Author: Justina Lee Brown

18 years ago in 2009 just as Afrobeats first Golden era was around the corner, a young Justina Ogunlolu broke out into the intrinsically male-dominated music scene with the Afrobeats single, “Omo 2 Sexy”. Due to the nature of the industry; an apparent dearth of female talent and following the success of her hit single, Ogunlolu, then operating under the alias of her first name, “Justina”, had instantly stood out, gaining the attention of the who is who in the industry.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/03/23/it-cost-me-15-years-nigerian-singer-justina-lee-brown-on-her-european-domination-and-ngo

Now almost two decades and two studio albums later, Ogunlolu, now domiciled in Europe has morphed into an Afro Funky, Jazz, Blues and Soul singer, leaving the label of an emerging Afrobeats diva in the distant past. According to Ogunlolu, now known as Justina Lee Brown– a name that has graced several auditoriums, amphitheatres and stages in Europe, this had been a long time coming as she’d always nurtured a deep love for the Blues and the aforementioned genres, even making songs in that line. Interestingly, in 2005, during a visit to Switzerland, she’d met a Bass player named Dean Zukeru who’d helped her set up her first band named The United Nations after serendipitously happening to sing live with them at a club. Back home in Nigeria, she’d however been advised to pay attention to the pulse of the market and had as a result put out singles like “Na Me And You” among others before hitting it big with “Omo 2 Sexy”.

READ MORE: https://justinaleebrown.com/it-cost-me-15-years-nigerian-singer-justina-lee-brown-on-her-european-domination-and-ngo-on-thisdaylive-com/

Justina Ogunlolu, the award-winning Europe-based Nigerian soul singer and songwriter popularly known as Justina Lee Brown, has been representing Nigeria in good light across Europe and the world at large.

Justina Lee Brown, soul singer making Nigeria proud in The Diaspora

Her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence have captivated audiences in prestigious venues and festivals in Switzerland, Germany, the UK and several other countries earning her a reputation as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Nigeria in recent years.

Justina Lee Brown’s music seamlessly blends African lyricism with western-leaning global sounds, creating a unique and captivating musical experience for listeners worldwide.

The singer, who was the second runner-up in 2006’s Nokia First Chance Reality singing competition, went on to deliver a smash hit titled ‘Omo 2 sexy’ in 2008 under her first name ‘Justina’, in the then Nigerian music industry that was heavily dominated then by the likes of Tuface, 9ice, Mo’ Hits Crew, Terry G among several others.

READ MORE: https://justinaleebrown.com/justina-lee-brown-soul-singer-making-nigeria-proud-in-the-diaspora-on-dailytimesng-com

https://sunnewsonline.com/how-nigerian-act-justina-lee-brown-continues-to-trailblaze-in-europe/

Justina Ogunlolu, the award-winning Europe-based Nigerian singer and songwriter popularly known as Justina Lee Brown, has been representing Nigeria in good light across Europe and the world at large with her electrifying performances and her soul-stirring music that cuts across several genres from Afrobeats, Funk, to Soul Music as well as the Blues.
Her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence have captivated audiences in prestigious venues and festivals in Switzerland, Germany, the UK and several other countries earning her a reputation as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Nigeria in recent years. Justina Lee Brown’s music seamlessly blends African lyricism with Western-leaning global sounds, creating a unique and captivating musical experience for listeners worldwide.

READ MORE How Nigerian Act Justina Lee Brown Continues To Trailblaze In Europe on The Sun – Justina Lee Brown

Award-winning Europe-based Nigerian singer and songwriter, Justina Ogunlolu, popularly known as Justina Lee Brown, has been representing Nigeria in good light across Europe and the world at large with her electrifying performances and her soul-stirring music that cuts across several genres – Afrobeats, Funk, Soul and Blues.

Justina Lee Brown, Making Nigeria Proud In Diaspora – New Telegraph (newtelegraphng.com)

Her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence have captivated audiences in prestigious venues and festivals in Switzerland, Germany, the UK, and several other countries earning her a reputation as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Nigeria in recent years. Justina Lee Brown seamlessly blends African lyricism with Western-leaning global sounds, creating a unique and captivating musical experience for listeners worldwide.

The singer, who was the second runner-up in 2006’s Nokia First Chance reality singing competition, went on to deliver a smash hit titled ‘Omo 2 sexy’ in 2008 under her first name ‘Justina’, a sensual Afro-pop song that rocked the waves in the then Nigerian music industry that was heavily-male dominated by the likes of Tuface, 9ice, Mo’ Hits Crew, Terry G among several others.

