ABOUT BRAVE
Call it her parents’ prophetically-ordained choice of first names for a baby girl or divinely inspired coincidence – as per textbook definitions which encompass everything from “a bit daring” and “ready to face and endure” to “without showing fear” – singer/songwriter/SAG-AFTRA actress BRAVE WILLIAMS has been nothing less than courageous, spirited, determined and dauntless in her whirlwind rise to notability within the worlds of music and entertainment over the course of the past few years. Having quickly and effectively established herself as that simultaneously “sultry and edgy while everyday relatable” songstress whose “Oooh Luv Ya” and “Road Trippin’” 2015 singles set off buzzworthy online presence and fast-growing download support, in definitively brave fashion, BRAVE WILLIAMS more than lives up to the meaning of her name as she precedes her audacious, anticipated self-titled full-length debut set (a Brave New World/SRG ILS/Universal Group release) with the recent release of her oh-so-sultry R&B beat-ballad latest single, “Don’t Tell Me No.”
This, “old-school-slow-grind-meets-modern-R&B” flow of “Don’t Tell Me No” finds the vocalist championing and addressing the fellas this go round, all while examining relationship “vulnerabilities” both genders can easily relate to. “Don’t Tell Me No, is completely relationship-driven,” Brave explains, upon sharing the inspiration for the song, “based on conversations I’ve had with my sisters and best friends. Men always have this persona that they have to be strong and powerful 365 days a year. Yet, I believe, most men are just as scared as women to fall in love and just as scared to be vulnerable. So to me, it was a declaration to guys, acknowledging that I recognize, you’ve been through some things that have caused your protective wall to go up. I see it. I understand it. But please, don’t let that heartache or disappointment become your permanent identity. You can still be open to fall in love, but fear will always keep that blessing from happening.’ She then continues, “there’s so much noise happening in politics, the social injustice climate and all things news – but I want people to be reminded that love can STILL slice through all of that…and kill all the noise. I want that idea to be welcomed, and I want people to be invited to always go back to love despite everything that’s going on.” Though attitude-laced, ladies’ anthem-styled singles like 2017’s bouncy, head-boppin’ “U Tried it” and early 2020’s deep-bouncin’ “Options” may have empowered the ladies, she’s ultimately a fair and equal opportunity (musical) communicator. “I am so pro-women, like, I am always here for my girls,” she ponders upon the mention of feminism, “but I never want anyone to think or take my musicaln interpretation that I’m anti-man, because I’m not anti-man. I love my men, which is why I wrote ‘Don’t Tell Me No.” I wanted to speak. & acknowledge specifically to my men that, ‘I know you too. Like me, maybe scared.. But let’s do this together; & please don’t tell me no.’”
Landing acting roles in VH-1’s CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story biopic, BET’s Angrily Ever After, BET’s ALL IN, her first leading role in Netflix’s Love Dot Com and another supporting actress role in BET’s The Christmas Lottery (alongside Greenleaf’s Asia Epperson and Family Matters’ Reginald Vel Johnson.) Brave also embarked on her passion for philanthropy though hands-on work and involvement with Associated Black Charities, the Baltimore area’s St. Francis Mentorship Program and City Women’s Shelter. Brave is also an Ambassador/lead trainer for the Steve & Marjorie Harvey, ‘Girls Who Rule The World’ mentorship program (for 200 young girls from around the world); and advocating health, fitness training and wellness through her very own Brave Williams Fitness Club. The club’s specialization in weight loss, diet nutrition, personal training, tailored fitness plans and increasing muscle mass is a personal passion she takes quite seriously and a source of great pride given its results in her local community. “In the last two years I’ve transformed 2,200 bodies,” proudly shares ISSA-licensed (International Sports and Science) certified trainer, Brave, “from women who were morbidly obese to those who’ve suffered from diabetes & heart palpitations and other illnesses; it’s always my goal to get them off of various medications. I’m extremely passionate about it. I want to be able to inspire people through my art; art of acting, singing, and fitness. My whole purpose is to inspire.” Sounds to me like the artistic mission taken on by the beautiful and multi-talented BRAVE WILLIAMS was much more than