EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

just like this: Brandi Burkhardt’s Journey Back to Herself

Conducted by Guillaume Jean Lefebvre

1: For those discovering you for the first time, can you introduce yourself in a few words and tell us a bit about your journey so far?

I’m Brandi Burkhardt—an actress, singer, and songwriter originally from a small town in Maryland. I got my start on TV as a singing mermaid on NBC’s Passions, then made the leap to Broadway in shows like Mamma Mia and A Tale of Two Cities. Later, I played Crickett on Hart of Dixie. Through it all, I’ve always been drawn to stories that carry a thread of hope—something that lifts you, even in the hard moments. Whether I’m acting or writing music, that sense of emotional honesty and resilience is what I come back to. After years of performing other people’s words, I reached a point where I needed to tell my own. That’s what this chapter is about.

2: You’ve had a rich career spanning Broadway, television, film, and live performance. What made 2025 the right moment for your return to music with your EP just / like / this?

Honestly, I got tired of waiting. I kept thinking the timing had to be perfect, that I needed some kind of green light from the universe. But instead of waiting, I decided to step out in faith. I made a commitment to myself to take up more space. I think I had learned to hide in plain sight, especially in an industry where you’re often rewarded for fitting into someone else’s version of you. This time, I wanted to show up fully—as myself.

There’s a quote I try to live by: “If not me, who? If not now, when?” That really hit home for me this year. just / like / thiscame from that shift—of not holding back, of reclaiming my voice, and writing from a place that’s honest, messy, hopeful, and completely mine.

From Broadway lights to the television screen, Brandi Burkhardt has always stood out as a multifaceted talent. Best known for her role as Crickett on the CW’s Hart of Dixie, she has also captivated audiences with her powerful voice on stage in productions like Jekyll & Hyde and A Tale of Two Cities.

Actress, singer, and songwriter, Brandi continues to inspire with authenticity and heart. In this exclusive interview with Éclair Magazine, she opens up about her artistic journey, the challenges behind the spotlight, and the projects that shaped her into the woman she is today.

INTERVIEW

3: The songs on your EP tell a story of self-acceptance and empowerment. Was there a particular personal turning point that inspired this emotional arc?

Yes. I had a world-come-crashing-down moment—well, years of them, really. Over and over again, I found myself being asked to let go of the things I thought made me safe: roles, relationships, versions of success that looked good from the outside. It's amazing what we’re willing to sacrifice for comfort and ease. And yet, that surrender was necessary.

At some point, I stopped asking, “What do they want from me?” and started asking, “What do I actually want for myself?” That shift didn’t happen overnight, but it cracked something open. Writing these songs helped me trace that journey—from self-doubt to self-trust. The arc of the EP reflects that: it starts in reflection, moves through temptation and risk, and lands somewhere freer, more grounded. But I’ll be honest—making the EP was part of that process too. I didn’t arrive at self-acceptance and then write about it. Writing helped me become my whole self. It’s not about having it all figured out—it’s about finally feeling like I’m allowed to take the lead in my own life.

4: “back/in/time” opens the EP with a haunting look at nostalgia. How did your experience with memory and love shape the tone of this track?

“back/in/time” wasn’t the first song I wrote, but it came together so easily—it just clicked. And I knew right away: I want to put this out into the world with my name on it. It felt so honest and complete, both musically and lyrically, that it gave me the confidence to move forward with the EP.

The song came from that feeling of looping back into something you know isn’t good for you—whether it’s a relationship, a version of yourself, or a story you can’t seem to let go of. I’ve always had a deep relationship with memory. I romanticize things, I replay moments, I look for meaning in what’s already passed. And when it comes to love, that can be a beautiful thing—but also a painful trap. “back/in/time” is about that ache. That split-second decision when you almost walk away… but you don’t. It’s haunting because it’s familiar. It lingers in that space between longing and clarity—which I think a lot of us have felt. At least, I hope it’s not just me!

5: Each single—from “magic” to “electric hearts”—has a distinct personality. Did you imagine the EP as a full narrative from the beginning, or did it evolve organically with each song?

It definitely evolved. I actually wrote “up/all/night” first, and at the time, I just wanted to capture that rush of staying up for someone—or something—you can’t quite let go of. I always want things to work out, so I tried to keep it positive, but I also wanted to explore all the reasons we’re up all night: joy, desire, conflict, anxiety.

There’s a kind of jump-on-the-bed bedroom energy to it—the late-night overthinking, the dancing-it-off, the hope that maybe something real will stick. The track had this fun energy but also an undercurrent of tension, and I felt like it hit a really honest sweet spot.

