BRONTË FALL: FROM SUPPORTING PLAYER TO MAIN CHARACTER
BRONTË FALL: FROM SUPPORTING PLAYER TO MAIN CHARACTER
A Journey Through Music, Grief, Growth and Finding the Courage to Lead
Some artists spend years waiting for permission to step into the spotlight. Brontë Fall spent years learning she never needed it.
Before “Main Character Energy,” she was comfortable being the utility player—the songwriter, fiddle player, multi-instrumentalist and background vocalist helping make the music work without needing her name above the marquee. That changed in Chicago when her original bandmate unexpectedly stepped away. Terrified or not, Brontë stepped forward, booked the shows and discovered the frontwoman had been there all along.
Nearly a decade later, “Main Character Energy” brings that journey full circle. Produced by Grammy-winning Brian Kennedy and co-written with Elizabeth Eckert, the empowering pop anthem follows “Invited to the Party” and celebrates confidence, independence and, above all, betting on yourself.
Her road here has been anything but straight. Chicago gave her the beginning, Nashville sharpened the songwriter, and Los Angeles expanded the possibilities. Along the way came Finishing School, Winter and 2024’s deeply personal Not Done Yet, created following the loss of her father, singer-songwriter John W. O’Brian. That grief reshaped both her music and perspective, teaching her to live—and create—with greater intention.
His legacy continues through Big Heart Fest, created in his honor and benefiting the Sarcoma Foundation of America. Music connected father and daughter; now it helps Brontë carry his spirit forward while building a legacy of her own.
Even the name Brontë Fall, inspired by Emily Brontë and the Brontë sisters, reflects an artist determined to remain authentic regardless of trends.
Now, with new music taking shape, a music venue of her own, motherhood on the horizon and a career she once feared stepping out front to claim, Brontë Fall isn’t waiting in the wings anymore.
She faced the fear. She found her voice. Main character status: earned.
Q. Before the record releases, festival stages and growing recognition, there was simply a young musician from Chicago trying to find her own voice. Looking back, what first convinced you that stepping out front—rather than staying behind the scenes—was exactly where you belonged?
BRONTË FALL: It was by accident, really! I always saw myself as a member of a band, never THE artist. I played multiple instruments and wrote songs, and I saw myself more as a utility player. I started Brontë Fall with my best friend from music school. I cared so deeply for the project, and when she suddenly dropped out, I didn’t know what to do!
I decided to market myself as the lead and booked a few shows in Chicago, even though I was TERRIFIED. I truly didn’t think I could get through those first couple of shows. But then I did, and I learned that I actually LOVED it! So it was then, back in 2017 at Double Door in Chicago, that I gained the confidence to pursue Brontë Fall as the lead artist.
Q. “Main Character Energy” feels like more than a pop song—it sounds like a personal declaration. Was there a defining moment when you realized it was finally time to stop being a supporting character in your own story?
BRONTË FALL: I think the song is truly a testament to the last nine years in the industry for me. It was probably back in 2017 in Chicago when I decided to pursue the artist path, but it follows my story all the way to now, in 2026. I decide every morning to wake up and rededicate myself to this journey—through all the rejection, failures, hard days, empty rooms, etc.
It took me years to even build up the confidence to pursue it, and then more years of dedication to get where I am today—and THAT is something to celebrate! I’m having a particularly “Main Character Energy” year, as I’m recently the new owner of a music venue in Chicago, and I’m expecting in November! But I needed to bet on myself over and over again to get here.
So yes, this is definitely a defining year, and it’s all due to the work I’ve put in over these last several years of becoming.
Q. Your journey has taken you from fiddle player, songwriter and background vocalist to confidently owning center stage. How have those earlier chapters shaped the artist—and the woman—you’ve become today?
BRONTË FALL: I truly feel like playing all of these different roles musically has given me a very solid foundation to stand on. Learning all the different functions of a band has only made me more confident in the lead role. I feel like it has also given me a greater understanding of everyone’s position in the band who supports me.
Q. Every artist battles self-doubt at some point. When confidence and fear have gone head-to-head throughout your career, what has ultimately kept Brontë Fall moving forward instead of standing still?
BRONTË FALL: I think courage is the secret ingredient. I have faced so many of my fears as a violinist, songwriter and artist, and it’s only because I had the courage to try.
That’s another reason why this song, “Main Character Energy,” is so important to me. It’s a celebration of conquering one’s fear in order to fully step into themselves as the MAIN CHARACTER.
Q. Brian Kennedy has helped shape records for some of music’s biggest voices. What has working alongside someone with his experience taught you—not just about making great records, but about trusting your own instincts?
BRONTË FALL: Honestly, it has taught me that no amount of success is too great for kindness. I was very intimidated to work with Brian at first—the amount of Grammys in his possession had something to do with it! (LOL.) But Brian met me with kindness and humility from day one. I felt like I was making music with a friend.
