Staying True: An Interview with Singer-Songwriter Bryli Durtschi

“I can do something that makes me happy and other people happy. Like, that is the coolest thing ever.” – Bryli Durtschi

For our second feature interview, the Created to Create Coalition sat down with Bryli Durtschi—known to many by her stage name Bryli Evans—a Nashville-native singer/songwriter whose honesty and heart come through in every note she writes.

From the Christmas songs that first sparked her love of performing to her mission of staying true to her art, Bryli reminds us that authenticity is the most powerful sound of all.

Where the Music Began

Growing up in Nashville, Bryli was surrounded by music. It was more than background noise—it was part of her identity.

“Falling into the pattern of becoming a musician was very natural for me because it was something I realized I was passionate about from a very young age.”

She recalls one Christmas at her grandmother’s house as the moment it all began. Singing simple holiday songs, she was praised for her voice—an early spark that helped her recognize the joy she could bring to others through music.

“I was just like, ‘oh wait I can do something that makes me happy and other people happy.’ Like, that is the coolest thing ever.”

Inspired by Greatness

Bryli draws creative inspiration from artists like Lizzie McAlpine and Sara Bareilles, whose musical range and storytelling deeply resonate with her own journey.

“I admire [Sara Bareilles] so much because she kind of does a little bit of everything. Like, she can write in tons of different genres. She’s also an incredible vocalist; she plays instruments. She wrote a Broadway musical and then starred in it. That’s what I want so bad—to just do what she’s doing. And so I really take a lot of inspiration from her for sure.”

The Songwriting Space

For Bryli, the creative process is as fluid as the music itself—never quite the same twice.

“It never looks the same for me,” she says with a laugh. “I find it hard to put down a piece and come back to it without completely reworking it.”

When she writes, she seeks solitude—a quiet corner, her acoustic guitar, and a well-loved notebook that holds her heart between its pages.

That notebook, a gift from her parents, is one of her most treasured possessions. It isn’t just filled with songs—it’s filled with moments of growth, snapshots of emotion, and the story of her becoming. Over time, she’s written nearly 150 songs within its pages, a collection so meaningful that starting a new notebook felt like turning the page to a new chapter of her life.

Her guitar carries a similar weight. Though she plays piano and occasionally experiments with her husband Aaron’s electric guitar, her acoustic remains her most trusted companion—the instrument that seems to understand her before she even plays a note.

“It’s where my songs really come to life,” she shares. “There’s just something about it that feels like home.”

That’s why it’s extra special that Bryli has given CTCC permission to help name her beloved guitar—a fun, heartfelt campaign that celebrates not just an instrument, but a piece of her creative soul.

Building a Stage for Others

Beyond her own performances, Bryli is deeply invested in building platforms for other artists. In recent months, she’s taken on planning the music events for Durci Chocolate, creating opportunities for musicians to share their gifts in a supportive space.

“Nashville can be an intimidating place to start performing,” she shares. “You may not always get an opportunity, and dozens of others are here doing the exact same thing you are.”

Her monthly events have become a launchpad for performers of all ages and walks of life—proof that passion and community go hand in hand.

“Doing music is my favorite thing to do in the whole world. I feel like you can hear that in my music—that I really love what I’m doing. And to me, that’s the key. That’s how I can impact my community—by staying true and staying passionate about what I believe in and writing songs that are important to me. Because if they’re important to me, they’re going to be important to the people around me.”

Lessons from the Journey

Like many artists, Bryli faced challenges along the way—especially during the uncertainty of 2020.

“It was really hard for me because it wasn’t necessarily hard to not get to perform anymore—it just really shook my confidence for all of the future things I was doing. I went from performing on a stage all the time and having people tell me that I was doing a good job, and then the whole world shut down.”

She questioned her path but eventually found her way back, stronger and more certain than ever.

One of her earliest “success moments” came in eighth grade, when she took a risk and performed ‘Feeling Good’ by Nina Simone at her school talent show.

“After the a cappella solo and the backing track came in, the crowd was electric—and that feeling stuck with me.”

That rush of connection, that shared energy, became the reason she kept performing through high school and beyond.

Looking Ahead

Today, Bryli is exploring new musical projects—including a potential album release—and continuing to experiment with her sound and style. Whether she’s writing with her acoustic, tinkering on the piano, or borrowing her husband Aaron’s electric guitar, creativity remains her heartbeat.

“I’m looking forward to exploring my creativity and eventually sharing it with the world.”

Staying True

Bryli’s advice for fellow artists is simple but powerful: be true to yourself.

“There’s nothing wrong with taking inspiration from another artist or a song, but if you’re not true to yourself and you don’t know who you are as an artist, it can be very apparent in your music.”

She encourages journaling or writing poems about yourself to understand who you are and who you want to be as a creative.

“It’s so important to know and use your own voice in your music, because that music is a part of you.”

Where to Listen

Bryli released her album Navigation on all major streaming platforms in December 2024 under her stage name Bryli Evans. You can follow her journey and music on Instagram @brylidurtschi.

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