This interview is part of our month long collaboration with Gender Amplified, highlighting some of the dynamic members of their community. 

Tell us a little bit about what you do professionally, and who you are as a person.

I'm Brown Jewel, a music producer, educator, and mentor passionate about helping emerging talent—especially women—find their space in the industry. Outside of music, I love exploring new cities, tracking down the best food spots, and playing Spades daily—yes, Daily. I also enjoy diving into nonfiction books and listening to podcasts to learn, challenge myself, and gain new perspectives.

What’s a non-conventional phrasing to explain what you do? 

I take the flavors you love, flip the recipe, and serve up something that feels nostalgic but hits different.

Is there something that you read, watched, or listened to that changed your approach to your music?

During the pandemic, I was part of BattleAve’s Friday night Session In, where producers shared 3-minute sets of their work. Some flipped songs into fresh remixes using their own beats—something I hadn’t done before. Hearing those inspired me to reimagine my own tracks with artists I love and use them as a way to promote my sound.

What’s your advice for someone who wants to get into beatmaking, production, or DJing for the first time, and isn’t sure where to begin or how to get out there?

You don’t need the most expensive gear to make dope music or DJ. Grab free software like Serato Studio or Serato DJ, experiment with loops, and just go. The best way to learn is by doing. Also, find someone who’s already doing what you want to do and see if they’d be open to mentoring you.

What’s your advice for good musical collaborations?

Just be open—both to each other’s ideas and to learning from each other. It’s about playing off each other's strengths and building on what you both bring to the table.

What’s something happening in the music industry at large that makes you feel hopeful or inspired? 

I’m inspired by more artists shifting to a direct-to-consumer model, owning their work, and getting paid what they deserve. I also love seeing more women stepping into the spotlight in an industry that’s long been male-dominated—it’s overdue and impactful.

Who’s someone you admire? 

I admire my cousin Patrick Williams (Young Bezzel), who first got me into making beats and music production. His work ethic has always stuck with me—he’s the epitome of someone fully devoted to their craft, constantly improving his skills, self-awareness, and overall growth. I haven’t fully implemented that level of discipline yet, but his dedication continues to inspire me.

Who’s an artist you’re excited about right now?

I’ve been really feeling Sasha Keable lately. She has an incredible voice that’s so rich, and her lyrics always catch me. I also really like her vocal arrangements. I feel like her and producer Charlie Pitts have a dope sound together—her vocals mixed with the sound selection is refreshing to me.

Can you describe a project that was a big learning experience for you?

Being part of the Gender Amplified x Serato sound pack project shifted my perspective on collaboration. Since I don’t play instruments, I worried I’d slow the group down or wouldn’t contribute in a meaningful way. But working with Cam Dasher and Melissa Lyric showed me how different skill sets can complement each other—we worked seamlessly and created a solid batch of samples for the pack. That experience taught me to trust my strengths and embrace collaboration in new ways.

Keep up with Brown Jewel:

https://www.instagram.com/brownjewelmusic

https://brownjewel.bandcamp.com/

About Gender Amplified:

Founded in 2007 at Barnard College in New York City, Gender Amplified is a non-profit organization that aims to celebrate women and gender-expansive music producers, raise their visibility and develop a pipeline for them to build equity in the music industry.

The movement also connects passion for music with technical skills that can be used in a wide range of scientific and arts based fields, areas in which women are traditionally underrepresented.

Learn more here.