“Every song has been me working through it in real time,” Will Brown speaks openly about dealing with different forms of self-doubt. Today, Brown officially extends a public invitation to the world of Brownsville, a place for a mental reset, understanding, and no need for explanations. In Brownville, anyone’s welcome: people feeling lost, looking for their path, or in the process of healing; anyone who needs a minute to pause and look within.
Born in Kansas, Will Brown moved to London to figure himself out musically, and if his new EP Welcome To Brownsville is any evidence, the mission is complete. The 7-track soulful odyssey arrives as Brown’s translation of his emotional escape, injected with newfound honesty and soul-stirring gospel, “it’s like pieces of me at different stages, all living in one place,” Brown tells Noctis.
Welcome To Brownsville finds Will Brown more intentional, grounded in self-awareness and compassion. The standout track, ‘Scars and Glory,’ lands with an energetic confessional, owning one’s flaws fuelled by his empowered, impressive vocals. Bornw encourages you to understand your shortcomings as something that can shape you rather than hinder you. You can read the full interview below.
What are your current most played songs right now?
Right now, it’s Sombr 12 to 12’, ‘FourFiveSeconds’ by Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney. ‘Northern Attitude’ by Noah Kahan and Hozier too. Been running the Cowboy Carter album from Beyoncé as well. And yeah, I’ve been listening to my own stuff, ‘Golden’ and ‘Scars and Glory,’ just checking in with what I’ve been saying.
What is the main focus of your day-to- day?
Right now it’s just getting ready. Everything is about being prepared for what’s coming. Training, vocals, rehearsals, tightening the set, learning new bits. But more than all of that, it’s mental. Staying grounded. Making sure I’m clear on what I’m actually here to give people, not just ticking boxes.
What role did music play in your childhood?
Music was just part of life for me. I grew up in a house where singing was normal, that’s how we connected. It wasn’t about trying to be perfect, it was about feeling something and letting that come through. That’s where I learned harmonies, storytelling, all of that. It taught me how to be honest with my voice from early.
How did you deal with self-doubt when deciding to commit to a career of an artist?
I’m still dealing with it if I’m real. It just shows up different now. A lot of it comes from comparison, feeling like you’re behind or not enough. And then there’s that voice in your head that acts like it’s protecting you but really it’s just holding you back. For me, the music helped me face that. Every song has been me working through it in real time.
What made you want to move to London all the way from Kansas?
At first it was just the accent, I can’t lie. But then I started really getting into the music coming out of the UK and it hit different. When I heard Sam Smith, that was the moment. I was like yeah… I need to be there. It felt like somewhere I could actually figure myself out musically.
How quickly did you find your ground here?
The first time I came to London, it felt like home straight away. But actually building something here took time. I’m not naturally the type to just walk into rooms and network, so I had to push through that. Meeting Martin Tohar at B Unique was big for me. He really believed in me early and helped me get into the right spaces. From there I just kept building.
How has living in London change you or shape you as a person and as a musician?
London has made me open up more, be more intentional with what I’m doing. Being around so many different sounds and people pushes you without you even realising it. It also made me more honest. I stopped trying to fit into something and just started standing in who I am.
Could you talk us through some pivotal moments that brought you here today and to the artist you are now?
One big moment was writing ‘I Found You.’ That was when it really hit me that the person I’d been searching for was me. A version of myself I’d lost somewhere along the way. That changed everything. Then ‘Golden’ came from a place of just trusting my gut fully. No second guessing, no overthinking. Just going with what felt right. Those moments shaped how I move now.
How did the first signs and conversations of Welcome To Brownsville look like?
BrownsVille started back in 2008. I needed somewhere to go in my head, somewhere to escape everything, and it became that space for me. Over time it turned into something bigger. Now it’s a whole world. The EP is what that space sounds like, what it feels like. It’s somewhere people can go when they need it.
Could you describe to us how the world of Welcome To Brownsville would look like as a physical space?
Brownsville would feel like somewhere you go when life hits you and you need a moment. Not to run, but to reset. It’s not loud, it’s not chaotic, it’s calm but heavy in a good way. Like it understands you without you having to explain yourself. You will see people there at different stages, some healing, some lost, some finding their way again. And the thing about it is, no one’s judging you, it’s a place where you don’t leave the same way you arrived.
What parts of you did you inject into the project?
I think I injected my honesty into it more than anything. The parts I can’t always say out loud. A lot of it comes from moments where I felt like I had lost myself or didn’t feel enough, and the journey of working through that. Brownsville holds all of that. It’s like pieces of me at different stages, all living in one place.
What inspired you to write over the emotional concept behind your new single ‘Scars and Glory’?
It came from a real situation where someone used my insecurities against me, things I already knew about myself and was working on. At first it hit me, I’m not even gonna lie. But over time I saw it differently. Those things people call flaws, they’re actually shaping you. That’s what the song is really about.
At what point in you life did you realise you can turn your scars into armour?
It was in that same moment. When I saw someone try to use those parts of me against me, I realised they only have power if I let them. That’s when it clicked. That stuff didn’t break me, it built me.
Would you say it is thanks to music you are able to express your more vulnerable side?
Yeah, for sure. Music is like therapy for me. It’s a space where I can say things I probably wouldn’t just say out loud like that. And it’s not just for me, it’s for whoever’s listening. If someone hears it and feels seen or understood, that’s everything.
Could you tease any live shows and performances you have coming up this year?
Yeah, I’ve got some exciting things coming. I’ll be supporting Jools Holland on a few tour dates this summer, which is big for me. And then I’ve got my own shows where I’m really bringing BrownsVille to life properly on stage.
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Words: Karolina Kramplova