THE GIRL WITH THE PINK GUITAR

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Destiny Petrel shares her journey in becoming a solo artist

WORDS BY @DESTINYPETREL | June 15th 2021

PHOTOS BY @GREGLEVITTPHOTOGRAPHY

As a kid growing up in Long Island, NY I would carry my guitar everywhere I went. I guess it was because of how I grew up, music was always there. My sisters Jess and Rebekah and I, first learned piano at the age of 6 in my grandparents basement apartment and were thrown into playing in a gospel church by the age of 14. My parents were music Pastors so I was surrounded by music constantly. I think that shaped me most into the musician I am today. My Dad has a background as a professional rock and roll sax player / vocalist, and my Mom as a choir director / teacher. So growing up in my household there was a lot of listening to gospel singers like Andrae Crouch, Cece Winans, Kirk Frankin to pop artists like Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Heart and Queen etc.

My sisters and I started making music together ever since I could remember, but professionally started as a PopRock band who traveled the world together. Jessica, lead singer, Bekah on keys and me playing guitar, with all 3 of us singing in harmony. At 16 yrs old I went on my first tour with them which was an amphitheater tour across the US. It was insane! That’s really when my career started in music. Together we toured playing over 300 shows performing from dive bars, to clubs, festivals and amphitheaters.The transition from being in a band with my sisters to now was super strange at first because of how much I love creating and playing with them. I mean, we still do almost everything together, we live together in LA. HAHA. So it doesn’t feel too different but still weird not having them by my side every step of the way.

Over the years I began working alongside other artists touring as a background vocalist and guitarist. I’ve worked with artists such as Lauren Jauregui, Grace Vanderwaal, and Jake Miller just to name a few. And now can count close to 100 shows played. In studio sessions, recording along side producers like Metro Boomin' (Drake, The Wknd, 21 Savage), Dre Moon (Beyonce, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Tinashe), A1 (Chris Brown, Yung Berg, Gucci Mane, Jeremiah) & Brian Howes (Boys Like Girls, Nickleback, Daughtry). It's been a dream so far and a crazy ride with highs but a ton of lows. The industry isn’t the best so it’s been a trip, maneuvering around people who just want to take advantage of you in every way possible. Thankfully because of my sisters, I feel better knowing that there are people I’m surrounded by who love me and genuinely care for me.

I released my first single “Sad Girl”, as a solo artist on December 11th 2020. Sad Girl was written while on tour with the person I’m singing about. It was one of those things where we both were around each other 24/7 and she was taking up so much time and space in my heart. So everything that she was going through and felt, I started feeling heavily. Writing it on the road then coming back from tour and producing the song in my bedroom was so therapeutic. It was like going through a breakup at the end of tour, and so it felt so good to get all my feelings out after. I can only hope other people feel as connected to it as I do, because I think we all feel that heavy sadness sometimes, and that’s okay. My 2nd single - Feel the Same just dropped and I couldn’t be more excited about that song too.

Who doesn't feel that way when you’re crushing on someone hard? It’s always difficult to make the first move or just say how you feel. It’s a funny song to me because we actually never tried to go out after that one night! Haha. Both of these songs will be on my first EP “Just Fine”. I’ll be releasing the next single Soul Tie very soon and that’s a song that hits close to home thanks to my first love.

Anyone who’s reading this. If you’re working towards working full time in the music industry, try not to compare yourself, embrace your weirdness, work hard at your craft and surround yourself with good people. I hope you know that you are a one of a kind, special human and that you can achieve anything. ANYTHING! I’m finding myself everyday constantly growing and learning, so I try not to take myself too seriously and tell myself that it’s okay to make a ton of mistakes. No one's journey will be the same as yours so just go with it.

What I love about music is that it’s universal and such a powerful tool. I want to be that positive and authentic source to music lovers... an influence to others who song-write, play guitar, and produce. Music has impacted my life in the most positive way. It saved me and I hope to continuously inspire others through my love for playing, performing and song writing, for as long as I can. ■

Destiny Petrel

Photo by @greglevittphotography

Destiny Petrel

Photo by @greglevittphotography