Meet Melissa Bret | Professional Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Bret and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Pursuing a career as a professional musician gives me the joy of making my livelihood by doing what I love and never tire of. The power of music can make people feel good and I love having the opportunity to be the driving force behind that emotion and experience. An added bonus is that I get to be my own boss, make my own schedule, travel where I like for gigs, and am in total control of my work life. The stress is very minimal as well, which makes it all that more enjoyable.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a singer/songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. My tones are warm and bluesy, nestled into an acoustic coffee-house style. For several years, music remained my “side hustle.” I worked a typical “9 to 5” office job in the profession which I went to school for: healthcare administration– and only played shows on the weekends or in the evenings after a long day at my healthcare job.

As the years passed I considered quitting in order to pursue a full-time music career but I lacked the confidence to follow through with it. It felt scary and unpredictable to take a path that was oversaturated with other musicians competing for the same jobs and not having the same level of job security that a steady full-time job provides. For a long time, I did not believe in myself enough to make the change.

Then one day, I realized I was burning myself out by burning the candle at both ends. I was getting so busy with music gigs 5-8 times a week, which would take up my evenings after my day job and consumed every weekend as well.

I started to realize that my job in healthcare administration was sucking everything joyful from me and causing me stress, while my jobs in music did just the opposite; I was always happy at every music gig and never stressed out. At that point I further explored what it would be like to only make music for a living. I began to understand that if I had more time and energy to pour back into my music, more job opportunities in music would unfold and I wouldn’t have to worry so much about job security. I knew I had to take the chance because life is too short and I did not want to live with this deep regret!

Once I quit my healthcare job, I was able to shift my complete focus on my music and making a career out of it. New doors started opening all over the place for me. When I wasn’t playing shows or gigs, I was sharpening my music skills whether it was practicing, taking online music courses, writing and recording music. I was able to book more jobs, connect with other musicians, and invest in marketing. For the first time in my adult life, I felt truly free in my profession and I haven’t looked back since!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Atlanta is known for its great restaurants. I would hope that person is looking for some great food to start! For authentic Asian cuisine, you would want to go to Buford Highway. There you can find everything from the tastiest and most affordable Bahn Mi’s, Korean BBQ, Chinese dumplings, Sushi, Thai, you name it!

For a more refined dining experience, you can’t go wrong in Buckhead. Places like Umi or Chops, Atlas, Bones, St. Cecilia… These are the white table cloth experiences that are known for upscale food and atmosphere.

If you’re looking for a more casual dining, shopping or lounging experience, head to Ponce City Market at the infamous Atlanta Beltline. Built inside an old huge historic brick-walled factory, there is a massive food hall with every culture of cuisine you can imagine, along with breweries and several shops (many are small local businesses). When you are there, you can walk upstairs and outside you will find the beltline, which locals are often walking or biking along for a scenic view of the Atlanta skyline.

Another great area to explore for walkable food/libations and live music or festivals is the Virginia Highlands. There is always something going on around there, and it’s a fun area additionally known for its beautiful historic homes.

For live music, you’d have to head to Eddie’s Attic in Decatur (small suburb of the city). It’s here that many famous artists started out playing before they were “discovered”. The venue is known for its intimate “listening room” atmosphere which is always respected and upheld. You can reserve a table at the show where there are waiters accessible to bring you food or drink, or you can sit in the stadium seating in the back. I’ve done both and have always had a wonderful experience! Moreover, I’ve even had the honor of performing on this stage a few times over the recent years.

If you haven’t been to the aquarium I’d highly recommend going to Atlanta’s. It’s massive with one of the largest salt water tanks in the world, even homing a few whale sharks. You can also easily walk right next door the World of Coke, where you can learn about the history of Coca Cola and even sample different coke products from all around the world.

For some fresh air, you definitely want to check out Piedmont Park (in Midtown). It’s basically Atlanta’s Central Park. There are so many fun festivals that happen there throughout the year whether it’s music or art themed. The Botanical Gardens are a stone’s throw from the park as well and are definitely worth checking out.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for Atlanta. There really is so much to do in this city!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My whole journey as a professional musician started with the help of Now Hear This. About 17 years ago our paths initially crossed and they helped me realize my full potential and set me up with the tools I needed to begin treating music as a true career. They helped me by representing me as an artist, got me my first gigs, as well as a lot of press and other opportunities to kickstart my career in the beginning.

Website: www.MelissaBret.com

Instagram: MelissaBretMusic

Facebook: MelisBMusic

Youtube: www.youtube.com/MelissaBret

Other: www.Twitch.Tv/MelissaBretMusic

Image Credits
Vincent Lau, Jennifer Adams, Matt Kallish