Brianna Kocka
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Brianna Kocka

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | SELF

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | SELF
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"Deep Thinker"

Kocka immigrated to Canada from the US in 2007 to study literature and philosophy at St. Stephen's University. The deep-thinking twenty-something soon became interested in the work of incendiary Irish theologian Peter Rollins.

Says Kocka, "I grew up in a fairly religious home and went through a crisis of faith. Rollins' books made me feel that it was OK to be a little bit hopeless." With assistance from the university, Kocka helped organize a standing-room-only March conference featuring Rollins as the keynote speaker.

Her first album, Write by Night, was released in May 2010. "I play acoustic, electric, and a little bit of piano." She's currently writing more tunes, and getting ready to start a master's degree in the philosophy of religion. - HERE Magazine


"Deep Thinker"

Kocka immigrated to Canada from the US in 2007 to study literature and philosophy at St. Stephen's University. The deep-thinking twenty-something soon became interested in the work of incendiary Irish theologian Peter Rollins.

Says Kocka, "I grew up in a fairly religious home and went through a crisis of faith. Rollins' books made me feel that it was OK to be a little bit hopeless." With assistance from the university, Kocka helped organize a standing-room-only March conference featuring Rollins as the keynote speaker.

Her first album, Write by Night, was released in May 2010. "I play acoustic, electric, and a little bit of piano." She's currently writing more tunes, and getting ready to start a master's degree in the philosophy of religion. - HERE Magazine


Discography

"New Brunswick Nights" 2010
Single
Self Released

"Write by Night" 2010
Full Length
Self Released

Photos

Bio

At only 24 years old, Brianna Kocka has been writing and playing for over 10 years. At age 12, Kocka began teaching herself guitar after watching both her brother and father perfect their skills, and hasn't stopped playing since.

Growing up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Brianna decided to get out of town and begin a new life, eventually ending up in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, where she graduated with a BA in Philosophy and Literature from St. Stephen's University.

"Being in that community [SSU] taught me to be a better musician. Learning the classics, spending time with amazing people, having late night bonfires filled with smoke, beer and meaningful conversation kept me on my toes, and practically wrote my lyrics for me. I've become the musician I am simply because I chose to uproot my life in Minnesota and travel east."

After spending a few years writing and re-writing lyrics and music, Kocka decided it was time to get into the studio and document what she had accomplished thus far.

"I'm not going to lie, when I started my first album I was really frustrated. Being both musician, producer, not to mention everything in between those two roles is a hard job. And even more, releasing an album is like walking around naked; it's your life put to music. You write these words and sing these melodies and then put them out there for the world to hear. It's scary as hell, but I am so happy to have done it."

Her first album, titled "Write by Night" was released in the spring of 2010. As for what will come next for Kocka, she has recently moved back to Minneapolis with plans to record her second album during the summer of 2011.

"I don't really like singer/songwriters, so sometimes I get frustrated that I am one. So, I bought an electric guitar. I bought an overdrive pedal, and I got a little tube amp. My second album is going in a new direction. It's blues-jazz with grunge influence. I've only been allowing myself to listen to Sabbath, Zeppelin, The Black Keys and the White Stripes while I write this album. Oh, and Ella Fitzgerald. You'll be able to to hear the influences once I am done in the studio. I'm pretty excited about this album."

In the mean time, Kocka is enrolled in a Masters program in St. Paul, Minnesota and playing any shows she can get her hands on.