With a long musical history, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes is well-rooted in country music. Ever since she was a child she has been playing, practicing, and performing with her instrument. Lessons turned into performances, which have now resulted in one Grammy award, with another nomination coming up.
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With the recent release of her first solo album, I Built A World, we wanted to know where it all began. Keith-Hynes has incredible control of her instrument which has come from not just a deep love for the fiddle, but dedication and study also. I asked her where she first got the inspiration to pick it up and tie her life to it.
"What I remember is seeing a production of a Fiddler On The Roof when I was probably like four or five. I came back from that. And I was figuring out the theme from it by ear. And I would do these little kid group fiddle classes or violin classes, and I just remember having so much fun. I was homeschooled, so my parents were always trying to make sure we did enough activities. And then I would go to camps in the summer you know and it was always just kind of a social thing as well you know?"
Beginnings of Bluegrass
Continuing with our conversation, I wanted to know why Bronwyn Keith-Hynes had moved to the genre she has now become such a master of. "Off the back of that, could you tell me why it was Bluegrass that really took your heart?" I asked.
"It took me a little while to find it. When I was a kid, the first fiddle style I found was the Irish fiddle,
and that was partially because my whole dad's side is from Ireland. My grandparents immigrated from Ireland in the 40s. I grew up going to Ireland for family things, and that was the only fiddle music I knew about. It wasn't until I was a teenager and I started to go to fiddle camps where they would teach other styles, all the different styles of fiddling, that I started hearing bluegrass. Then what drew me to that was the bluesy element. It was the improvisation. I would be seeing these teenagers sitting around in circles like kind of showing off, you know? You're trying to play as fast as you can you're showing off it and I thought that was really cool so I kind of got pulled into bluegrass as a teenager."
Deep roots indeed.
There Was Never A Regular 9-5 For Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
For any artist, there comes a point where they have to decide whether they are going to commit everything to their art, or not take the leap, and sign up for the rat race. For Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, the decision to pursue her career as a fiddle player has paid off, with a Grammy nomination, multiple tours, and a gorgeous album.
I wanted to know when she decided that it all all or nothing with the fiddle and the life of a musician. "I never considered a nine to five. It was always music. Even as a kid my parents would ask me 'What do you want to do when you grow up?' and I'd be like, 'I want to be a fiddler. I want to be the best fiddler in the world.' I would totally say that. But, I didn't really know what that meant. I didn't really realize you couldn't be the best. Like, what does that even mean now?"
"Thankfully, I had parents who were pretty open-minded and supportive and weren't like, well, now you're gonna have to get a real job. And they were always like, you know if you love something, you can find a way to make a living at it if you put in a lot of work."
Supportive parents, lifelong dedication, and a deep love for her instrument have resulted in a beautiful career for Bronwyn Keith-Hynes. Stick to the things you love, and they may just pay dividends.