Justina Ogunlolu, the award-winning Europe-based singer and songwriter popularly known as Justina Lee Brown, has been representing Nigeria in good light with electrifying performances and soul-stirring music that cuts across several genres from Afrobeats, Funk, to Soul Music as well as the Blues.

https://thenationonlineng.net/soul-singer-justina-lee-brown-makes-nigeria-proud-in-the-diaspora/

Die nigerianische Bluessängerin Justina Lee Brown dominiert mit ihrer Band seit Jahren sämtliche Blues Challenges, doch spiegelt der Blues nur eine Facette ihrer Musik wider. Afrikanische und karibische Einflüsse, Gospel, Soul und R’n’B stehen ebenso im Mittelpunkt ihrer charismatischen Auftritte.

53. Jazzwoche Burghausen: Justina Lee Brown | KONZERTVIDEOS | BR-KLASSIK | Bayerischer Rundfunk

Was für eine Stimme! Die preisgekrönte nigerianische Funk-, Soul und Blues-Künstlerin Justina Lee
Brown hat am Donnerstagabend im den proppenvollen Cotton Club der Kammgarn zusammen mit ihrer brillanten Schweizer Band erobert. Im Gepäck hatte sie ihr neues Album „Lost Child“.

Tief emotionale Texte sowie ein traumhaftes Gespür für die spannendsten Stil- und Spielarten der schwarzen Musik prägen den Sound von Justina Lee Brown. Ende September wird die in Nigeria geborene Sängerin im Nordportal Baden ihr neues Album ”Lost Child” vorstellen. JAZZ’N’MORE hatte die Gelegenheit, eine erste Kostprobe der Aufnahmen zu hören und Fragen zu stellen. Von Marco Piazzalonga

JAZZ’N’MORE: Im Herbst 2019 erschien dein aufsehenerregendes Album ”Black & White Feeling”. Nun steht die Veröffentlichung des Nachfolgers ”Lost Child” an. Wie hast du die vier dazwischenliegenden Jahre erlebt?
Justina Lee Brown: Das Album ”Black & White Feeling” war für mich wie eine Erlösung, ein Geschenk, eine Heilung. Ich war unsicher, ob ich fähig sein würde, nicht nur auf der Bühne, sondern auch auf einem Album meine Schmerzen und meine Gefühle ausdrücken zu können. Ich war glücklich über die Reaktion der Leute, denn es war mein erstes offizielles Soloalbum. Will heissen: komplett mit eigenen Songs.
Musikalisch in jene Richtung weisend, in die ich schon immer gehen wollte – Soul, Blues, Funk, Afro! Ich war ein wenig nervös, machte mir Sorgen. Was würden wohl meine Bluesfans, was meine Afro-Community davon halten? Würden sie meine Musik akzeptieren? Rückblickend weiss ich, ich habe es richtig gemacht, das Album hat mir Selbstvertrauen gegeben. Wir waren begeistert über den Erfolg – die Konzertanfragen purzelten nur so herein. Und dann, von einem Moment auf den anderen: Corona. Dies raubte uns für mehr als anderthalb Jahre die Möglichkeit, mit unserer Musik auf die Bühne zu gehen.

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Taking place in Malmö, Sweden, the 10^th European Blues Challenge will occur in June 2022 from the 2^nd to the 4^th. Created in the late 60s, it has grown and evolved to help keep blues music alive. In 2007, the USA showed its admiration towards blues music by instating the Memphis-based Blues Foundation. Later on, other countries, especially European, have contributed in helping the foundation grow.

Up to 24 European nations will be participating in this years challenge. Amongst them, Switzerland confirmed its presence, represented by Justina Lee Brown, a Nigerian Afro Funky /Soul Blues artist, Songwriter/Composer, and Entertainer. After winning the competition in Switzerland she was nominated to participate in the finale of the competition, her talent and creativity are what got her to the podium. The European Blues Challenge had been cancelled due to the covid-19 in March but has now been postponed to this June.

Justina had participated in the International Blues Challenge in 2020 where she finished as a semi-finalist with her band after having won the Swiss Blues Challenge in Basel in 2019. This amazing achievement helped her become a true sensation in the USA where she later on sold out every ticket to her shows in 2020. Her accomplishments do not stop there, after having been awarded the “The Women in Entertainment Award” for “Best African Female voice” in London.