Then came “back/in/time” and “electric hearts,” and I started to feel like I was onto something. “magic” had actually been written a couple years earlier, but once I heard how it lived next to the newer songs, I knew I wanted to keep building this world. That led to “stay/the/night” and “what/am/I/saying.”

Musically, each track leans into a slightly different flavor—some are playful and synthy, some are more cinematic or moody—but they all carry this thread of retro influence. I’ve always loved pop that nods to the past while still feeling modern, and that balance became a kind of guidepost for the EP.

I didn’t originally think of the songs as one story, but when I started looking for a title for the EP, I realized I had been telling a story—my story. I just didn’t know it while it was happening. Each song captures a different moment in the emotional rollercoaster of wanting something real… and figuring out what that actually means.

6: You’ve co-written with major names like Nate Lanzino and Yoni Carlsen. What did those collaborations bring out in you as both a writer and a performer?

Writing with Nate and Yoni has been such a gift. They’re both incredibly intuitive musicians, and working with them helped me trust my own instincts more.

Nate has a great ear for production—he’s so versatile, and I love the way he builds harmonies and counter-melodies that make a song feel rich without overcrowding it. Yoni has this amazing sense of hook and emotional tone—he really goes after how a song feels at its core.

They’re hidden gems, and I feel really fortunate to have found them. They challenged me to be braver. As a performer, it made me dig deeper—because when the writing feels honest, you can’t hide behind it. You have to meet it.

7: Your musical DNA seems to blend 80s icons like Cyndi Lauper and Madonna with modern artists like Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift. How do you balance nostalgia with freshness in your sound?

I’ve always been drawn to music that feels timeless but still pulses with something new. The 80s influences are definitely there—synths, layered vocals, bold hooks, and strong female storytelling—but I never want the songs to feel like a throwback. I love when something feels nostalgic without sounding dated.

I also just love so many different artists across genres and eras, and I get excited to play with their colors—pulling little pieces of what inspires me and blending them into something that feels like me. Sometimes I want to go deep, and sometimes I just want a great pop drop. That’s why I explore the soundscape for feeling too—not just lyrics. Sometimes a mood is implied, and that can be just as powerful.

For me, it’s about balance. If the vibe leans retro, we’ll pair it with something surprising—whether it’s a modern beat, a sharp lyric twist, or a production detail that feels really current. Artists like Taylor and Dua are great at living in that space—drawing from the past while still feeling completely of-the-moment. That’s what I’m always aiming for too.

8: In A24’s Friendship, you share the screen with Paul Rudd. How does acting in a project like that inform or contrast with the emotional storytelling in your music?

Let’s just say going from emotional pop songs to awkward comedy scenes with Paul Rudd is a hard left turn—in the best way. My music lives in this romantic, vulnerable space… and then I show up on set trying to land punchlines and pretend I’m not flustered by one of the funniest people alive.

It’s kind of perfect, though. Comedy reminds me not to take myself too seriously, which I actually need when I’m writing. Acting keeps me loose—it’s playful, spontaneous, and all about listening. That carries over into music too, especially when you’re creating with other people.

So yeah—pop heartbreaks by night, comedy with Paul Rudd by day. Not a bad way to stay grounded.

Photographer: Ryan West Photo I Talent: Brandi Burkhardt

9: You've played unforgettable characters on screen, including Crickett in Hart of Dixie. With this EP, you're sharing a much more personal, unfiltered side. Was that vulnerability liberating or terrifying?

A little bit of both. Honestly, all the roles I’ve played are parts of me—just filtered through someone else’s words and world. But with this EP, there’s no character to step into. It’s my name, my stories, my truth. That kind of vulnerability is both thrilling and terrifying.

In some ways, Crickett was on a similar journey. She spent much of the series performing perfection, and then slowly came out from underneath all that—literally and emotionally. Her coming out story was quiet, but it had real depth. I’ve always loved that.

This EP was my version of that kind of unmasking—shedding the need to present a polished front, and just saying what I mean. It let me show the parts of myself that don’t always get cast: the impulsive, unsure, flirty, messy, strong, soft—all of it. It really does feel like my main character moment.

10: With just / like / this launching in October, what do you hope your listeners will feel, learn, or carry with them after hearing it from start to finish?

I hope they feel seen. I hope they feel a little more free. This EP lives in the in-between—the feelings we don’t always say out loud, the moments where we’re trying to hold it together but also let something real in.

I didn’t write these songs from a place of having it all figured out. I wrote them while I was still in it—and I am still in it. Still trying to show up as me and own that space that only I can.

It feels dangerous at first, but it’s kind of exhilarating to learn to be honest with others. That’s what music helped me do.

Makes me ask… how honest can I get?

Dare you to try it.

And dance around your bedroom while you’re at it.