Born in Durham, North Carolina and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Brittany Hargest began singing very early on and by age five her mother enrolled her in vocal lessons, which Brittany enjoyed very much. Brittany was a true performer and would sing and dance for anyone interested. After noticing her natural love and talent for performing her parents hired an agent and Brittany worked on commercials, music videos, performed on various albums and also at the Opryland theme park Christmas show for several years.
Hargest grew up with a large variety of musical influences from Elton John, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, REO Speedwagon, to Amy Grant, Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston, MuteMath, Lecrae, Royal Tailor, to Otis Redding, Radiohead and Bon Iver. “Music is such a huge part of me that I want to listen to every kind.” Explains Brittany. “There are so many stories to be heard by so many different artists that I don’t want to limit myself to listening to only one specific type of music.”
Jump5
At age nine, Brittany auditioned for a kids recording group that happened to dance as well. Soon after, they performed a showcase and were signed to a record deal with Sparrow Records and given the name Jump5. Hargest was with Jump5 for ten years. “It was the best 10 years of my life. We had so many incredible opportunities and met so many amazing people, and the best part about it was that we were singing about our faith to people who had never heard it,” Hargest adds.
Solo Career
Slated for release September 27th, 2011, Her debut release combines club beats with lyrics that communicate the hope, love and acceptance that are found in knowing Christ. Recognized for her high energy and soaring vocals, Brittany delivers the same vocal ability, and influence on a more mature record. Infectious rhythms and irresistibly catchy hooks gravitate toward a grand finally ending! These 10 dance/pop driven tracks, are exuberant examples of fiery rhythms, which collectively serve up a variety of interesting tempos. From tracks like, “Slow Motion” to “Love All The Way” to “Miracle” and “You Met Me”, the music’s drive comes from its pervasive grooves, exquisite arrangements and passionate singing. This release ranks right up at the top with any feel-good, dance- driven album in the industry! It’s one of the best Christian dance albums ever made and it’s just so easy to get caught up in the music that at the end, it’s hard not to rewind the record and start it over again! Hargest’s self-titled, debut album demonstrates, what good music is supposed to do by providing a positive escape.
Brittany is also finding her place as a songwriter. She has lended her writing efforts to the majority of songs on this debut solo release, entitled, “Love All The way”.
With collaborations from Multi dove award and Grammy Nominee Aaron Rice (tobyMac, Rachael Lampa, Britt Nicole, Mandisa Addison Road), Dove Award winner and Grammy Nominee, Jamie Moore (tobyMac, Ayiesha Woods, Mandisa) and other CCM heavy hitters, this record is lyrically and musically more developed than her Jump5 days, but will feature the same great energy and high paced sound that she is known for.
“This is the first time that I have been a part of the entire process of creating an album.” Says Brittany. “And I absolutely loved it. I put so much of myself into creating and recording “Love All the Way” and I couldn’t be more pleased with the way it turned out. I’m so proud of this album, because it deals with so many issues that I know everyone goes through, whether they want to admit it or not, and I feel like everyone young or old can relate to it.”
Love All the Way
The title track is about God’s unconditional love and how there’s no other love like it in existence. His love can’t be measured, there’s no beginning or end; it’s continually full force. Brittany describes it like this: “There’s a line in the chorus that says, ‘I love it how your love can’t be tamed’, and to me, that is kind of the main theme of the song. We wanted to write about how nothing stops God from loving us, not our imperfections or faults. His love never changes or waivers, He just loves all the way.”
You Met Me
The most thought-provoking song on the record describes God’s relentless pursuit of us, no matter what path we're on. It speaks of His endless desire to show His undying love and mercy toward us, and that He accepts and redeems us just as we are.
Slow Motion
Brittany’s favorite track speaks of perseverance and learning to understand that even though things aren't happening the way we may want them to or at the pace we prefer, they are still happening. “I think that's a feeling that everyone goes through at some point,” describes Brittany. “We all have our own plans and ideas about where we want to be in life, but at times we just feel stuck or like we're barely moving. But we have to keep moving, and keep on trusting that God is going to put us exactly where we're supposed to be. And that’s what this song is about.”
Miracle
A very personal song to Brittany, this is definitely a song that females of every age can relate to. It speaks of those who may feel like they're never good enough or worthy of being loved. It deals with learning to see your self the way God sees you, and that no matter what you may see in the mirror, God sees a miracle!
“This song’s personal to me because I grew up in the spotlight, whether it was on stage or in front of cameras, and I always had to deal with other people's opinions and expectations of who I was supposed to be.” Brittany expounds. “And if I didn't live up to those expectations I would kind of feel like a failure. So when this song came to me I just wanted to scream ‘YES’ because no matter what I may see in the mirror, God sees a miracle!”
Brittany is currently busy promoting her debut album and desires to be a positive roll model through her music to young girls everywhere!