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At a time when it feels like any voice in America that isn't coming out of the mouth of a white male billionaire is being suppressed and silenced, Bri Bagwell's fond recollection of her childhood and the multi-culturalism and diversity that shaped her growing up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, feels especially powerful. A timely reminder that we have so much more in common than what separates us.
"I remember growing up in southern New Mexico where Spanish and English words were often intertwined," Bri Bagwell says. "In pre-school and early grades, we learned everything in both languages. I remember my mom saying I sounded like a native speaker when I was very young and it all came very naturally to me. I remember Lupita, a lady who lived with us for a while, flipping tortillas on an open flame and speaking to me in Spanish. At some of my favorite restaurants, most everyone orders in Spanish. My whole family speaks a little of it, but I wouldn't say I'm fluent (although it's one of my hearts greatest desires)!"
The lyrics to Bri Bagwell's 'Border Girl' shouldn't even be brave or controversial words to sing, but these are the times we live in right now, and they feel more powerful and poignant than ever.
"I’m a Border girl from a border town where two different worlds meet on sacred ground," the Texas Female Artist of the Decade and reigning Female Vocalist of the Year sings in the chorus. "Where a map line curves and divides us now / The southwest curled my heart around where I grew up and I’ll go down a border girl from a border town."
"When I play this song, it seems to stir up a lot of thought for the people who come and talk to me about it afterwards," she says about performing the song live. "I had a lady talk to me about her Italian-American heritage, and I thought how beautiful it was that she is so proud of her cultural influences. She says she lets both cultures within her shine, and I agree with her that I am most authentically me when I embrace my roots of growing up along the border."
"Said the sun to the moon, said the head to the heart, 'We have more in common Than sets us apart'" as Lemn Sissay once wrote, and Bri Bagwell's 'Border Girl' is a timely reminder of how important and vitalising it is to be able to hear voices other than our own.
Listen to 'Border Girl' exclusively on Holler below
'Border Girl' is released on 18th April
