Brandee Younger on Carving Her Own Sound, Healing Through Music, & Showing Up for Joy
About the Episode
In this soulful episode, harpist and 2025 Doris Duke Artist Award recipient Brandee Younger opens up about her journey through music, identity, and self-discovery. From blending classical roots with contemporary sound to creating her latest album Gadabout Season, Brandee reflects on joy, healing, and what it means to live authentically - even in spaces where you're told you don’t belong.
Key Takeways
Recognition That Supports the Whole Artist: Receiving the Doris Duke Artist Award brought Brandee a deep sense of relief - not just financially, but emotionally. The award’s retirement match structure, focused on long-term artist sustainability, gave her peace of mind about her future.
Gadabout Season: Born from Stillness and Struggle: After a challenging year, Brandee went on retreat with few expectations. What emerged was Gadabout Season, a raw and resonant album centered on self-healing. The recording process was kept intentionally intimate to maintain emotional depth and authenticity.
Joy, Even When It’s Heavy: While "Gadabout Season" originally referred to lighthearted touring moments - like enjoying local eats - it evolved into something deeper: choosing joy even amid societal and emotional heaviness. It’s about showing up for beauty, even when it feels inconvenient.
Bridging Musical Worlds: As a young Black girl in classical music, Brandee felt isolated. Her mother encouraged her to play familiar songs, helping her connect to audiences and rediscover her voice. She now blends classical and contemporary music unapologetically, owning her sound.
From Double Life to Wholeness: For years, Brandee kept her classical and non-classical careers separate - due to stigma in the harp community. But merging those worlds brought both peace and growth, reminding her (and others) that true success comes from integration and truth.
Representation and Responsibility: A powerful moment with a fellow Black woman reminded Brandee of the impact of simply being herself. She sees more young women showing up in her audiences and feels called to nurture that next generation through visibility and mentorship.
Unleashing Her Inner Queen: For Brandee, queendom is about living fully as yourself. She urges young women to follow their path - even if it’s unconventional - and to embrace joy now, not later. Fulfillment doesn’t have to wait for retirement.
