Sierra Ryan
Sryan@queensledger.com
Harpist Brandee Younger performed at Flushing Town Hall on May 3, Younger has redefined the harp with her unique fusion of funk, jazz, and soul. In 2022 Younger made history as the first black woman nominated for a grammy for best instrumental composition. In that same year she was nominated for a NAACP Image award and later won the NAACP award for outstanding Jazz album for Brand New Life. In her latest album Brand New Life Younger cements the harp as a piece of pop culture as well as delivering a rich body of work.
Growing up listening to hip hop and R&B Younger wanted to combine her authentic love for these genres with her instrument. Younger’s inspirations are Detroit natives and harpists Dorthy Ashby and Alice Coltrane. At a young age Younger took up the harp and learned from a woman at her fathers job. “I started playing the harp probably around age eleven. There was a woman at my dads job who played as a hobbyist and my parents said oh our daughter’s musical should we bring her to your house. She mentioned to my parents if I get good I could probably get a scholarship” Younger says. Younger wasn’t sure she would be a musician until she graduated from college “I didn’t know I was gonna become a musician for real until after college. I thought I would end up in the music business like behind the scenes that was really my idea but yea I guess the cliche answer is I love music” Younger said.
Younger has worked with many recording artists including Pharoah Sanders, Christian Mcbride, Lauryn Hill, and John Legend. Younger has been selected to perform her original music for Quincy Jones and Steve McQueens’ soundtrack “America.”
Her original composition “Hortense” was featured in the Netflix concert-documentary “Beyonce: Homecoming” in 2019. As for future artist Younger would like to work with “If I had to pick someone alive now that I really want to work with that I have not been able to work with it would likely be Patti LaBelle” she said.
In addition to being a musician, Younger is also on the faculty at the New School, New York University and Steinhardt school. Teaching is rewarding to Younger as she can see the results each semester and year. As for balancing between being a musician and an artist it can be challenging at times “It is a lot to juggle my touring schedule with my teaching schedule but as long as I plan ahead it ends up working out but I have to plan ahead.”
As for new projects, Younger recently announced her new album called Gadabout season which explores the range of human emotions while having Joy prevail through.“This one is all instrumental and it’s actually a really super personal album. It really covers the whole gambit of emotion but I’m focusing on the happy parts. It covers all the emotions but it’s really sort of about joy along life’s journey. Sometimes life can take a dip but there is still some joy in those not so great moments” Younger said.
As for the concert itself it had a mix of Younger’s old content as well as new stuff from her new album Gadabout season as a sneak peak for fans. Gadabout season is out now and streaming on all platforms.
