We were lucky to catch up with Yvette Mary barwood brook recently and have shared our conversation below.

Yvette, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

As Yve Mary B, a songwriter, I hope to build a lasting musical legacy that touches people’s lives through my songs and music. My goal is to be to create meaningful and memorable music that resonates with people, evokes emotions, and leaves a lasting positive impact.

I hope that people will remember me as a friendly innovative & intuitive songwriter who had a shared voice in understanding human existence. Id hope my songs may be seen as thought-provoking, relatable, and able to connect with people on a personal level. And For people to appreciate my ability to craft melody landscapes and lyrics that capture the essence of various experiences and ranges of emotion.

I also hope to be remembered for the positive influence my music had/s on others. Perhaps inspire people to overcome challenges, find solace in difficult times and embrace their reason for being. I have used and continually utilise the music and arts fields as a platform to address important issues, advocate for growth and spread messages of love, unity, and a common thread.

Ultimately, I hope to leave behind a musical legacy that transcends time and continues to inspire and uplift future generations. I hope that people will listen to my songs and feel a connection to my artistry, finding comfort, inspiration, and joy in my music long after I am gone.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was 8 when I wrote my first song. It was a dance rap! I was performing cover songs with my cousins at various places locally and entering music competitions. We were for a short time called Cameo. I continued recording music on cassette player throughout my teens and then hit college started a Performing Arts course, singing and playing in various get ups and attending short courses in Recording techniques and sitting in with the music department classes whenever I could, writing diaries of lyrics and words (most of which I burnt WOW). At this time I had joined The Like `Minded band, a rather pop/funk/reggae indie rock set up where we worked on new music together. Forwarding on to Newcastle, attending Music Theatre school I was again continually recording self penned songs on whatever I had in-front of me whilst attending short courses in Recording Techniques and Audio Technology. Then onto Uni for a year, learning some extra music guitar technique at home whilst brushing up on music business and music theory studies (that never truly stuck eek). Then for four years there was an interim of recording at home, joining another home made local band, whilst auditioning for other bands and music endeavours from Jazz Funk to Rock, then having a cool summer camp stint creating music with a bunch of great folks for a Dance project that we performed in London at The Royal Festival Hall. I then went and moved to London 2005 to attend London Music School whereby We played and learnt a lot live, great fun! Then joined forces with another LMS student to become a folk rock (now it would be named Americana) duo/trio/band and do the whole London circuit, living and breathing music, finding every open jam/mic night we could, travelling all over to various rehearsal studios, auditioning other musicians, recording music releasing an EP etc and booking small gigs here and there. Then travelling overseas, visiting with family, going to see live music and playing live venues wherever possible. Then carried that on again whilst between homes. Then 2011/12 moved on to finding new musicians, this time Americana style. Found a new music hub home in Norwich of which I am forever grateful for. Then as synchronicity would have it met the Morgan brothers and need up being a member of The Sharps that then formally changed its name to Morganway. Had a great five years being in a consistent hard working indie rock Americana band. I then left Morganway and got into a groove with two lovely ladies and we formed Rosalies Lover a fun folk trio.
At the same time was asked to sing BVs on a Vagaband album an feature on a song which then turned into a video being made for it and eventually ended up becoming a band member of The Vagaband a Roots Rock Americana with Celtic folk elements sound. I then moved across the Atlantic to live in Alabama with my now husband and am sitting on some transatlantic projects slowly coming into fruition between here, Europe and England, whilst waiting to be able to work again!
The Vagaband just released their fourth Album Beautiful World of which you can stream and download and buy a CD Now! via The Vagaband website https://thevagaband.co.uk And You can go to my website for more of my music https://yvemaryb.info or https://yvemaryb.bandcamp.com
Some material is not yet released and my Indie music roots are itching to develop that! to make it available!

I am most proud of my consistency in composing & writing, writing and working with others and my passion to collaborate and always seeking ways to better my craft in business and learning to understand my weaknesses as tools to utilise and grow from, travelling many inconsistent roads of music yet never giving up the life to be musical. My Band projects and recording sessions are something I cherish past and present. From The Like Minded, Barefoot For Native, The Sharps to Morganway, The Vagaband, and what is to come with new transatlantic projects on the go. And something that is ever present with me is Sign Language and hoping to somehow be active in bringing access of one of the most important universal languages we have, to songwriter venues globally.

I want you to know my music is accessible and I hope, that you will find me and we can explore the journey together and share the love of music, I hope it may bring some meaning and joy into your life, I don’t bite! I love being there at live venues with you making music come alive!
Travel the raw journey with me :0)

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Always learning from and with others.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

To write great music and have it shared to help people feel alive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yvemaryb.info
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/yvemaryb,music
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/yvemarybmusic
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@yvemarybmusic
• Other: https://yvemaryb.bandcamp.com where you can subscribe as a VIP!

Image Credits
Richard Shashamane, Jim Barrett, Gordon Woolcock