Brea Shay, known as Bershy, is a singer in Cincinnati, Ohio who writes queer, pop songs. After years of gigging acoustically, she dove headfirst into the alternative, indie, dance-pop scene. The goal of Bershy, according to her Spotify bio, is to amplify and uplift listeners by embracing vulnerability and laughing about it (or rather, dancing about it).
In this Q&A, Shay reflects on her start in music, gay cowgirls, LGBTQ+ representation in media, and what’s on the horizon for her.
Who are you?
Hi! My name’s Brea, I’m 23, and I make gay pop music.
How did you start playing music and songwriting?
I picked up guitar when I was 14, and immediately started writing instrumentals to all my emo teen girl poems. Performing started around 15/16, mostly at school events and open mics, and even some bars which, looking back, is so sketchy. Who let me in there?
What inspired your transition from acoustic music to indie pop?
I’ve loved pop forever, but it felt like such a massive beast to take on. Especially to someone who only knew like 4 chords on the guitar. But I just kept coming back to the idea, and dreaming of an altogether bigger presence/vision artistically, so I jumped! I’m really lucky to have found a team of friends and collaborators who also want to live out their gay pop dreams. It’s truly the coolest.
Where do you get inspiration to write queer love songs?
I’m a sad girl, through and through! Writing is my favorite way to flesh out and understand my own feelings, so I’m constantly working through something while writing. I also fall in love probably twice a month, and that helps.
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What is your favorite queer love story in a song, movie, TV show, book, etc.?
Definitely the movie Desert Hearts. One time we played a show where the venue let us play Desert Hearts on the screen behind us while we did our set, and I think it was the best night of my life? That movie is iconic. Gay cowgirls, that’s all I have to say about it.
What do you love about 80’s music?
I think that inside of me, there lives a 57 year old man, and he controls my music taste. I feel nostalgic and hopeful when I hear a cheesy synth or a bad love ballad. I have no idea why, but it just does it for me every time.
What do you hope your younger listeners learn from your songs?
That even the really hard and scary things can be turned into something fun and beautiful that makes you want to dance and sing to all of your friends. If you love music, that’s already your superpower.
What are you listening to right now?
A little bit of everything! I’m still in the part of winter where I listen to Joni Mitchell and contemplate my life choices, but I’ve also been getting into a little bit of a funk/soul phase. Lots of Sly Stone, Shuggie Otis, and Ann Peebles. Oh, and Remi Wolf is everything to me right now.
What’s a gay menace?
A gay menace is someone who devotes their life to the gay agenda, which we know is queer liberation for all. But, on a surface level, a gay menace someone who likes to have some fun and look hot while doing it, you know?
What is next for you?
I have a single that I’m really excited about coming out in the spring, and right now I’m spending most of my time in the studio putting together a project that I hope will turn into one big gay pop EP!