Bio
“Britt Connors is someone whose pauses speak louder than words, where the lack of ‘polish’ only enhances this effect. You can clearly hear it in her music, and especially in her singing. When she sings, it’s like a transparent stream—you can see it flow, you feel its coolness, but you can never truly touch it. Her voice could melt away like steam over a hot cup of tea. Yet, this fleeting quality only draws you in more. Her voice has rough edges that make you listen closely because every word carries a story.” -Natali Abernathy for Indie Boulevard
Singer/Songwriter Britt Connors was born and raised singing in small-town West Boylston, MA before taking her studies to Ithaca College in NY. But, the lure of the talented Boston singer/songwriter scene and the dream that she might try her hand at songwriting (and even someday play at Club Passim) brought her to Boston in 2001. Armed with a guitar she had barely yet learned to play and her many musical influences (the likes of Aimee Mann, Martin Sexton, Bonnie Raitt, Jonatha Brooke, Deb Talan, Eva Cassidy, KT Tunstall) swirling in her head, she committed herself to the task.
In order to make a living while chasing her musical dreams, she got certified and eventually became a busy and devoted Pilates instructor. To feed her musical soul, she did a 4-year stint as the featured vocalist for the 20-piece Compaq Big Band (swing, jazz, American Songbook), singing to audiences at Sculler’s, Ryles, and Regattabar while testing out her first original songs at open mics and starting to collect a loyal following. In 2010 she debuted her first album “The Bad Side of Good" under her maiden name of Britt Sawdon to a sold-out audience at Johnny D’s (formerly) in Somerville, MA. By the time she released her second album, "Warmer Season" in 2014 at her dream venue of Club Passim, she had met and formed her backing band, "Bourbon Renewal," and had written the songs with this new sound in mind - tunes that are alternately rockin', country, sweet, rootsy, New-Orleans-street-parade-style, and just plain fun. With its clapping, foot-stomping, and even some whistling, the record needed its own category, which they started calling "Y'all-Ternative" music.
Britt dropped the name “Bourbon Renewal” but continued to expand into her band's sound, calling on even more of Boston's talented musicians for her 2020 album, "Longitude." On this third record, she steps firmly into the space she’s made for herself, slipping nimbly between soulful ballads, pop-rock, and gospel-infused Americana, while her authentic voice and stellar band weave a cohesive musical thread through the diversity of styles, reminiscent of recent feminist-inspired albums by Sara Bareilles and The Highwomen.
Her fourth work, a 6-song EP called “Exhale” was released November 1st, 2024 with a show at City Winery Boston. She has released 2 singles from the EP: a pop/rock song ("Take Your Own Ride") featuring her bandmates, including Ed Lucie (bass), Andrew Stern (guitar), Mike Connors (drums), James Rohr (keys), and a 4-horn section led by Jerry Sabatini (trumpet) and with Rick Stone (alto sax), Clayton Dewalt (trombone), and Nate Jorgensen (bari sax); and, “Hummingbird” - a gently rocking lyrical force, including a 2-line Robert Frost poem. The title cut, “Exhale” is a whirling ¾ time rocking ballad with cello by Bethany Weiman and reflects some of her influences, from Deb Talan to Aimee Mann to Jason Isbell. When she’s not playing and singing, Britt can be found teaching Pilates in the restored carriage house she shares in Concord, MA with Mike and Ringo the Wonder-Cat.