Photo credit - Elizabeth Lenthall
Kerry O’Brien, BEM, FRSA - artistically known as Indigo Reign - is a visionary creative, changemaker, and founder of the Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF), an award-winning UK charity that empowers young people through music, creativity, and outreach. Her flagship double-decker studio bus brings access to communities with little or no connection to the arts, acting as a lifeline at a time when youth clubs continue to close across the UK.
An influential figure in the UK’s underground music scene and one of the first prominent female MCs under the name Lady MC, Kerry helped carve space for women in jungle before evolving into Indigo Reign, a project that channels lived experience into lyrical truth while bridging culture, healing, and grassroots empowerment. Alongside YUAF, she has released music on major labels and hosts her own show on Rinse FM.
Through both her artistry and her activism, Kerry O’Brien has built a platform that confronts inequality, exclusion, and mental health stigma head-on, proving that creativity is not just an outlet, but a force for revolution.
What pushed you to move from pursuing your own career to founding YUAF back in 2009?
The truth is, I didn’t plan to start a charity, I kind of fell into it. As one of the few female MCs in jungle, I became a role model without realising it. MC Angel guided me into delivering workshops in schools, and little did I know it was my true calling.
Music had always been my lifeline, it gave me the feelings I never had at home or in school. When I saw myself reflected in the kids we worked with, it set me on my own healing journey. Honestly, for the first five years I didn’t fully see it, I was at the peak of my career and sometimes resented the sacrifice. But when your calling is your calling, you have no choice but to follow it.
Looking back, YUAF saved me as much as it’s saved others. And now, I’m balancing both, I’ve had major label releases this year, I host my own show on Rinse FM, and Im getting ready for a string of East African shows in the winter months.
With so many youth clubs closed, the YUAF bus has become a lifeline. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from taking creative spaces directly into communities?
That creativity saves lives. The bus isn’t just a studio on wheels, it’s a sanctuary. I’ve seen young people step on with anger, pain, or no sense of direction, and within an hour they’re smiling, writing bars, producing beats, and most importantly, being seen.
What I didn’t expect was how much I’d see myself in them. Their stories mirrored mine, growing up feeling different, misunderstood. I thought I was building this for them, but it was also healing me. The bus showed me that talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t. When you take the space to them, they flourish.
And honestly, they’ve taught me as much as I’ve taught them, resilience, patience, and the importance of staying connected to your truth.
You began your career in music as Indigo Reign, formerly Lady MC. How did those early experiences shape the way you navigate the industry today?
My start as Lady MC taught me resilience. I was stepping into a male-dominated jungle scene, often the only woman in the room, and I had to fight to be heard. Those years gave me thick skin, but they also gave me purpose, if I could carve space for myself, I could open doors for others.
Indigo Reign is the evolution of that. It’s not just about proving myself anymore, it’s about owning my craft, protecting my energy, and showing others, especially women and people of colour, that they can take up space unapologetically.
Networking can feel intimidating for young people. What’s your best advice for building real, lasting relationships in this industry?
Networking was never scary for me, being on stage from a young age gave me confidence to hold my space. But I know for others it can feel intimidating. What I’ve learned is that real relationships aren’t built on business cards, they’re built on energy and authenticity.
Don’t think, *what can I get?* Think, *what can I bring?* Sometimes it’s ideas, sometimes it’s support, sometimes it’s just good energy. That’s what people remember. And for women, especially in industries that test us, the most powerful thing you can do is show up as yourself with confidence and integrity.
You’ve worked with everyone from grassroots community groups to major artists. What qualities do you think make people stand out and get noticed?
Consistency, integrity, and self-belief. Talent gets you in the room, but character keeps you there.
I’ll be real, in my younger years I was rebellious, and it didn’t always serve me. Substances, late nights, pushing limits, it might feel like connection in the moment, but it doesn’t build respect. I wish I’d had a mentor to guide me through that, because being professional, looking after yourself, and knowing how to carry yourself is just as important as the art.
Once I became more conscious, I saw how much that changed how people experienced me and my music. That’s why I put so much into mentoring now, because when you pair talent with discipline and self-awareness, that’s when you truly stand out.
You meet a lot of young people with raw talent. What’s the first step you encourage them to take if they want to turn that spark into a career?
Raw talent is a spark, but to turn it into a career you need discipline and self-awareness. When I started as Lady MC, I thought hype alone would carry me. But without structure, you burn out fast.
The first step is knowing who you are and why you’re doing it, your ‘why’ carries you through the tough times. Then it’s about consistency: practising, learning, showing up even when no one’s watching. Talent opens the door, but professionalism and character keep you in the room.
I always tell them, discipline doesn’t kill your creativity, it protects it.
For someone starting out now, what’s the most realistic way to break into music or the creative industries without traditional connections?
When I was starting out as Lady MC, I didn’t really know anyone,. I didn’t come from the industry, so I built my own lane. I put myself out there on pirate radio, I kept showing up at raves, and eventually people couldn’t ignore me.
The blessing for this generation is you don’t need permission anymore. You can build your own audience on TikTok, YouTube, SoundCloud, whatever feels authentic. The key is consistency and showing up as yourself. Talent gets attention, but community and authenticity create longevity.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self about entering the music industry, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self: *trust your worth and protect your energy.* Back then, I was so focused on proving myself in a male-dominated scene that I ignored my intuition and let other people’s opinions weigh heavier than my own.
I’d remind her that her difference was her power. She didn’t need to fit in, her story and her voice were already enough. I’d tell her to pace herself, to care for her wellbeing as much as she cared for the music, because balance is what brings longevity.
And I’d tell her to never be afraid to ask for help. Mentorship and community are everything. You don’t have to carry it all alone.
Looking ahead, what kind of industry do you hope the next generation of young creatives will inherit, and how do we start building it now?
I want the next generation to inherit an industry that truly reflects the world we live in, diverse, fair, and full of opportunity for everyone, not just a chosen few. An industry where women and people of colour don’t have to fight twice as hard to be heard, where authenticity is valued more than numbers, and where creativity is nurtured instead of exploited.
To build that, we have to invest in grassroots talent and create spaces where young people can experiment, fail, and grow without fear. We need mentors who pass down not just skills but wisdom about how to thrive without losing yourself.
The YUAF bus is one glimpse of that future, taking creativity straight to communities that are often overlooked, and showing young people their voices matter.
My hope is that in the years ahead, young creatives aren’t trying to squeeze into an industry built on old rules that they’re building a new one. Inclusive, sustainable, and rooted in community. That’s the legacy I want to help create