V V Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
V V Brown
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Brown performing in 2008 at the Bristol O2 Academy
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Vanessa Brown |
| Born | 24 October 1983 Northampton, Northamptonshire, England |
| Genres | Indie pop, dance-punk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, model, producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, guitar, percussion |
| Years active | 1998-present |
| Labels | Island Records Universal Republic Records Universal Music Group Capitol Records EMI |
Vanessa Brown (born on October 24, 1983), known as VV Brown, is a British singer, songwriter, and producer. She also works as a model. She is known for her unique indie pop music style.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Vanessa Brown was born in Northampton, England. She is the oldest of six children. Her mother is from Jamaica, and her father is from Puerto Rico.
She went to Overstone Park School, which her parents own. Later, she attended Kingsthorpe Upper School. She finished her high school exams earlier than most students.
Vanessa started playing the violin when she was young. At age nine, she switched to piano, singing, and trumpet. She became very good at the trumpet, playing in jazz bands until she was 21. Her favorite musicians when she was a child were jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald. She also loved hip-hop music. Her friends gave her the nickname "VV" because she was a good MC (rapper) in middle school.
Music Career
Early Music Deals (2002–2006)
When Vanessa was 18, she tried out for a concert. A music executive from London Records noticed her. She was offered a deal to help her develop her music. This deal ended after a year. Later, she signed with other record labels, Polydor in the UK and A&M Records in the US. She left both labels in 2006 after releasing one song and a special collection of songs called Back to the Music.
Travelling Like the Light (2007–2009)
VV Brown moved back to London and started performing in clubs. She was discovered again by a music executive named Darcus Beese. She then signed with Island Records. She spent time from 2007 to 2008 recording her first album, Travelling Like the Light.
Many of the songs on this album were inspired by her personal experiences. These included her popular songs Crying Blood, Leave!, Game Over, and Shark in the Water. Her song "Shark in the Water" became very popular. It sold over 1.5 million copies and earned "gold status" in the US and France.
New Albums and Changes (2011–2015)
In 2011, before her second album Lollipops & Politics was finished, she released a free collection of songs called The Playground.
She announced that the first song from Lollipops & Politics would be "Children." This song featured Chiddy from Chiddy Bang. It was released in America in September 2011. The album was planned for release in early 2012. However, she decided not to release it. She explained on Facebook that it "didn't feel right as an artist."
Instead, she released a new album called Samson & Delilah in September 2013. She recorded this album in London with Dave Okumu and Pierre-Marie Maulini. A song called 10 Ft. Tall, which was meant for the earlier album, was released separately. The music video for her song "Samson" came out in May 2013.
In July 2015, VV Brown announced her third album, Glitch. The first song from the album, "Shift," was released in August. Fans helped fund the album's release through a platform called Pledge Music. Glitch was released on September 25, 2015, as a digital download, and also on vinyl and CD.
Recent Work (2020–Present)
In 2020, VV Brown wrote her first children's book, Lily and the Magic Comb. She released it through her own company, Woke Kids Publishing. The book was praised and listed as one of the top children's books with strong Black characters by The Independent newspaper.
After a six-year break from music, VV Brown returned in 2023.
Touring and Performances
VV Brown performed many concerts in 2008. She was invited by Damon Albarn to join the Africa Express tour. She sang with Femi Kuti, who is the son of the famous musician Fela Kuti. She also toured with other artists like Ladyhawke and The Ting Tings. She performed at several music festivals, including Glastonbury Festival in 2009. At Glastonbury, she was the only new artist to perform on the main stage that year. She also performed with Grace Jones for Island Records' 50th anniversary concert.
In 2010, VV Brown opened shows for the Swedish band Little Dragon in the US. She also opened for Pink during her Carnival Tour in the UK. She supported Maroon 5 on their tour in North America. She performed at the SXSW festival in Texas and with rapper Q-Tip. She has also toured with The Script and Ida Maria. She has worked with many other artists, including Annie Lennox and Paloma Faith.
Fashion and Style
In 2008, VV Brown participated in a charity fashion show hosted by Naomi Campbell. She walked the runway with famous models like Tyson Beckford. The next year, she modeled and performed at the Ashish fashion show for London Fashion Week.
Brown has appeared in advertisements for Marks & Spencer. She has also been featured in many international magazines. These include i-D, Vogue, Paper, LOVE, Elle, and Cosmopolitan.
In 2012, she started an online clothing store called VVVintage, but it is no longer active.
Charity Work
VV Brown has supported many charities. These include the Teenage Cancer Trust, Oxfam, and the NSPCC. She has also supported causes like helping to reduce poverty in Africa and promoting fair trade. She made a video for Global Cool, an organization that promotes environmental awareness. Brown has also been involved in Rockcorps shows. These events allow teenagers to volunteer in their community to earn a ticket to a concert. She participated in Rockcorps shows in London and Paris.
Television Appearances
In November 2010, VV Brown was featured on the MTV show World of Jenks. This show followed her as she tried to become famous in the US music scene. Her music has also been used in several American TV shows and movies. These include CSI, ... and The City, Ugly Betty, The Back Up Plan, and ... Vampire Killers.
VV Brown first appeared on UK television on Later...with Jools Holland in 2008. She also appeared on other shows like The Alan Carr Show and GMTV. Her first French TV appearance was on Taratata in 2009. This led to her album reaching number 1 on the digital charts in France. She also appeared on other French TV shows like Le Grand Journal.
Her first American TV appearance was on The Rachael Ray Show. This led to her performing on other shows, including The Late Show with David Letterman and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In 2010, Brown performed on the BET show Black Girls Rock!. She performed alongside artists like Keyshia Cole and Mary J. Blige. Brown said she felt it was a great chance to be positive about Black women in music and the Black community.
In February 2011, VV Brown's song "Travelling Like the Light" was used in a new BT advert in the UK. It was also used for two years in a car advertisement on Canadian television. Her song "L.O.V.E." was used in commercials for Hellmann's Mayonnaise in the United States.
In October 2013, Brown appeared on Later... with Jools Holland again. She performed "Faith" and "The Apple" from her album Samson & Delilah. She also sang a duet with Jools Holland, performing a version of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by the Eurythmics.
Discography
- Travelling Like the Light (2009)
- Samson & Delilah (2013)
- Glitch (2015)
- Am I British Yet? (2023)
