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              Justina Lee Brown: Interview by Michael Limnios

              Written on .

              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.

              READ MORE https://justinaleebrown.com/justina-lee-brown-interview-by-michael-limnios

              Interview by Michael Limnios

              Special Thanks: Jesse Finkelstein (BRI)

              How has the Soul & Gospel Blues music influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

              A lot. It has healed my heart from all the pains I carry inside of me. And it has made me to see the world with openness!

              How do you describe your music philosophy and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

              My music is a combination of everything from “Funky Soul, Blues, Jazz in all with my Afro Fusion” which is my very identity. I receive my inspiration from God and all He lays in my heart to say.

              How important was/is activism and music in your life? How does activism affect your mood and inspiration?

              Activism is an ack we all should carry everyday until every human is in peace with love in these 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.)

              What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in music paths?

              Honestly. I have come to see how in honest we are many times as humans. We just say and do things because we feel that’s what they want to hear not because it’s the truth or not. We’re just entertaining and feeding each other with negativity many times. My lessons I have learnt is HONESTY!

              “Music is the similarity.  Anything with sound in it is similar to the other, But the feeling it carries is what is the differentiates. And the people that listens is who makes the similarities and differences in it. But it is quite different from folks/traditional blues with the power and actions in it. And also, it’s African dynamic elements.” (Justina Lee Brown, 2019 / Photo by Jean Marc Efienne)

              What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

              (laughs)… more of dancing and being young on stage. And also, being closer to my family, because the music I did in the past was in my country.

              If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

              Truth be told more not just entertainment.

              Make an account of the case of soul/blues in Nigeria. What are the similarities between local folk/traditional music & blues?

              Music is the similarity. Anything with sound in it is similar to the other, But the feeling it carries is what is the differentiates. And the people that listens is who makes the similarities and differences in it. But it is quite different from folks/traditional blues with the power and actions in it. And also, it’s African dynamic elements.

              What does to be a female artist in a Man’s World as James Brown says? What is the status of women in music?

              Challenging, and it could be better. And being an African woman is more harder than you can imagine.

              What is the impact of music on the racial, spiritual and socio-cultural implications? How do you want it to affect people?

              It shouldn’t be judged or condemned. It should be accepted just as it is. Because whatever we send out to people, there’s always a massage.

              Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really want to go for a whole day?

              A beautiful island with so beautiful nature and lovely people being happy with each other.

              Justina Lee Brown

              JUSTINA LEE BROWN is an award-winning Nigerian Afro Funky /Blues artist, Songwriter/Composer, and Entertainer. Justina and her band earned second place at the 10th European Blues Challenge in Malmö, Sweden with a crackling, emotional performance. The Nigerian dominated the Swiss Blues Challenge with her band, the Blues reflects only one facet of her music. African and Caribbean influences, Gospel, Soul, and R’n’B are also the focus. Justina Lee Brown faced the tough struggle for survival as a street child in Lagos / Nigeria and made it to the stages from Nigeria to Europe with her extraordinary voice. As a performer, she is a true powerhouse, and as a musician a mercilessly gifted singer with a phenomenal voice. Her concerts leave no one untouched, her explosive performances with afro-bluesy souls must be experienced live. In London she received the “Women In Entertainment Award” for “Best African Female voice” and in 2016 she won the Swiss Blues Challenge 2019 in Basel with her top-class Swiss band. In January 2020, the band traveled to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge and caused a sensation as a semi-finalist. She sold out every concert on her USA tour in 2020. Now Justina is finally on tour again with her current album “Black and White Feeling”. Each of the pieces on the Album describes a part of her intensive Biography.