BIO
Bryn Scott-Grimes
Bryn Scott-Grimes is an award-winning US-Canadian virtuoso harmonica player, singer-songwriter, & guitarist based in Nashville. Bryn’s music is often described as a colorful signature blend of folk, blues, & show tunes interweaved with soul-bursting harmonica solos. Having grown up asthmatic carrying puffers around with him everywhere, it is a paradoxical miracle that Bryn is now building his name as one of the most innovative harmonica players on the planet alongside his velvety baritone voice, intricate finger-picking guitar chops, and playful, elaborate songwriting.
Since graduating from York University’s music program with a BA (honors) in 2012, Bryn has received various accolades, including a recent 1st place win as an instrumentalist in the 2024 Charleston International Music Competition & silver medalist in the “creativity/originality” category for the 2024 Global Music Awards for his song "Mr.Breathe". In 2021, Bryn was selected for CMI’s Artist Entrepreneur program shortly after receiving funding for his debut EP from the Ontario Arts Council. As part of the duo Taylor & Bryn, Bryn and his previous bandmate Taylor Abrahamse garnered 1st place in the 2015 Landmark Events Showcase Festival competition, competing against hundreds of acts from all across Canada. Bryn was recently a finalist in the Synapse Star Search competition featuring artist from all over the United States.
In 2022, Bryn landed an on-screen role playing himself as an alleyway harmonica player in Canadian feature film Stealing the Sky, written by Marie Dame and directed by Megan Follows (of the original Anne of Green Gables). Three of his original songs are also featured in the film's soundtrack, namely "Mr.Breathe," "Fly Off in a Tone" and "Philip Sousa Sous Chef." To top it off, Bryn contributed solo harmonica scoring to the film's soundtrack tying together scene transitions and accentuating the film's quirky, wistful atmosphere. Stealing the Sky is currently seeking its theatrical debut at an international film festival.
Bryn's intricate harmonica wizardry can also be heard on numerous documentaries, short films, and music videos including CBC Gem’s Rockin’ the Coffin (2020), Danger Dolan’s “The Ant Who Complains All Day” (2016), and JbyJ’s documentary Me & My Harmonica which won best documentary at the Canadian Ethnic Media Association awards in 2017.
As a go-to session harmonica player, Bryn has played live with and on recordings by artists like Anna Gutmanis, Taylor Abrahamse, Steve Koven, Andy Humphrey, Brent Bodrug, Megan Katz, Sammi Accola, and Goldpine to name a few. Bryn performed at Americana-Fest in Nashville in 2023 alongside Goldpine and has been making his way around the Nashville circuit as a songwriter, instrumentalist, & performer.
Bryn also has his own harmonica app called BENDR featuring masterclasses, song collections, hundreds of riffs, tips, technique breakdowns, backing tracks, forums, and much more. If you're a harmonica player, there's no better app out there to help you level up.
Before moving to Nashville in 2022, Bryn was the co-founder of Silverthorn Studios, a professional recording studio built to support emerging and under-served artists in Toronto. The studio was funded partially by Canada’s leading entrepreneurial banks, BDC and Futurpreneur. Since its inception in 2015, Silverthorn was home to many up and coming musicians, songwriters, producers, and engineers in addition to hosting established acts and music industry legends like Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo), actor & musician Kiefer Sutherland, Canadian roots music heavyweight Ken Whiteley, iconic producer Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Woodstock, Led Zeppelin), and Canadian radio broadcaster Alan Cross. Silverthorn closed its doors in April 2022, and as Bryn now focuses on his solo music career.
Sync Placements
Three original songs & original harmonica scoring in Stealing the Sky, a feature film by Marie Dame (directed by Megan Follows)
Original harmonica score for CBC Gem's short doc Rockin' the Coffin (also featured at Toronto's Hot Docs Festival)
"The Ant Who Complains All Day" Danger Dolan Youtube video with 2 million+ views (2017)
AWARDS & GRANTS
1st place instrumentalist in the 2024 Charleston International Music Competition
(harmonica)
Silver Medalist in the 2024 Global Music Awards (creativity/originality category) for "Mr.Breathe"
Selected artist for Canada Music Incubator's Artist entrepreneurship program with full grant coverage (2020)
Ontario Arts Council EP funding (2018)
1st place as part of duo Taylor & Bryn in the 2015 National Landmark Events Competition
FEATURE SESSION HARMONICA PLAYER
"My Favourite Parts of You" from their album Two by Goldpine
"Lately It's Cold" award-winning song by Anna Gutmanis
"Running" by Mega Katz (to be released in 2024)
"The Ant Who Complains All Day" animated music video by Danger Dolan & Taylor Abrahamse
"My Father" from album Love by Steve Koven
"If I Ever do You Wrong" by Andy Humphrey
"You're My" co-written with Taylor Abrahamse & produced by Eddie Kramer
Entrepreneurship
Founder of the BENDR App (2022-present)
Co-Founder & Manager of Silverthorn Studios (2015-2022)
Futurpreneur & BDC Bank Funding Recipient (2015)
Education
BA Music (Honors), York University (2012)
Canada Music Incubator Graduate (2021)
Private guitar studies with Suneal Pal, Andrew Scott, and Brian Katz
Harmonica studies with Howard Levy (online), Carlos Del Junco, and Jason Rosenblatt
Private vocal studies Cindy Goh, Nadia Hosko, Ken Tamplin, & Mary Michaela