Once we got into the swing of things, our collaboration felt so fluid, and we connected as musicians with a shared passion. That’s all it was at the end of the day—two crazy-passionate music lovers at work, trying to make the best art they could together.
Q. Your music often feels deeply autobiographical without sacrificing its universal appeal. How do you strike that balance between telling your own story while creating songs listeners can see themselves in?
BRONTË FALL: Good question! I do feel most comfortable writing songs through an autobiographical lens. It feels most authentic. But at the same time, I write songs because I want to connect with people.
I want to serve music listeners the same way music has served me in the past—to feel less alone and more connected to the world and the people around me. I feel like I’ve never lost sight of that. I’m not singing to myself with my songs; I’m singing to my listeners.
Q. You’ve lived and created in Chicago, Nashville and Los Angeles—three cities with distinctly different musical identities. What has each place contributed to your evolution as a songwriter and performer?
BRONTË FALL: Wow, that is such a great question! I will always thank Chicago for giving me my start. It was a great place to get my hands dirty and meet the music community in a big city. Merely starting is the hardest part!
Nashville really helped me hone my sound and solidify my songwriting skills, as it is the land of songwriters! Playing songwriting rounds multiple times a week made me feel bulletproof as a performer. Those rounds are a surefire way to overcome one’s performance jitters. It also helped me get a tiny part of my foot in the door of the industry, which has felt IMPOSSIBLE from the beginning!
Los Angeles has just felt so refreshing and exciting! I didn’t know what was next after my 2024 album, and I’m so grateful that the success of that record led to opportunities in Los Angeles. It has allowed me to stretch my songwriting and artistry across genres and sonic aesthetics AND to work with some of the industry’s most talented players. Just very grateful over here!
Q. Big Heart Fest isn’t simply another performance—it’s a celebration of your father’s life and a way of giving back through music. What does it mean to honor his legacy by creating something that continues to bring people together?
BRONTË FALL: Well, in short, it means everything. 🙂 After my dad’s passing, I thought a lot about legacy—what it means and what people leave behind. I believe my music and creating spaces of community will be my legacy, as they were my dad’s.
I feel connected to my dad most when I play music, as he was my first teacher. He was a singer and songwriter. By putting on Big Heart Fest in his honor, I feel like I am continuing his legacy while creating my own.
Q. After the loss of your father, Not Done Yet became a deeply personal chapter of healing. Looking back now, how has grief changed both the way you write songs and the way you experience life beyond the studio?
BRONTË FALL: Losing my father and experiencing such deep grief has given me a life-changing perspective on how I want to live the rest of my own life. As cliché as it sounds, I have learned very painfully how precious and short this life is.
I have known days when I thought I would never feel happiness again, which, in turn, has sweetened all of the good times so much more. I don’t take happiness or the people in my life for granted like I used to. While it is scary to realize that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, it has also made me so much more present and intentional with my own life.
Q. Your stage name carries literary inspiration from Emily Brontë and the Brontë sisters, while your music feels rooted in modern storytelling. How important has storytelling remained as the thread connecting every era of your career?
BRONTË FALL: One reason I named my band after the Brontë sisters in the first place was because I love how raw and authentic their novels were. Wuthering Heights is one crazy book! It still stands today as quite radical.
Even in the mid-19th century, the three Brontë sisters stayed true to their voices in spite of society’s expectations. I have always carried that same intention of authenticity and sincerity through all my eras as an artist, no matter the musical or societal trends of the moment.
The industry is always changing, especially in regard to consumerism, and it feels grounding to have that sentiment anchor me, no matter the TikTok trend of the day!
Q. Pop music often rewards image as much as substance, yet your catalog consistently leads with honesty and vulnerability. Do you feel authenticity is becoming your greatest artistic strength in an industry that often encourages people to follow trends?
BRONTË FALL: Gosh, another incredible question! I do feel like if one isn’t grounded in themselves, they could get lost in whatever the trending images of the day are. And perhaps that is a strength of mine—truthfully, I’m only making that connection now!
While it took me forever to have the courage to be an artist in my own right, perhaps those years of exploring helped me find myself and my voice. We cannot deny that branding and marketing oneself are super-important elements in the success of an artist. But at the end of the day, for me, it has always first been about staying true to my voice and saying what I needed to say.
Q. “Main Character Energy” encourages listeners to embrace their own worth and take ownership of their lives. If someone walks away from this new chapter believing in themselves a little more than they did before pressing play, what would that mean to you as both an artist and a person?
BRONTË FALL: Well, it would mean everything, truly. 🙂 That is why I do this—not only to inspire myself and get by in this crazy life, but to inspire others to believe in themselves and BET ON THEMSELVES!
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