From Ivy League to CONCERT HALL

Brynn Elliott makes the grA+ de in pop

Brynn Elliott is currently working on two daunting projects. The Harvard senior is writing her thesis on female philosophers in 17th century England. She also is spending an equal amount of time penning pop songs. While attending Harvard full time, Elliott has been building her name as a pop singer. Between reading Sartre and Kierkegaard, she has performed as many as 70 concerts a year. She spent most of this summer opening for Lifehouse & Switchfoot, including a stop at the Boston House of Blues.

“I don't know if a philosopher and a pop songwriter need to be that different,” she said ahead of her Monday gig at Brighton Music Hall. “They both explore what it means to be human. I think pop often loses that con- nection to humanity, and I want to make sure it doesn't.”

The Atlanta native says her studies have constantly fed into her craft. As she's switched her focus from country to pop and concentrated on simple songwriting, she's tried to infuse her writing with some deep introspection — a recent seminar on Descartes inspired a burst of writing.

Then she went through a breakup and, to her surprise, she got the recent single “Might Not Like Me” out of it.

“I always told myself, `I am not writing breakup songs, I am not writing breakup songs,” she said with a laugh. “Then I did and I wrote the song in 15 minutes in one sitting, and I liked it.”

“Might Not Like Me” pairs smart, tight Top 40 production and a sharp hook with lyrics championing female empowerment.

“It is a breakup song, but I want people who hear it to hear that it's about embracing what makes them human, that it's OK to accept yourself as you are,” she said. “And yes, part of of the inspiration for the song came out of my readings in classes. Of course, you'd never know that if you heard the song on the radio.”

Elliott has spent much of college away from Cambridge. Tours have dominated her summers and quick trips have filled up weekends. In August, at the House of Blues show, she realized she wants to spend more time in Boston. After she graduates in May, Elliott plans on staying in town and connecting with the local music scene — “Something I really haven't had a chance to do,” she said.

She is currently collaborating with songwriter-producer Nathan Chapman (who produced and co-wrote many of Taylor Swift's biggest hits). She plans to keep spinning out singles, but hopes to record a full-length LP soon and cites the success of Lorde and Lana Del Rey as proof that pop fans still love listening to whole albums.

“An album is the goal, an album and a lot more touring,” she said. “But between touring, while I'm writing, I'm excited to be in this city and be inspired by it.”