Harpist Brandee Younger is a virtuoso performer whose genre-crossing style incorporates jazz, classical, soul, and funk traditions. Building upon the influence of artists like Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby, Younger garnered acclaim for albums like 2014's The Brandee Younger 4tet, Live at the Breeding Ground, 2016's Wax & Wane, and 2019's Soul Awakening. Along with tours as a member of drummer Makaya McCraven's band, she has contributed to a mix of projects by artists like Common, Jeremy Pelt, Alessia Cara, Drake, and more. She gained wider attention with her sixth album, 2021's Somewhere Different, which included "Beautiful Is Black," a track that made her the first Black woman to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition. Brand New Life arrived in 2023, with guest spots by Mumu Fresh and Meshell N'degeocello.