Musician Britney Stoney is a born-and-raised Detroiter and she's inspired by her hometown in all kinds of ways. She's especially influenced by the people she calls "hustlers and grinders," meaning everyday people who work hard and live good lives, regardless of their circumstances.
Stoney says her mother is a great example of a grinder, who raised her as a single mom while working as a waitress and bartender.
Here are a few lyrics from the song "Organ Donor:"
"Now mama make her money bartending and serving / Never had to ask for nothing cause she hustling and working / So you can't tell me nothing, I've seen the struggle / Thank god for tips and thank god for mothers."
Stoney calls her music "electronic soul," and in 2014 she won a Kresge fellowship, which gave her the chance to focus on making music.
She says the artists and people of Detroit make her want to become a quality artist and have helped her to feel comfortable in her own skin.
"I feel like I can do anything because of that support from Detroit, because it's such a real place," she says. "Like if Detroit has my back, I could go anywhere and do this."
Stoney will play at the Detroit Institute of Arts on Sunday, October 18.
