Nashville rocker Bree shreds a Gibson Flying V guitar, can rock a pair of knee-high leather boots as well as a runway model and fronts a face melting power trio. In short, she is a bad ass. Like many artists, the troubled 23 year-old turned to music in a time of pain.  Hers is born out of a bizarre and nearly incomprehensible childhood. Her father was a religious cult leader. When she was six years old, she watched her mother die slowly after the cult forbade treatment by traditional medicine to extract a sewing needle she had swallowed. She then inherited an abusive stepmother and was kicked out of her house at 17 for having a boyfriend.  Stints of homelessness and drug abuse followed. Despite her horrific upbringing, she maintains an exceptional sense of humor. She deflects constant compliments as a “ravishing redhead,” (she is breathtaking) saying, “I’ve also been called the bastard child of Pete Townsend and Ann Margaret.” Her music is raw, angry and aggressive yet touching and seductively melodic. Her debut  “All American Girl” was released in June . The 11 track album was recorded in Nashville and produced by Justin Cortelyou – longtime engineer for iconic producer Bob Ezrin. It will be released through the Nashville based independent label Werewolf Tunes. Even though she was only born in 1989, her musical influences span over 50 years and include artists from Buddy Holly to Alkaline Trio. She is a pioneer in an industry obsessed with chart position and a rising star in a genre that has been short on top female talent since the days of legendary girl power rockers Patti Smith, Debbie Harry and Chrissie Hynde. She admitted that she isn’t sure where she fits into today’s music. Upon listening to the album, it is abundantly clear that she has created a unique place for herself.   She was kind enough to take some time to answer a few questions through cyberspace.

How much did the pain you experienced during childhood factor into the creative process

I used to tell David (my drummer) that I felt cursed that I’d had such an abysmal childhood. One night I was playing him some guitar/vocal demos of songs I’d written. He turned to me and said, “You may think of yourself as cursed, but there’s no way you could have written those songs any other way.” Looking back now, I can see it played a huge part. Which part of that time affected you most deeply There were many, but two really stick out. Of course, my Mom dying when I was six affected me deeply. She swallowed a needle and my Father’s cult doesn’t believe in doctors. It took a while for her to die. She lost a lot of weight and one time she passed out while we were washing dishes together. My Father remarried nine months after she died and my stepmother was very mentally and physically abusive. I was very shy and withdrawn back then and I was absolutely terrified of her. Today, I would have cleaned her clock if she ever touched me. My Father threw me out when I was seventeen for sleeping with my boyfriend. His last words to me were, “You’re lucky you have a boyfriend or I would send you into the night with nowhere to go.” I was in a serious state of shock and I thought he would get over his anger. That was over six years ago and he’s ignored every attempt I’ve made to get in touch with him because of his crazy cult. The last time I heard from him was last December when I sent him a message that I’d won the RAW Nashville Musician Of The Year award. He emailed back, “Don’t ever contact me again.” Where do you draw inspiration from at this stage of your life I believe that life is an adventure and anything that moves me emotionally seems to spark a song in me.

How did the Flying V  become your axe of choice

I’ve always been attracted to its look, feel and sound. In the studio I use my Flying V and a pre-CBS Telecaster.

What do you think 21^st century rock and roll is all about

Every generation experiences something new and digests it in its own way. I was born in 1989 and, for me, Rock n Roll represents total sonic liberation of the mind, body and spirit. It’s allowed me to express a lot of feelings that were best left not contained. I love its melody, its rhythm, its physicality and its sexuality. Most importantly, it’s about allowing your heart and soul to completely take over. I see a lot of bands and it’s easy to see those who are doing something they think will make them successful because someone got into their head and those who couldn’t care less and are letting their music take them to another place.

Who are some of your influences Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Patsy Cline, Dion & The Belmonts, The Beatles, The Who, Humble Pie, David Bowie (with Ronson), New York Dolls, Slade, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, The Ramones, The Clash, Green Day, Flogging Molly, Alkaline Trio and Relient K. There are many more, but those come to mind first.

How would you classify your sound

It’s clearly Rock n Roll, with various influences taken from throughout its history and fused with my personality. I love to cook (no joke) and I consider my music to be my own slice of the Rock n Roll pie.

Nashville is obviously known for country music, how do you fit into the landscape

Nashville has been one of biggest surprises of my life. When David and I moved here from California in July 2011  we didn’t know what to expect. My favorite all time vocalist is Patsy Cline, so there was a connection. Without Nashville we wouldn’t have met our upright bassist Mayrk McNeely, our producer Justin Cortelyou, our video director Marcel Chagnon or our attorney, Noah McPike. These are all fabulously talented people and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. The scene here is great and Drew Mishke who books The High Watt, Mercy Lounge and The Cannery Ballroom has been wonderful to us.

Do you fear you would give up creative control by signing with a major label

Excellent question. I create and perform the music that really turns me on. That’s it. That’s what’s most important to me. If millions of other people end up getting turned on I would absolutely love it, but I’ve been homeless and once you get through that you realize that money can never control you. You have to be true to yourself. I began to realize early on that the only way I was going to be allowed to write and perform the music I love exactly as I heard it in my head was to do it myself. In the studio it’s just me, Mayrk and David. Just the three of us and our producer Justin Cortelyou. With our CD, people can hear what we’re all about in its purist form and I believe I needed to do that before I could ever consider partnering with a major label.

How important is social media in attracting a following

Very important! I’m on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram all the time and have made tons of friends. Their feelings and opinions matter to me.     For more VISIT: http://www.nashville.com/bree/      www.twitter.com/breeflyingv  www.facebook.com/breemusic