“listen up my
people hold your head up high
and put your banners up into the sky
cause we have got a declaration ready for a conversation maybe it’s our time”
Artist, mother, activist, journalist and teacher V V Brown, who took a 6 year hiatus from her
musical career to attend to her mental health and focus on raising her two young children,
makes her very welcome return with the release of her uplifting, thought- provoking anthem “Black British”.
V V has also just announced that she will be making her first live performance in over 10 years on May 23 rd V V Brown: An Intimate Musical Experience will be held at The Lower Third and tickets will be on sale from 9am on Monday March 27th. Buy your ticket here
What it means to be Black British is an important and complex question and one that V V will be exploring throughout the journey on this new project. The striking artwork for the single and the accompanying video, which uses the power of contemporary dance to reveal the narrative, were conceived, created and directed by V V. V V has also written a long form essay around the subject which will be published on release.
“Black British”, released on the artist’s own label YOY Records, was inspired when V V began delving into the purest musical influences of her early childhood such as J Dilla, Erykah Badu, Common, Kim Burrell and British records by Roots Manuva, Soul to Soul and Omar.
“The last six years have been a difficult mental health journey for me, but I came to the realisation that I need music to feel alive. Now that I live in the countryside, it feels liberating to create without that industry pressure. I spend most of my days wearing wellies, making music or enjoying the routine of family life. Everything about this album, whether it be the artwork, the lyrics, the production or the visuals, is about starting sociological conversations. Art should make you feel, whether that’s feeling uncomfortable, empowered, happy, sad, scared, inspired. There is a radical power in the role of the provocateur and this was one of the motives for this record“
Alongside the music, “Black British” combines the medium of essay writing and journalism, a talent V V discovered during her time away, writing several powerful articles for The Guardian with a musical palette inspired by some of the greats such as her favourite writer James Baldwin. Her lyrics address and confront the major issues facing Black Britons every day.
“Black British” is a bold declaration of this singular artist’s intent as she begins her fearless new journey with an anthem that speaks boldly about identity and the conflicts of this cultural experience.
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