Brittany Hadley Storm always dreamed of being a singer and songwriter. As a teen, she was part of the performing arts program at Howell High School. She even spent a semester studying music education at Syracuse University.
Yearning to be a songwriter and performer, she took a chance and moved to Nashville after attending CMA Fest in 2010. She auditioned for and was accepted into Belmont University in Nashville (transferring from Syracuse) as a vocal major with a focus on songwriting and the music business.
After studying classical and choral music, Brittany got into pop, country and jazz and went on to write, perform and record for 11 years. Since then, she’s done a little bit of everything: she was a solo acoustic artist, a singer, part of a wedding band, a ghost writer and demo singer, taught voice and songwriting lessons, and directed vocal ensembles.
Brittany met her husband Dan during a “writer’s round” singer-songwriter showcase. During the pandemic, they established Storm Studios, which enabled them to write songs, record vocals and produce tracks for clients.
Brittany and Dan moved to Holmdel about a year ago with their 2-year-old son Aiden (and there’s another baby on the way). Since moving back to New Jersey she is most excited about her newest project, First Verse Custom Children’s Songs. We asked Brittany about her musical inspirations, her lullaby writing business, and what she missed most about New Jersey when she was living in Nashville.
New Jersey Family: What inspired you to start writing customized lullabies?
Brittany Hadley Storm: One of my favorite jobs was writing for a company that specialized in crafting custom songs for special occasions. I completed over 3,000 of these personalized songs in three years.
I started writing custom lullabies for my nieces and nephews a few years back, and then for my own son when I was pregnant. When my son was born, I continued to make up little songs to sing to him to help him fall asleep; the standard lullabies got redundant to sing after a while, and it was fun to sing songs that were specifically about him.
Then, as my son began to talk (and sing a bit himself), I started writing up-tempo songs that he could dance and relate to. Then I started writing custom children’s songs and lullabies for friends, and they seemed to make the kids feel special. I decided to make it official, and have been enjoying growing First Verse and creating custom songs for other parents and loved ones of little ones.
NJF: Tell us how you go about writing a custom lullaby. Do you have certain themes you draw from? What instruments do you use?
BHS: All of my lullabies and children’s songs have a theme. For example, one of the lullabies is called “Dreaming by the Sea,” and the song is about the beach, complete with ocean sounds that play underneath the track to help little ones fall asleep. Another lullaby of mine is called “Sweetest Dream,” and this one is centered around a candy land of sorts, encouraging our little dreamers to dream of only the sweetest things. I also wrote a song called “Wildest Dream,” which is written especially for animal lovers like my son – he actually helped me craft this one and he loves singing it.
I also write children’s songs for specific occasions, such as a new baby on the way, milestones like birthdays, and with the purpose of building confidence in toddlers and little kids.
When I record the lullabies, I typically use a piano as the primary instrument, sometimes with strings or acoustic guitar added in, to create soothing and relaxing tracks that help little ones fall asleep. For anthems, I use electric guitars, drums and bass to create fun songs that kids will want to dance to.
NJF: How does one request a personalized lullaby?
BHS: The process of ordering a personalized lullaby or custom children’s song is simple: there are three personalization options and a submission form to fill out on our website. You can add your child’s name to a pre-existing lullaby. You can choose a custom song template with tracks and chorus, and share meaningful details about your child that I will craft into custom verses to accompany the existing chorus. Or, you can commission a song to be written completely from scratch.
NJF: Why do you think lullabies are so soothing for babies? What are the benefits?
BHS: Lullabies are a great tool in helping children relax, and I have found that incorporating songs into a child’s bedtime routine really helps them wind down and get ready to fall asleep. A custom song written just for them is also a wonderful nightly reminder that they are loved and special. For toddlers and older children, these custom songs can be used to help build self-esteem, learn new things, and release energy.
NJF: Which are your favorite lullabies? And do any remind you of when you were a kid?
BHS: My favorite lullaby on the First Verse website is probably “Remember This,” likely because it speaks directly to what I am feeling and experiencing right now as the mother of a 2-year-old. This lullaby is about how quickly our babies grow and change, and how much we will want to remember this exact moment in time. We know that by tomorrow, they will be a little bigger and a little different than the day before, and before we know it, they will no longer mispronounce that word that used to make us giggle, and they won’t fly around the kitchen like an airplane anymore. This song encourages parents to soak in every second and really be present with their child.
My favorite lullaby that is not on our website is probably “You Are My Sunshine.” This is one that I sing to my son almost every night. My Great-Aunt Dee used to sing this one to me when I was a child, and the memories I have of her are only happy ones. She was the definition of sunshine when skies were gray, and I hope to bring a little sunshine into the lives of the ones I love, as well. I recently arranged and recorded an acapella version of “You Are My Sunshine” for my son, which you can hear on our homepage.
NJF: How is your music influenced by both your time in Nashville and your time in New Jersey?
BHS: I grew up listening to a lot of John Mayer and Sara Bareilles, which sparked my interest in pop music with poetic lyrics. My love for country music also started when I was a child, as my mom was always playing Shania Twain in the house.
In high school, I was a member of Rebel Yell, an acapella group that performed unique arrangements of different pop songs. This experience shaped me and deepened my appreciation for beautiful harmony and thinking outside the box when composing and arranging music.
Moving to Nashville allowed me to dive into these genres and collaborate with musicians from different backgrounds. The time I spent there helped me to refine and focus my lyric writing, better understand how to craft a catchy melody and learn how to record and produce my own songs, which is an invaluable skill that has made it possible for me to turn my passion for music into a fulfilling career.
NJF: What does your son think about your career? Does he ever help you write lyrics?
BHS: My son is probably my biggest fan, and he loves to sing just like his mama (and his dad.) He comes to all of my live shows and dances his heart out as he watches me sing. He also steals my microphone and guitar any chance he gets so that he can practice with real instruments. His playroom is stocked with toy pianos, guitars, microphones and a drum set. I constantly catch him sitting there playing with his instruments and singing songs to himself, and it’s adorable.
He has helped me write some of my First Verse songs, too. “Wildest Dream” was a co-write with my son. We were at the playground together when I thought of the idea, and he helped me think of different animals we could write and sing about. He knows the chorus by heart, and I have to say, his rendition of the song is better than mine! Having a little one in the house is very helpful when crafting children’s songs because I get to test them all on him before showing them to anyone else.
NJF: Tell us about some places in NJ you missed most when you lived in Tennessee.
BHS: During my 12 years in Nashville, I missed a lot of things about New Jersey. My family and friends were the biggest one, and a close second was the beach. My favorite beach towns are Manasquan, Avon, Spring Lake and Belmar, and it has been so nice to share my favorite places with my son since moving back. Last summer, I performed in Manasquan and Belmar quite a bit, and I’m excited to play at some of my favorite places again this summer.
I also really missed some of the charming little downtown areas, especially Red Bank, which I now live very close to. When I first visited Nashville, I actually felt that the downtown was similar to Red Bank, and I’ve always loved the charm of that area.
New Jersey Family: What advice do you have for moms working in the music industry?
BHS: My advice to other moms in the music industry is to find a way to live both of your dreams, and not to let anyone tell you that you can’t. You can be a professional musician and a mom at the same time.
There’s often a misconception that you need to be “famous” to be “successful” in the music industry, and that is simply not true. I have reframed and redefined success in my mind; to me, success is finding a balance in life that allows me to spend my time doing the things that I love with the people that I love. Don’t give up on the things you want, and don’t try to fit a mold. It will all fall into place if you keep pursuing the things that feel right and matter to you. Most importantly, never stop making music! The world will always need more of it.
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