If you wish to learn more on Justina Lee Brown and her musical accomplishments look her up on her CreativInn Showroom.

Keeping Blues alive in song and our hearts, over the years the International and European Blues Challenge.

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Justina Lee Brown, a singer/songwriter from west Africa is a survival child from the ghetto streets of Lagos, Nigeria, living her life and telling her real story through her music. Justina is one of Nigeria’s most promising new talents. She started singing as a child (in church choirs amongst others). Her star qualities were first officially recognized when she emerged as the first runner-up at the Nokia First Chance music competition in Nigeria in 2007 this was fast followed with bold steps at the industry when she dropped her first ever single which formally brought her to limelight in 2008 A newcomer to many people, Justina is an old pro when it comes to being a live performer. Internationally, she has graced stages in Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, UK and Kenya (in Switzerland she also fronts a cover band called The United Nations) and has developed into a charismatic, confident live performer who amazes audiences with her boundless energy and her creativity. Live and on record, her powerful and versatile voice perfectly complements her music, a modern and original mix of Soul and Rhythm & Blues, not forgetting a generous helping of her strong stage performance and presence.

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Q&A with West Africa singer/songwriter Justina Lee Brown – living her life and telling her real story through her music

“Activism is an act we all should carry every day until every human is in peace with love in this beautiful world of ours. When I have a chance to change something to become better, I take the chance and that is my inspiration. (Doing and not just complain about anything.)”

Her sound is interpreted with funky soul blues and a fusion of her Afroroots. On stage Justina is a power house and a force of greatness that is truly authentic. During her performances she brings the real magic of music to life, packed with her identity and uniqueness. Justina Lee Brown released her new album “Black and White Feeling” (2019) which focuses on her truth, Passion and her Life as it is now. All composition, lyrics and arrangement of all songs on this album is by Justina Lee Brown together with Nic Niedermann, guitarist, composer and producer from Switzerland. Justina Lee Brown has been Touring the world over a decade now, discovering and finding her true purpose in life with her MUSIC. Justina lives for ” Love, Unity in Equal Rights for all Humans “. Her passion to help children and less privilege survive is unstoppable.

READ MORE https://justinaleebrown.com/justina-lee-brown-music-love-unity

When it comes to the blues, Switzerland is at the top of the European class – thanks to Justina Lee Brown

Even in the hour of success, Justina Lee Brown, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and grew up in poor conditions, remains humble: “I am incredibly happy with what we have achieved. Happy and grateful to the people who have welcomed us and our music so well. I’m in no way disappointed that I didn’t take the first place.”

The requirements were not easy. Each band was only given 20 minutes to convince the international jury of musicians, radio broadcasters, journalists, and bookers of their skills. Among 23 formations from just as many countries, the Swiss sextet stood out with its exciting mix of blues, funk, soul, and African influences. Only the young Dutch Harlem Lake Band managed to outperform our Swiss participants.

Switzerland is at the top of the European class

Who is Justina?

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Justina Lee Brown struggled to survive as a child living in the ghetto of Ajegunle and Kirikiri. As heartbreaking as her childhood may be, to this day it makes her the daring and creative woman she is. Justina did not let her past slow her down, on the contrary, it inspired and encouraged her to succeed.

The singing started off as a way to kill time on the street as a child while helping her mother sell “ice water” in the Udo market in Lagos. People rapidly started to notice her and gave out tips to encourage Justina to continue. Knowing her voice brought happiness to passing strangers filled her with joy. A sense of purpose appeared in Justina, she saw an escape out of her misery into a new and alluring world. Through thick and thin, music kept her company whether it was a small melody playing in her head or her emotions taking control of the lyrics like ink flowing on paper. When admiring her ascension onto the stage from Nigeria to Europe, you may ask yourself what the key to her success is. The answer from Justina herself: “Honesty, Truthfulness, and Kindness are the food every human soul needs.”. These inspiring words show not only the kind-hearted person she is, but they are also to be taken as advice to follow your dreams through selflessness and creativity.

READ MORE https://justinaleebrown.com/meet-justina-lee-brown

“Baden is the only place for me where I’m not homesick”

The expert jury nominated two musicians with close ties to Baden for the nationally important award. This is awarded annually to people or institutions in Switzerland who have made outstanding contributions to the blues scene as artists or sponsors.

Aargauerzeitung Article