LOUD WOMEN album of the month is from Canadian artist Bria Salmena and her solo debut album Big Dog. Known as the frontwoman of Canadian post-punk band FRIGS and as a vocalist in Orville Peck’s live band, Salmena is creating her own path as a solo artist.
Big Dog is Salmena’s personal and artistic journey where she finds strength within and from the people who support her. The title was inspired from a pep talk moment with a friend during a dark period, calling Salmena a ‘big dog’. Words of encouragement became the album’s mantra, alive in each track.
Salmena’s collaborative relationships brought Big Dog to its full potential. Producer and multi-instrumentalist Duncan Hay Jennings, Graham Walsh (Holy F**k, METZ, Debby Friday, Alvvays), and Meg Remy (Girls) pushed Salmena to create an unforgettable debut album.
“No artist is an island. I would not have been able to find the resolve that is Big Dog as a record or concept or feeling I have about myself without the community around me.”
Bria Salmena
On each track, fragments of krautrock, shoegaze, goth, and darkwave weave around Salmena’s dynamic vocals. Big Dog is an unapologetic album full of grit and unflinching honesty.
Stream Big Dog on Spotify.
Catch Bria Salmena live at the following dates:
2 April – San Diego, CA – Casbah
4 April – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy + Harriet’s
5 April – San Francisco, CA – Make Out Room
8 April – Seattle, WA – Madame Lou’s
9 April – Portland, OR – Swan Dive
11 April – Visilia, CA – Cellar Door
12 April – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
25 April – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Lounge
26 April – Kingston, NY – Tubby’s
27 April – New York, NY – Baby’s All Right
29 April – Baltimore, ML – Metro Baltimore
30 April – Richmond, VA – The Camel
1 May – Nashville, TN – The Blue Room
2 May – Cincinnati, OH – Southgate House Revival
3 May – Chicago, IL – Hideout
7 May – Montreal, QC – Bar Le Ritz PDB
9 May – Toronto, ON – The Great Hall
12 May – Manchester, UK – YES
13 May – London, UK – The Lexington
14 May – Brighton, UK – The Great Escape Festival
16 May – Amsterdam, NL – London Calling Festival
17 May – Rotterdam, NL – Roodkapje
19 May – Paris, FR – La Boule Noire
20 May – Köln, DE – Jaki
22 May – Berlin, DE – Privatclub
23 May – Copenhagen, DK – Loppen
24 May – Stockholm, SE – Echo Three Festival
25 May – Oslo, NO – Revolver
27 May – Hamburg, DE – Häkken
5 July – Orillia, ON – Mariposa Folk Festival
18-20 July – Guelph, ON – Hillside Festival
Find Bria Salmena on Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Website