Two time MOBO Award winner and one of the world’s top saxophonists, YolanDa Brown, speaks with Chris Williams about her latest tour and the importance of pursuing your passion.
Not many musicians decide to postpone their PhDs to become a full time recording artist moments before going onstage at a palace in Russia. This is what double MOBO Award winning saxophonist, YolanDa Brown did just before stepping on stage to play in front of the Russian President: “I was trying to send off a chapter of my PhD and I was being called onstage, and thought to myself ‘you know what, I need to make a choice it’s either music or studies’ and, yep, music won. That was four years ago now and I haven’t looked back since so it was definitely the right decision”. Yolanda is a saxophonist who loves mixing genres. Her Reggae Love Songs tour promises “lots of jazz elements, reggae and nice soulful undertones”. She’s been a member of Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and has also gained two Masters Degrees in Management Science.
YolanDa taught herself to play saxophone at the age of thirteen after she was given one for Christmas: “I was going to start my lessons in January and I remember putting the saxophone together, finding out how the reed worked and making a sound out of the saxophone. In three weeks I was actually teaching myself how to play, when I started lessons I was learning scales and not playing any songs, I didn’t get the same enjoyment out of the instrument and I’m glad I was mature enough to say ‘I really like this instrument, I want to learn the instrument, maybe I should go it alone because I think they’re gonna kill my passion if I stay learning it this way.’ I found exploring the instrument myself gave me more rewards than just practising scales every week”. However, this didn’t mean that a career in music was her goal. She achieved two Masters Degrees and pursued a PhD in Management Science at the University of Kent, and after the band she was playing in to subsidise her studies fell away, the manager offered to manage her as a solo artist. When I asked her if a career as a musician was always on the cards, she says it all happened unexpectedly: “When I get the opportunity to go on a wonderful tour like this and to do interviews it kind of reminds me that all of this was all a bit of a whirlwind. I’m still very shocked and honoured and grateful that this is my job now”.
And it would seem a dream job, meeting inspirations like Dionne Warwick and touring with The Temptations. “We did 25 dates together. No matter how long they’ve been in the industry they stay humble; they’re open to speaking to new artists. It was just refreshing to meet artists who are true to their music and true to their listeners and that’s kind of the artist that I want to be.” In 2011 she was invited to be a member of Jools Holland’s big band orchestra, which she loved: “It was a fantastic experience, he’s a great performer and I got to walk up front and do a solo with him, so it was a great memory to have and hopefully there’ll be more opportunities in the future”. YolanDa is also working with special guests on her tour – Lamar and Levi Roots are joining her in Cardiff
As well as being both academically and musically driven, YolanDa is involved by several charities helping young people get into music. Her advice to aspiring musicians is simple: “Don’t wait, just do”.
YolanDa Brown, St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Wed 23 Mar. Tickets: £18.50-£25. Info: 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk