Teenager up for Song of the Year at The John Lennon Songwriter Contest
17 year old Brodie Brown from Stirling goes head-to-head for ‘Song of the Year’ at The John Lennon Songwriter Awards despite life-long physical and mental health battles.
Article Source: Alex Karol
Last Updated: 6 April 2024 15:07
ABOUT BRODIE BROWN:
Brodie Brown’s debut single ‘Monsters’ won the prestigious Grand Prize for ‘Best Rock Song’ in the John Lennon Songwriting Awards in 2023 and is now in the running for ‘Song of the Year’, despite fighting for his life during a psychotic break only one year ago.
The 17 year old from Stirling, Scotland was born with a rare condition called Lymphangioma/Cystic Hygroma, which saw him need over 70 operations on his throat from the moment he was born, throughout his childhood and into his teens.
Spending much of his childhood at Great Ormond Street Hospital, literally fighting to breathe, his family moved down to Kent to be closer and Brodie was unable to attend school. This took an understandable toll on Brodie’s mental health causing a traumatic mental breakdown at the age of just 14 and resulted in being sectioned in a mental hospital.
As Brodie spent his 15th birthday within the facility struggling to cope, famed Glaswegian indie band, The Fratellis (Brodie’s childhood musician heroes), heard about his plight and sent him a bass guitar - now he had a reason to keep fighting.
Brodie had never played an instrument before, but a passion for music soon came as he unveiled it to be a way to express himself - a previously impossible task with just words before.
Brodie’s musical sound twists from Nigerian gospel to punk rock having commissioned gospel and jazz musicians through social media. Brodie’s songs are a rally-cry against the failing kids mental health system and his personal struggles with audible, visual and tactile psychosis.
On being considered for ‘Song of the Year’ at The John Lennon Songwriting Awards, Brodie says -
“I can’t believe it. I just wanted people to know they’re not alone as most of my friends didn’t make it. I’m just lucky to have found my reason.”
Now - despite Brodie’s daily challenges he has been offered a place at WaterBear College of Music to do a degree in songwriting – without having any traditional school qualifications at all.
Founder of the WaterBear College of Music, Bruce Dickenson, says -
“When we heard his music, we knew we had to help, even though he didn’t meet the entry requirements. WaterBear exists to find and nurture raw talent so we worked with our partners at Falmouth University to formally recognise Brodie’s real-world musical achievements, and I am so pleased that we could offer a place on the degree due to the sheer quality of his musical output. This was so important to me, as I too left formal education with very few qualifications having spent my youth in van touring, and I was later able to get myself onto a degree course in the same way as Brodie. Music can change our lives and I see that everyday. Well done Brodie. Where you tread others will follow.”
Since writing ‘Monsters’, Brodie has written and recorded over a dozen more songs and released his debut EP, ‘Just Another Day in Paradise’, available to listen on Spotify - Brodie Brown | Spotify. ‘It’s Never Enough’ also won the ‘Best Break-Up Song’ category at The John Lennon Songwriting Competition.
ABOUT THE JOHN LENNON SONGWRITING CONTEST:
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international songwriting contest that began in 1997 to give songwriters an opportunity to express themselves, and get their music heard. The JLSC is made possible by Yoko Ono Lennon with judges including Flea from The Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
Proceeds from the contest help support the non-profit John Lennon Educational Tour Bus mobile recording studio which is dedicated to providing young people with opportunities to create original music and digital media.
Voting for The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is open now until 30 May 2024. Please vote here: jlsc.com/vote
Sponsored Links
Latest Stirling News
Culture Night Stirling 2026 announced
Stirling Council and local partners are delighted to announce a new annual celebration of culture, which will see the area come alive at night with an exciting range of events and activities.
READ MORE
IRN BRU proposes Kelpies mythical makeover to honour our national animal
IRN-BRU thinks it’s time for Scotland’s unicorns to finally toot their own horn - by giving one of the country’s most iconic sculptures a magical makeover.
READ MORE
Rory McIlroy Confirmed for Genesis Scottish Open
Newly-crowned Masters Tournament champion Rory McIlroy is set to compete for a second Genesis Scottish Open title!
READ MORE
Major milestone reached in new flood defence scheme for Bridge of Allan
A new £16 million flood prevention scheme for Bridge of Allan has taken a significant step forward following approval to procure a contract to design and build the defences.
READ MORE
Holding Back The Years: 40 Years of Simply Red in cinemas May 15
To celebrate 40 years of legendary music, Simply Red are releasing their concert film 'Holding Back the Years: 40 Years of Simply Red, Live in Santiago' on the big screen.
READ MORE
This May bank holiday weekend sees 3 day festival take over Ayr Beach and the sun is set to shine!
Pavilion Festival 2025: From Big Top, live music to secret gigs - here's what to expect!
