against the stereotype of what a female Rock and Roll artist should look like, sound like or act like.

That same year, Brooks played an integral part in another first – a movement looking to place women at the center of the music industry (and out of the margins) as a featured artist in the all-women music festival, Lilith Fair, while also going on tour with Rock legends, The Rolling Stones. Recognized for her guitar playing prowess and blond Custom Shop Fender ’57 Telecaster Relic, Brooks is among a select few women to grace the cover of “Guitar Player” magazine.

An early adopter of ProTools and multi-effect units, she leveraged technology alongside classic guitars and amps, doing all the guitar work on her album. In the years since topping the Billboard Top 40 chart, Brooks has set about her work in the industry with intention: Working with artists like Hillary Duff, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Katy Perry; serving as a first call record producer through her production company, Kissing Booth Music; and as a mentor, helping to bring creativity out in others. “We have to honor all sides of ourselves. I want to help others build a foundation of confidence and feel good about their art.” 

Coming up! UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts - Joel Veenstra, Chair, Department of Drama, Head of Stage Management

Chair, Department of Drama Head of Stage Management Joel Veenstra is a professional stage manager, production manager, producer, and improvi...