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
THE highly anticipated team-up of Deadpool & Wolverine is finally arriving at screens across the UK and Ireland this weekend at Vue Cinemas.
READ MOREEdinburgh’s award-winning Cold Town Brewery has launched a nationwide search to appoint an honorary chief taster to help develop its new summer beer range.
READ MOREJoin a very special session on Zoom as The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) celebrates The Gruffalo's 25th birthday, in partnership with Macmillan Children's Books!
READ MORECharity appeals for Footpath Fund donations as countryside visitors increase by 16 percent in first half of the year.
READ MOREMusic lovers have a lot to celebrate this summer at Vue, with three exciting titles hitting the big screen – including BLACKPINK’s latest concert film.
READ MOREGo Forth Stirling, the city’s BID (Business Improvement District), is hosting a Mini-Olympics with fun and games for all the family in the pedestrianised section of Port Street.
READ MOREIn the halls of Bannockburn House a team of dedicated volunteers have uncovered a rare and fascinating piece of history that could have altered the story of the nation.
READ MOREMacrobert Arts Centre is delighted to announce the return of the annual Christmas Appeal, which provides local disadvantaged families and young people with tickets to Macrobert’s pantomime.
READ MOREIn response to Scotlands gloomy and grey summer weather, Aldi Scotland has launched a nationwide hunt for the country’s Ultimate BBQ Ambassador.
READ MOREThe landscape photography competition will run until October with three prizes up for grabs!
READ MORETrust in the Park has teamed up with renowned round-the-world cyclist and filmmaker Markus Stitz to showcase Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park’s accessible routes this summer.
READ MOREOn 22 August, the team at Impact Arts will raise a glass to three decades of life-changing work, as Scotland's leading creative engagement charity prepares to mark its 30th anniversary.
READ MOREA series of blooming planters are adding a welcome splash of colour across Stirling city centre this summer.
READ MOREDobbies is celebrating National Allotment Week by inviting gardening enthusiasts across the country to a series of free Grow How workshops throughout the month, focusing on allotment gardening.
READ MORENeurodiversity charity Salvesen Mindroom Centre collaborates with local creative organisations to create opportunities and support the transition to life beyond school.
READ MORESituated in the heart of the historic region is the iconic Crieff Hydro Hotel, which has announced a host of exciting summer activities for the whole family to get involved in.
READ MOREAn incredible eight businesses and individuals in the Stirling area are in the running for the prestigious Scottish Thistle Awards.
READ MOREArtists and creatives in the Stirling area are being invited to put their ideas forward to design trophies for the prestigious Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.
READ MORERenfrew's Robertson Park will host Scotland's top piping talent once again as the Renfrew Pipe Band Competition returns to the town on Saturday 20th July.
READ MOREVisitScotland has analysed over 11,500 books on the Goodreads database to reveal readers’ top-rated books set in Scotland and the regions most frequently depicted in literature.
READ MOREScotland's biggest live music event has been confirmed to go ahead next year, and fans can get their hands on early bird tickets this week.
READ MOREAction Glen Adventure Park, located at Crieff Hydro Hotel in Perthshire will welcome a trio of robotic-dinos on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July.
READ MORECommunity groups in Scotland to be awarded grants ranging from £10,000 to £25,000.
READ MOREBe Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) is thrilled to announce that nominations are now open for the third BIH Spotlight Awards.
READ MOREOn the first day of the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open in North Berwick, young golfers from across Scotland received a surprise visit from the tournament’s official championship trophy.
READ MOREBorders stately home Floors Castle is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its Inflatable Insanity giant obstacle course this summer!
READ MORESleeping Warrior Theatre Company are delighted to bring their latest musical extravaganza, To Save The Sea, to Scottish stages this autumn.
READ MOREScotland's national music prize, The Scottish Album of the Year Award, has launched, inviting artists, music fans and labels to submit eligible albums and be in the running for the prestigious prize.
READ MOREThe inaugural Summer Sessions at Stirling City Park have won widespread praise after thousands of music fans attended a series of headline concerts in the shadow of Stirling Castle.
READ MOREDobbies is inviting children aged 4-10 to a free and interactive Little Seedlings workshop on Sunday 4th August, that includes a dedicated gardening Show and Tell.
READ MORE