READ MORE
Fun for all the family at the 36th annual Scottish Game Fair
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair is back for its 36th year at Scone Palace, taking place 4th - 6th July 2025.
READ MORE
Free Glorious Grass gardening workshop for children at Dobbies
Dobbies Garden Centres are welcoming children across the UK to join in on the fun this May to uncover all there is to know about grass at its free Little Seedlings Club workshop.
READ MORE
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain for 2025 is named
Stirling Highland Games have announcement that former Scotland Women’s rugby internationalist Lyndsay O'Donnell has been appointed as their honorary chieftain for 2025.
READ MORE
Market set to bring flavours and crafts from around the world to Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond Shores is hosting a continental market on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of May!
READ MORE
Landmark active travel project in Stirling officially opens
A ground-breaking active travel network that will transform how people get around Stirling and the wider region has officially opened.
READ MORE
New Bluey collection comes to cinemas for the May Bank Holiday
Bluey at the Cinema: Let's Play Chef Collection will be playing in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from Saturday 3rd May, just in time for the Early May Bank Holiday weekend.
READ MORE
New and exclusive Heritage Planting and Afternoon Tea experience comes to Dobbies
Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a new hands-on planting and afternoon tea experience inspired by the RHS Chelsea Garden Show and Dobbies' 160-year heritage.
READ MORE
Stories of inspiring young women sought by charity
The Young Women’s Movement, Scotland’s national organisation for young women and girls’ leadership and rights, is seeking nominations for its tenth annual 30 Under 30 list.
READ MORE
The Scottish Wild Food Festival returns from 17th to 18th May
From Forest Floor to Firepit: Scotland’s Wild Food Festival Returns with a Focus on Responsible Foraging, Boozy Botany and Coastal Flavours.
READ MORE
Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns next weekend with a supersized celebration
Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th April for its biggest event yet with an extended site and more vendors than ever before!
READ MORE
Trusts join forces to explore complexities of the Battle of Culloden
The National Trust for Scotland and the National Trust have teamed up to give an insight into the complexity of the Battle of Culloden in a pair of podcasts this April.
READ MORE
Love Your Lawn with Dobbies
Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a very special FREE Grow How event in stores across the UK this May in partnership with Alzheimer's Research UK to mark Dementia Action Week.
READ MORE
Exclusive child planting event in honour of National Childrens Gardening Week
Dobbies Garden Centres are celebrating National Children's Gardening Week by welcoming families along to its Children's Planting and Afternoon Tea experience on Saturday 31st May.
READ MORE
BBC Introducing comes to TRNSMT Festival, bringing 20 rising stars
Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT has announced the BBC Introducing Stage, previously River Stage, will showcase 20 of the most exciting emerging artists in the country.
READ MORE
The hoppiest time of the year at the National Trust For Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland is hopping into spring as it hosts 40 Easter egg trails at the special places in its care in April!
READ MORE
Stirling caps off 900th anniversary celebrations with dramatic Castle parade
Thousands of people braved the elements to line the streets of Stirling to get a glimpse of one of the largest pipe band parades ever seen in the city to close the 900th anniversary celebrations.
READ MORE
Top comedian and Scottish brewer team up in search of best Scottish banter for upcoming book
Innis & Gunn joins forces with top Scottish comedian Marc Jennings to find Scotland's funniest pub stories for 'The Book of Pub Banter & Confessions'.
READ MORE
Young Stirling musicians excited to be at the forefront of Stirling 900 gala parade
Young people in the Stirling and District Schools Pipe Band are excited and honoured to be among the bands at the front of the spectacular Stirling 900 finale parade on Saturday 29th March.
READ MORE
Spring into gardening: Dobbies free April workshops
Garden Centre invites gardeners to get hands-on with wildflowers and springtime celebrations.
READ MORE
JADE and Myles Smith join TRNSMT 2025 lineup
Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT has revealed five new artists to the Glasgow Green billing, including two of the hottest UK acts right now, JADE and Myles Smith!
READ MORE
Doors to historic sites across Scotland set to open next month
More than 30 historic seasonal sites across the country will reopen to visitors from Tuesday 1st April, as Historic Environment Scotland marks the start of its spring/summer season.
READ MORE
Theatrical screenings take centre stage at Vue this spring
To coincide with World Theatre Day this Thursday (27 March), Vue venues in Scotland are bringing a selection of British productions to the big screen this spring.
READ MORE
Brave P7 pupil hailed by school and charity
An inspirational pupil at St Margaret’s PS in Cowie has been hailed for his bravery in battling a rare lifelong condition by a primary school and a charity.
READ MORE
Scottish youth hostelling charity launches initiative reviving funded breaks for disadvantaged young people and families
An organisation that runs youth hostels across Scotland is launching an initiative to provide free stays for disadvantaged young people and families.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links