Dr. Danielle Brown, An ethnomusicologist and the founder of ‘My People Tell Stories,’ shed light on her passion for teaching and understanding her own culture, and how music forms a vital link between the people of the larger Caribbean region and their stories.
The conversation kicked off with Dr. Brown discussing her journey into ethnomusicology, which began during her undergraduate years. She was inspired by her mentor and a burning desire to learn more about her culture and the larger Caribbean region. Her passion for the subject led her to found ‘My People Tell Stories,’ a company dedicated to empowering people to narrate their own stories. Dr. Brown’s work is a testament to the power of music in encapsulating and expressing cultural narratives.
Dr. Brown and I examine the intersection of ethnomusicology and music journalism, a subject of immense relevance in the modern music landscape. She discussed the crucial role that music colleges play in popular music studies and emphasized the importance of having individuals from within the culture involved in both fields. The discussion highlighted the value of participant observation, a fundamental concept in ethnomusicology, and its relevance in understanding cultural narratives.
The conversation also dove into the challenges faced by academic researchers and the impact of technology on their work. Dr. Brown emphasized the importance of making academic research more accessible, suggesting that combining elements of academic research with memoirs could be a potential solution. She also touched on the pressures faced by academic researchers, which often inhibit them from bringing their research to the public. Despite these challenges, she remains optimistic about the potential of technology in reaching a wider audience.
In the realm of ethnomusicology, Dr. Brown stands as a beacon of knowledge and inspiration. Her deep understanding of the role of music in shaping cultural identities, coupled with her unwavering commitment to empowering individuals to narrate their own cultural stories, is truly admirable. This podcast episode serves as a call to action for all of us to discover, interpret, and share our cultural narratives in our own unique way. By doing so, we not only enrich our understanding of our own culture but also contribute to a more diverse and inclusive cultural landscape.
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