YolanDa Brown
YolanDa Brown has finally released her debut album April Showers, May Flowers after years of making a name for herself on the live jazz circuit.
I caught up with her to talk about the release of her debut record as well as show casing her vocal talent for the first time.
- You have just released your debut album April Showers, May Flowers so what can we expect from the
record?
For me it is my debut album and it is everything that I have known and loved as I have played on the stage, been on tour and the music that the music that I grew up with; including classical music, R&B and some Blues influence. So there are lots of genres within there so there is a little something for everyone.
- That touches on my next question really the album mixes jazz and soul and a bit of RnB so how would you describe the sound of the album?
The main thing for me is making music that tells stories so it’s quite emotional based and it stems from experiences that I have had and ideas that have come from feelings that I have had. So hopefully people can relax and listen to it, sit in their car and listen to it or at home; it’s good for everywhere really (laughs).
It’s really good for me to express ideas as April Showers, May Flowers is the title and it means April Showers are the hard times that everyone has to work through in life; everyone has been through something.
And if you persevere and push through then you end up with these wonderful May Flowers and the great rewards and blessing that come with working hard through something. So I think that that is the main story that transcends through each song.
- You have been on the jazz circuit for several years now so how has that experience prepared you for recording your debut album?
I thin kit’s great because performing to people you get to see what makes them smile and what makes that tap their toes so to speak, and for me I really love being on the stage.
I’m not sure how it prepares you for the studio because then it’s just you in the booth with a producer and a microphone (laughs) so it’s a bit of a different feeling.
You can sort of pull on those memories of all those wonderful festivals and concerts that you have done to see how all that music transcends onto stage and that was something that I always kept in mind; how will this song feel when I play it live? So yes I think it really does help.
- So how did you find going into the studio?
For me it was a bit of different process, I have recorded before and appeared on other people’s albums, but when it is an album you are thinking of it as a project and you are thinking of it as a story as a whole.
So each song I wanted to contribute to a feeling after each song and you are thinking ‘how will the album feel when someone puts the CD on?’
So yeah it was a different feeling but it was really enjoyable because you get to create a package and I think is something that you get from going concerts; you are creating a feel for the whole night. So I think that is what I pulled on for creating an album.
- Like I said there is jazz and soul in there so is this the kind of music that you listened to too whilst growing up?
Yeah, I was brought up with such a wide range of music. My parents are from Jamaica for obviously reggae was a huge influence but then also jazz and we had blues and big band and classical music; when you first learn instruments you do end up playing classical music.
So there was a bit of everything really and I wanted the debut album to reflect that and I wanted it to reflect me and the music that I have grown up with - hopefully I have done it.
- You showcase your voice off for the first time with Bitter Sweet and Without You so how did you find showing off your vocals?
Yeah that was a whole new experience (laughs). I have been so use to standing behind a saxophone and having that shield if you like. I have had vocal training and vocal sessions with people showing me how to use my voice.
I think it’s just marvellous that we have this instrument within us that we can use and hone to create something - I found it really interesting to find my range and find what sort of feeling that I wanted to put forward.
I think that it is a journey that I am going to be on for the rest of my musical career and it’s something that I really wanted to build and put forward. It was a really great experience knowing that I have had this instrument here all along (laughs).
- Well that is my next question really how much do you intend to show off your vocals a little more in future recordings?
Yeah I think I am just going to take it naturally. What happened was I was writing the album and working on melodies and songs, I’m self taught on the saxophone, as I improvised I was always thinking about words and what I would be saying and hopefully that will come through in the music.
So when I was writing the melodies I was getting these lyrics. I recording all of the saxophone elements and I thought ‘well I have got all these lyrics sitting here like poems’ maybe I can break them up and put them on the record vocally.
So that’s where it all sort of stemmed from. When I am on tour I have backing vocals so it’s quite nice to join them in song sometimes. So yeah there might be more you will see (laughs).
- The album also features you on the saxophone so when did you start playing the instrument and what drew you to the instrument?
I started playing at the age of thirteen, before that I had played drums, piano, violin and the recorder; the way that the drums, piano and violin are you are playing on them and I really wanted something that came from within as I hadn’t explored my voice at all when I was younger. I really wanted a wind instrument, something a bit beefy that could really be an extension of me.
So I was introduced to the saxophone at the age of thirteen and it just felt like this is the one, this is the voice that I want to put forward.
From them on I was played for myself and expressing myself and the next thing I knew I was performing to people. But it was brought to me quite late in the scheme of things but really feels like my voice.
- So how did you get involved in the music business?
I was studying for my PHD at the time at the University of Kent and I was given the chance to join a band for the summer, as a student you are always want to make a little bit of extra money, so I joined this band for the summer.
Towards the end the band fell away and the management said ‘I would like to manage you as a solo artist’ and I thought ‘well it gives me more money for my studies so I am all up for that’.
Next thing I knew I was composing songs and recording EP’s and travelling around the world so it got to a point where I had to choose between the PHD and the music, I was going my own concerts and travelling and sending off my work along the way and so I made the decision to go with music.
I am an independent artist and doing it yourself you really get to know the business and you get to know how to promote yourself and how to get yourself out there to people - it takes a lot of time. So I put the PHD on the backburner and have forged ahead with the music.
- How much have you liked the independent aspect of making music?
Exactly, that’s exactly it. I love the fact that we have the creative liberty to do what we want, we can pick the venues that we want to do, and people we want to work with.
Perhaps the only disadvantage is the finance because the major labels have more money to pump into their artists. But that doesn’t stop us as we keep pushing forward and finding innovative ways to do things.
- You are also set to playing at the Hammersmith Apollo with HMV so what can we expect from that show?
Yes that is going to be the first time playing the new material live, it’s tomorrow (14th Feb) with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. We have been in rehearsals and it is sounding really nice - it’s great because only a couple of months ago I was playing these songs in the studio and now I have my band and orchestra playing them.
I think it is a really lovely way to showcase the material straight away and for the audience to get the full feeling of all the instrumentation playing.
People can expect all of the songs on the CD as well as some of the old repertoire - we are also going to have lovely special guests including Ian Shaw, Mica Paris. We are playing over two dates and I am really looking forward to it.
- And are we going to see you hit the road this year?
We are doing a nationwide tour from now and towards the end of the year we are going to be going to America and oversees. All of the information will be available on my website.
- Finally what’s next for you?
I am touring for a while, which I think it something that I really need, just to play my new material to people as I just love being on stage.
And then during this recording process we have so many more songs that we could make a whole new album so we will be getting back onto that later on in the year.
YolanDa Brown’s debut album April Showers, May Flowers is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw