From Broadway to beauty pageants, soap operas to primetime dramas—you've worn many hats. How have these experiences shaped the artist and woman you are today?
Each chapter has sharpened a different edge. Broadway gave me stamina and discipline. Pageants taught me how to carry a room—and how to recover quickly when things go sideways. Soap operas were a masterclass in emotional velocity, and prime-time TV gave me space to settle into nuance. I think as a woman, all of it taught me how to hold my own—how to stay soft, but never small. Every role, every spotlight, every curveball—it’s all part of the artist I’m becoming. In a way, I’ve always been telling stories—just in different languages. Now, I get to tell mine in my own words. And that shift? That’s the part I’ve waited so long to share.
You were once crowned Miss New York—how did that early experience with performance and public presence prepare you for the world of entertainment?
Pageants were my crash course in grace under pressure. You learn how to hold your posture while your heart is racing. How to stay grounded while everyone’s looking. It taught me how to be seen without losing myself. That’s something I carry with me—even now, whether I’m on set, in a studio, or performing live.
It also gave me an early education in image—the way presentation can both reveal and protect. That tension—between who we are and who we’re expected to be—is something I explore in my music, too. Some songs on the EP touch that exact nerve: the moments when you realize you’re not just playing a part anymore. You’re waking up inside it.
Let's talk about your roles in Passions and Hart of Dixie. What do you look for in a character when choosing a role now?
Each role has come at the right time in my life—exactly when I was ready for it. Back then, I was drawn to characters that let me have fun, go a little big, and not take things too seriously. There was something freeing in that.
Now, I find myself craving depth. I want characters with contradictions—where you don’t quite know if you trust them, or even if they trust themselves. I’d love to do a thriller—something that unravels slowly. But I’d also love to do more comedy. There’s something really satisfying about timing and tone when it’s done right. I think mystery and humor both live in the silences as much as the dialogue. And that’s something I explore in my music too: the space between what’s said and what’s really felt.
What inspired the shift into music, and what can fans expect from this new sound?
Music has always been there—it’s just been waiting for me to be ready. For a long time, I’m helping bring other people’s stories to life. Now I finally get to tell my own. The shift feels personal… and, honestly, overdue.
The sound is nostalgic, cinematic, and fully pop—it lives in the tension between what’s polished and what’s personal. These songs are built on real feelings, real moments, captured without apology. It’s not perfect on purpose. It’s just / like / this.
You’re a woman of many talents. How does performing live on stage compare to acting on screen—or now, recording in a studio?
Haha, thank you. They’re all different muscles, but the same heart. On stage, it’s immediate—you feel the energy shift in real time. On camera, the moments are smaller, but if you hit the right one, it lingers. And in the studio, it’s intimate. There’s no audience to play to. Just you and the mic and whatever truth you’re willing to tell that day.
What’s been surprising about music is how exposed it feels. Acting gives you a character to hide behind. In the booth, it’s just me. No script, no hiding. That’s the thrill—and the risk. But I think that’s what makes it real.
With sure great style how would you describe your personal fashion aesthetic, and has it evolved with each chapter of your career?
Thank you! My style has definitely evolved—just like me. I’ve always loved pieces with a story, so vintage has a permanent place in my closet. There’s something magical about wearing something that’s already lived a little. It reminds me that beauty doesn’t have to be brand new to feel timeless.
Right now, I’m really into 80s and 90s strong shoulders—pads and all. That was the look I grew up admiring, and it’s fun to step into it now with confidence. I have this white leather fringe jacket I’m obsessed with—it was quite the find. I wore it to dinner with some friends, and we realized it shows up in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Can’t Buy Me Love. I think I’ve secretly wanted that jacket ever since I first saw Sloane wear it in Ferris. Now I finally get to wear it—and own it. It even made its way into some cover art styling for the EP.
You’ve moved through different genres—drama, romance, comedy, and now music. How do you stay creatively fulfilled and challenged across mediums?
I think curiosity is my compass. I’ve never felt the need to stay in one lane. Each genre, each medium, asks something different of me—and I like that. Comedy sharpens your timing, drama teaches you restrained, and music? Music demands honesty.
What keeps me creatively fulfilled is the chase—trying to capture a feeling before it disappears. I love working in that space between control and chaos, where you don’t quite know what’s going to come out until it does. That’s where the real sparks are. And the truth is, I still feel like I’m just getting started. There’s so much more I want to do, and so much more I want to share.
We hear you have a new film on the horizon. Can you give us a glimpse into your role, and what drew you to the project?
Tim Robinson brings such a unique character to life in this, and watching him work was unforgettable. What drew me to the project was that contrast—real emotion with sharp timing. The director created a world that feels lived-in, not exaggerated. It’s the kind of comedy that catches you off guard in the best way.
Balancing performance, personal life, and now music—how do you ground yourself in an industry that constantly shifts?
Honestly, I’ve learned to build quiet into the noise. Whether I’m on set, on stage, or in the middle of a release, I try to stay connected to why—why I said yes, why the story matters. That keeps me from chasing things that don’t align.
I also have a few non-negotiables—people who know me outside all this, time away from the screen, and prayer. That’s my reset. It reminds me I’m not doing this alone—and that my worth isn’t tied to performance. Some lyrics on the EP were born out of those quiet moments—when I finally slowed down long enough to hear myself think.
And honestly? Walking my dog, making coffee, doing something simple with my hands—those tiny rituals help me stay rooted in the real world. They remind me who I am when no one’s watching.
How can fans follow and support your next moves via social media?
I’m on Instagram at @brandiburkhardt—that’s where I share what’s next, what I’m loving, and little pieces of the process along the way.
Following on Spotify is a great way to stay up to date as the music rolls out. And if you want the full experience—streaming, merch, or more—you can always find me at brandiburkhardt.com.
The first single from just / like / this—Back / In / Time—drops May 31st. The next one follows in late June… and if you believe in a little magi, you won’t want to miss it. The best way to support? Listen, share, and stay curious. Just / like / this is only the beginning.
