Music and activism in harmony—Suzi Brown: songwriter, survivor, storyteller

Singer-songwriter Suzi Brown brings a rare blend of artistry, insight, and lived experience to her work at the intersection of music and social justice. Having grown up amid the political pulse of Washington - often on the House floor during her uncle’s tenure in Congress - Suzi developed an early awareness of power, policy, and the people often left unseen by it.

That awareness deepened abroad, where she witnessed firsthand the human toll of sex trafficking while working in Southeast Asia. During her time in Thailand, Suzi not only visited Pattaya - the global epicenter of sex tourism - where she used her musicianship as a bridge, playing her guitar in the heart of the Red-Light District to build trust and spark conversation, but also survived the Bloody Songkran coup, an experience that revealed the fragility of freedom and the resilience of community in times of upheaval.

Her fieldwork extended stateside, where she has interviewed members of U.S. police task forces to better understand how trafficking networks operate through the hotel and travel industries. In a world still reeling from revelations like the Epstein case and ongoing systemic failures to protect the vulnerable, her voice rings with urgency and authenticity.

Through her nationwide “Lit Lantern Tour,” named for the signal of refuge once used along the Underground Railroad, Suzi continues to merge music and advocacy. Performing and speaking at community centers, colleges, listening rooms, and faith-based spaces, she sheds light on the realities of modern-day slavery - its warning signs, its human cost, and its deep connection to privilege and power. Her hope is that every performance becomes a lantern in its own right: a small light that helps someone, somewhere, find their way to freedom.