Honest Lyrics

Musical Journey

My name is Bethany Wilczynski. I’m 35 years old and currently living in Erie, Pennsylvania. Music has always been a powerful part of my life. Growing up, I was surrounded by a wide variety of genres—Broadway, country, gospel, rock, metal, rap—you name it. Thanks to my older siblings, I was exposed to a diverse musical landscape early on, which fueled my lifelong passion for sound and storytelling through music.

My journey in audio began when I started working as a radio DJ at WERG, Gannon University’s station, while I was still a sophomore in high school. That experience taught me the fundamentals of running a radio station and gave me the opportunity to be an on-air talent. I hosted multiple shows—both solo and with friends—and fell in love with the technical and creative aspects of broadcasting. At the same time, I worked at my high school’s TV studio, Lion’s Television, where I ran the soundboard. I was also responsible for sound design during our school musicals, gaining even more hands-on experience.

After high school, I initially pursued a degree in nursing, but quickly realized my heart wasn't in it. I’ve always been drawn to music, and in 2016, I built a recording studio in my basement to begin turning that passion into a career. I was accepted into Full Sail University, where I studied music production, studio engineering, music theory, and the history of genres. I graduated in August 2020 with a 3.5 GPA and was honored with a Course Director’s Award—given to students who exceed expectations in a particular subject.

Since then, I’ve continued growing as a producer and sound engineer. I’ve done sound work for the Erie Playhouse stage, recorded music for local talent in my studio, and released my debut album, I’m Healing, available on iTunes and Spotify. I wrote and produced every track on the album, and while the vocals were performed by friends and AI, the project was deeply personal and an important step in my creative journey.