There’s a shift happening in Laura Bryna’s world — and it sounds like thunder. After the viral, resilience-fueled impact of “RISE,” which sparked a powerful partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness and ignited a wave of fan storytelling, Laura Bryna returns with something entirely different — and entirely intentional.
Today, Guitar Girl Magazine is proud to exclusively premiere her new single: “Tornado Weather.”
Where “RISE” was an empowering rally cry, “Tornado Weather” leans into playful tension and unapologetic desire. Built on pop-forward hooks layered over gritty Western undertones, the track captures that electric moment when attraction feels like the calm before chaos.
“It’s such a fun, sexy song about getting totally wrapped up in someone,” Bryna shares. “It’s got that pop energy but keeps those country-western undertones that are so ‘me.’ I wanted something you can blast in the car when the energy is just right.”
Written alongside Cameron “Cambo” Bartolini, William “leelee” Kevany, and Maya Kurchner, the song pivots from powerhouse ballad territory into a sleek, rhythmic, dance-floor-ready lane — without losing her country-rock edge.
For Guitar Girl readers, what makes this moment especially compelling is the arc. Bryna isn’t abandoning depth — she’s expanding. Last year’s “RISE” sparked a social media movement and led to collaboration with the National Alliance on Mental Illness — proving that resilience can resonate beyond radio charts.
Now, she’s showing another dimension: confidence, sensuality, swagger.
Listen to “Tornado Weather”
With Bryna’s single holiday hit “Wishlist” topping both the Retail Radio Chart and the Mediabase US Holiday Radio Chart, Bryna enters 2026 with momentum — and range. “Tornado Weather” feels modern and radio-ready, drawing subtle comparisons to pop-country’s flirtier edge while still grounded in authenticity. Her self-coined “Lil’ Thunder” persona remains intact — just wearing a little more glitter this time.
Bryna fills us in on her music in this exclusive Q&A.
After the emotional weight of “RISE,” what made you want to pivot into something playful?
After carrying something as heavy and meaningful as “RISE,” I think I just needed to breathe a little. That song holds so much emotion — it’s about resilience, mental health, and real-life battles — and I poured everything into it. But that intensity isn’t the only side of me.
I’ve always believed that strength also includes joy. “Tornado Weather” felt like freedom. It’s playful, flirty, a little dangerous — that magnetic chemistry you know might cause a little chaos, but you run toward it anyway. Life isn’t just the storms we survive; sometimes it’s the storms we choose.
For me, the pivot wasn’t random — it was balance. I can be powerful and serious, but I can also be bold, cheeky, and have fun. That contrast is honest. And I think fans deserve to see all of it.
How do you balance advocacy and fun in your artistry?
I don’t really see advocacy and fun as opposites — I think they need each other. The heavier songs, like “RISE,” come from a place of wanting to help people feel less alone. That’s important to me. But joy is powerful too. Laughter, flirtation, dancing in your kitchen — that’s healing in its own way.
For me, balance comes from being honest about where I’m at emotionally. Some days I want to talk about resilience and mental health, and other days I want to write about chemistry and chaos in “Tornado Weather.” Both are real. Both are human.
I think advocacy doesn’t have to be preachy, and fun doesn’t have to be shallow. If I can make someone think and then make them smile five minutes later, I’ve done my job.
As a woman in country-rock, how do you approach writing about desire? I think women are allowed to want things. Shocking, I know.
In country — and especially country-rock — desire has traditionally been told from one side of the bar. I like flipping the camera around. When I write about desire, I approach it with honesty and a little wink. It’s not about being provocative for the sake of it — it’s about owning the feeling instead of pretending it doesn’t exist.
There’s power in saying, “Yeah, I feel that spark… and I’m not embarrassed about it.” Sometimes it’s romantic, sometimes it’s reckless, sometimes it’s just fun. I try to keep it clever and self-aware — like, we all know this might end in chaos, but pass the popcorn anyway.
At the end of the day, desire is human. And if we can talk about heartbreak and pickup trucks, we can definitely talk about chemistry too.
What does 2026 sound like to you?
2026 sounds fearless to me. It sounds like not repeating myself.
I never want to be “same, same.” That’s just not who I am as an artist or a human. If you listen to what I’m writing and recording right now, it’s all over the map in the best way — you’ve got the emotional weight of “RISE,” the playful spark of “Tornado Weather,” the empowerment of “Warrior,” the swagger of “Beauty Queen.” It’s country-rock, it’s pop-leaning, it’s soulful, it’s bold. It’s all the sides of me.
I think growth should be audible. I want every release to feel like a new layer, not a copy of the last one.
And live? 2026 sounds loud. It sounds like packed rooms, sweaty stages, and finally headlining my own tour. That’s the dream — taking this music across the country, connecting face-to-face with The Bryniacs, and building a show that feels like an experience, not just a set list.
For me, 2026 is about expansion — bigger stages, bigger risks, and deeper connections.
What would you tell your younger self about owning your power?
I would tell her that your power isn’t something you have to earn — it’s something you stop apologizing for.
When I was younger, I think I confused being “nice” with being small. I thought I had to soften my opinions, dim my ambition, or downplay my confidence so I wouldn’t make anyone uncomfortable. But owning your power doesn’t mean being loud or aggressive. It means being aligned. It means knowing who you are and not negotiating that for approval.
I’d tell her that your voice is enough. Your instincts are usually right. And the very things you think make you “too much” — too emotional, too passionate, too driven — are actually the source of your strength.
Power isn’t about control; it’s about self-trust. And once you learn to trust yourself, everything changes.
