Justina Lee Brown: Africa calling!

With a new band and a new album, Justina Lee Brown is ready to take off after her break to have a baby. With "Echoes of Home", set to release in mid-November, the 2019 Swiss Blues Challenge winner from Nigeria and two-time Swiss Blues Award winner returns to her beginnings, reflecting on her African roots.

Jazz'n'more: The question arises right at the beginning: Why an "African album"?Justina Lee Brown: I felt that the time had come. I landed my first hit in Nigeria 24 years ago. That sound made me famous throughout the country, and I'm still known for it today. However, it's been 20 years since I last produced an Afro album for my community. When I moved to Europe, I found my way with funk, soul, and blues — without denying my African foundation, which was always there. When I returned home five years ago, friends and fans asked me for an album with Afro sounds. So, after my return, I started writing songs. I'm excited to share them with my funk, soul, and blues crowd, as well as with the people back home because the music is a mix of Afro-blues, Afro-soul, and contemporary styles.JNM: What about the approach to songwriting?JLB: The basic idea was to create something that would make people happy and encourage celebration. However, during the creative process, events unfolded rapidly. On the one hand, the pandemic hit us hard, but the brutal violence against Black people in Nigeria, America, and other parts of the world affected me the most. That's why many songs on the album convey a message against violence toward people of African descent. Finally, a few very personal "heartbreaks" are mixed in as well. All of this influenced the songwriting.JNM: How was the album produced?JLB: I made demos by laying down rhythms and beats and humming or singing the melodies of the songs. Then, I sent them to producer friends in Nigeria. They recorded my ideas and sent them back to me. Then, I went into the Zurich studio with my longtime musician friend, percussionist David Stauffacher, and we combed through this raw material. David did a great job. We discussed what was necessary for each song and what we could do without. That's how we finished the album according to our vision. I sang all the vocal tracks myself, including the choir parts.JNM: Were the backing tracks recorded using real instruments?JLB: Each of these producers is also a musician who masters several instruments. They programmed some of the beats and recorded others live. Everything else, such as the guitar, bass, and keyboards, is handmade music. They enlisted the help of some colleagues to play other instruments. They also recorded one or two additional drum or guitar tracks here in Zurich.JNM: After taking time off for the baby, the new album and many concerts, especially abroad, are now continuing. What has changed since the birth of your son?JLB: Oh, everything! Becoming a mother has made me more humble. I have always tried to be humble, but motherhood has revealed new dimensions of humility to me. I now understand what real, unconditional love is. I feel that being a mother has given me great stability. My life has always been like a roller coaster. I never had a real home. As a child in Lagos, I lived on the streets. Later, I traveled between London, Paris, Zurich, and other places. Now, I have a fixed point and a new, much higher level of responsibility. I can go out and play my music, but I also have a place that I can call home. It's a place where someone is waiting for me, and I have to take care of them. I am extremely grateful for that. I know this feeling and stability will be reflected in my future music.Marco Piazzalonga, Jazz'n'moreThis article appeared in the November/December 2025 issue of Jazz'n'more.

Justina Lee Brown at Moods

03AprFri
- Justina Lee Brown
  Global SoundsAfrica
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