Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Neon Music
    • Home
    • News
    • Videos
    • Interviews
    • Reviews
    • Trending
    • Events
    • About Neon Music
      • Partners
    • Contact Us
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Neon Music
    Home»Interviews»Interview With YolanDa Brown, Award-Winning Broadcaster & Saxophonist
    Interviews

    Interview With YolanDa Brown, Award-Winning Broadcaster & Saxophonist

    Thomas HarveyBy Thomas HarveyDecember 6, 2019Updated:July 29, 2025No Comments4 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Drake YolanDa Award
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
    Drake YolanDa Award
    Photo by Karolina Wielocha

    On the evening of the Drake YolanDa award, UK’s first British producer and songwriter prize, we caught up with it’s founder YolanDa Brown also known as the award-winning broadcaster, UK’s leading female saxophonist and music educator whose tasty fusion of reggae, jazz, and soul has garnered praise around the world as she prepared to play her headline show at London’s Alexandra Palace. The Drake YolanDa Award has been created to support emerging artists across the UK on their musical journey. 

    Known for a multitude of diverse achievements in the music industry. Can you give readers a bit of personal background about yourself and the work you do?
    My day job is a touring musician and saxophonist, I love being on the road and love what being an artist and playing music brings. I’ve now realised it’s not just about making records and touring, I love giving back and I’m very passionate about music education and so let my TV presenting arm grow with my own show on Cbeebies. I’m also a philanthropist and have always wanted to connect people who are doing wonderful things. As we go through this journey I realised that there are still so many unsung heroes like the writers and producers and that’s what the award is about.

    Guvna B

    What do you think of the musical talent in the UK?
    We have something to say. We have our own culture and now with seeing the likes of Stormzy being at the fore-front we can see collaboration happening throughout genres and it’s something that is so special. I’m so proud of the diverse amount of music we have in the UK but the songwriters and producers are still not always celebrated and so we started this award not so much for emerging but for celebrating the producer teams. Sometimes you would never know who they have collaborated with.

    What gave you the inspiration for this competition and to showcase the people working behind the scenes of artists?
    We were taking applications for the other DrakeYolanda emerging artist award and we were celebrating artists and I felt like we were missing out on the producers and songwriters of today. A lot of the producers are happy to be behind the scenes and make the song but I wanted to shine the spotlight on them. Often people think that you make music and that’s just it but today I want to show them how much goes into it in terms of how a chorus is written, where does the inspiration come from. It will be nice to show that process.

    Lady Sanity

    Why do you think a competition like this is so important?
    We’re living in a time now where everything is so disposable and it’s great that we can churn out so much material so quickly but it takes a lot of work! During the album press run the question always comes, “when’s the next one ?” and I think this was already such labour! So much goes into it and I think showing people in other industries how much goes into it is so important. Cherish the work and the blood, sweat, and tears that go into writing a song.

    What are you most looking forward to about the competition?
    Even speaking to the producer teams I’ve just thought how we don’t know what’s going to happen. All the judges including Toyah Wilcox and Huwe Stephens – I just can’t wait to hear their reactions to it. What happens tonight – the teams are so versatile in their genres. It’s an amazing moment like this of creativity.

    Find out more about the Drake YolanDa award.

    YolanDa’s Band Jam Series 2
    YolanDa’s Band Jam Series 2

    This week, YolanDa Brown has also announced her acclaimed children’s TV show, YolanDa’s Band Jam is returning for a second season, on CBeebies in January 2020. It will feature a series of very special guests, including the Grammy winner Imogen Heap, The Lightning Seeds, Beverly Knight and Maximo Park, among many others.

    During the Summer, YolanDa hosted the CBeebies Proms at Royal Albert Hall and last month the hugely successful first season of her TV show, YolanDa’s Band Jam won the Royal Television Society NW Award in the category of ‘Best Children’s Programme (Pre-school)’.

    See Yolanda Brown’s tour dates.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Thomas Harvey

    Related Posts

    Boy In Space on The Butterfly Affect: Swedish Pop Star Embraces His Most Honest Sound Yet

    May 28, 2025

    Honouring His Heritage: How Musician KABU Pays Homage to His Upbringing Through Music

    March 1, 2025

    Interview With Shaven Primates On Their New Album Birds Aren’t Real – A Dark-Wave Art-Rock Revelation

    July 28, 2023

    Comments are closed.

    Recent Posts
    • Doja Cat Vie Album Review: Full Tracklist, Standout Moments, and An Honest Look
    • Artemas “superstar” Lyrics Meaning & Review: Dark-Romance Pop That Hurts So Good (Lovercore era)
    • Ashnikko “Wet Like” (feat. COBRAH) Lyrics Meaning & Review: Consent, Power, and a Club-Hard Pop Rush
    • Kali Uchis ‘Sincerely,’ & ‘Sincerely: P.S.’ Lyrics & Album Review — Motherhood, Memory, and Glow
    • Dark Pop Artist Mitchell Zia Unveils Addictive New Single “nicotine”
    Recent Comments
    • Video Premiere: 'HURT' By Nate Simpson - Neon Music on Nate Simpson Set To Release His Exquisite New Single ‘HURT’
    • It's Time To Change - Musicians Support Time To Talk Day - Neon Music on Ambient Electronica In SK Shlomo’s ‘Look Away’ (Precept Remix)
    Archives
    • October 2025
    • September 2025
    • August 2025
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • August 2023
    • July 2023
    • June 2023
    • May 2023
    • April 2023
    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    Categories
    • Featured
    • Interviews
    • Lifestyle
    • Live Music Review
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Trending
    • Videos
    Meta
    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org
    Recent Posts
    • Doja Cat Vie Album Review: Full Tracklist, Standout Moments, and An Honest Look October 4, 2025
    • Artemas “superstar” Lyrics Meaning & Review: Dark-Romance Pop That Hurts So Good (Lovercore era) October 4, 2025
    • Ashnikko “Wet Like” (feat. COBRAH) Lyrics Meaning & Review: Consent, Power, and a Club-Hard Pop Rush October 4, 2025
    • Kali Uchis ‘Sincerely,’ & ‘Sincerely: P.S.’ Lyrics & Album Review — Motherhood, Memory, and Glow October 3, 2025
    • Dark Pop Artist Mitchell Zia Unveils Addictive New Single “nicotine” October 3, 2025
    Tags
    Afrobeats Album alt-pop Angel Number Band Debut Drake Duo Electro-pop Electronic EP Folk Gen-Z & Gen-Alpha Slang Hip-Hop Indie indie-pop jazz Lana Del Rey Live Music London Meme Watch Movies music review Music Video Neon Music Lists & Rankings Neon Opinions & Columns New EP New Music New Single Numerology Pop Premiere producer R&B Rap rnb rock singer-songwriter Soul Summer Sunday Watch synth-pop Taylor Swift TV shows UK
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
    • PURCHASE
    © 2025 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.