Since parting ways with her band, Crystal Brandt has gained fans with her intimate acoustic sets blending rock, folk, and country.

Now performing her original songs accompanied solely by a guitar, the Maryland native has abandoned the rebelliousness of her youth for a more self-aware outlook on life.

“On the last album, I played banjo, piano, accordion, and drums. I did everything. It was all about production. I was really into working in the studio and learning how to record. The next [album] is just me and a guitar, kind of of like my live show. The songs are more personal this time,” said Brandt, who resides in Windsor Terrace.

With two albums under her belt, 29-year-old Brandt has matured in her lyrics and taken responsibility for the imperfections in her life.

“In my new songs, I’m criticizing myself, which is a new thing for me. It takes getting past being a teenager and your 20s and looking at yourself and saying, ‘Maybe everyone else is not screwed up.’” she said. “In my writing, I’m taking more responsibility in how my life as been shaped rather than pointing at other people.”

This honesty is visible on several completed tracks for the new album - expected to be released this August - including “Could’ve Been, Could Be.”

With the lines, “Excuses are nothing but lies and I should know all about it I’ve given them all a try. Reasons are nothing but sin when I end up asking myself how and what I’ve gotten into,” Brandt is examine her life’s choices on the song.

On “Two Door Coupe” Brandt details a romantic relationship that left her “seeing things the way you want to instead of the way they were,” the singer said.

This idealistic approach is evident with such lyrics as “All the girls with hair like mine, I know they all had a piece of your time, and looking back I see through and I hear the words that I want to.”

The personal nature of her new material has allowed Brandt to showcase another side of herself during performances.

“Sometimes it’s been almost a challenge to perform the [new songs] because the venues are intimate and a lot of what I’m singing about I have had a hard time admitting to when I’m talking. A lot of people can admit to having trouble expressing themselves,” she said.

It is that insecurity that many Brooklyn audiences have related to, making Brandt eager to perform for local crowds.

“There really is a strong community of who are supportive of other people’s art. There’s a real strength in people’s interests,” Brandt said of her home borough. “[Brooklyn audiences are] attentive. They’re more interested in what’s going on and more respectful. I’ve played shows in Brooklyn where people actually paid attention but in Manhattan, it seemed like people were just there to drink.”

Placing roots in Brooklyn, Brandt has started a do-it-yourself record label featuring local artists.

Created with her husband, Casey, Mungler Winslowe Records allows the artists to fully participate in the production and marketing of their music.

“It’s kind of like a collective. Everybody has a say in what the other people are doing. We don’t have any contracts and the artists are responsible for their work,” Brandt said.

By writing songs about her personal feelings and allowing struggling artists to maintain control of their work, Brandt is trying to create a musical community based on honesty and integrity.

“For the first time I’m writing songs that are not stupid little love songs but are confessional,” she said.