Meet AY Young

We recently connected with AY Young and have shared our conversation below.

AY, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Finding my purpose wasn’t like this big “aha” moment — it was more like a journey, step by step, concert by concert.

I started with just wanting to perform. Like, I wasn’t getting booked on the big stages, didn’t have a label, no agent… so I had to build my own stage. Literally. That’s how the Battery Tour started — I figured out how to power concerts with solar energy so I could perform anywhere. It was just out of necessity.

But then something clicked after a few hundred shows. I realized I was doing more than just music. I was in cities that didn’t have electricity — and I had power in my car from the batteries. That’s when I Googled and saw that over a billion people didn’t have access to energy. I was like, “Hold up… I’ve got power. I’m an outlet. I can use this to help people.”

That’s when my purpose hit me. I wasn’t just here to make music — I was here to plug in the world. To use my gift as a vehicle for change. That’s what the Battery Tour became: a clean-energy concert series that raises money to fund sustainable solutions for people in need — energy, food, water, you name it.

So yeah… my purpose found me through the grind. Through showing up every day with my passion, and letting it evolve into something bigger than me.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

So I’m AY Young — I’m a recording artist, producer, UN Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals, and the founder of something called the Battery Tour. It’s the world’s first and longest-running clean-energy powered concert tour — I’ve done over 960 concerts, all run on renewable energy, and we’re about to make history with 1,000 solar-powered shows and a literal Guinness World Record.

But it’s bigger than the music. The Battery Tour is what I call a music-for-impact company. Every concert raises funds to power real-world solutions — we’re talking clean energy kits, access to water, food, education. We take music and turn it into global impact.

Right now, we’re launching Project 17 — which I believe is going to be the most important and impactful music project of our time. I partnered with the United Nations to create one song for each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Each track has a purpose, a partner, and a mission tied to solving major global challenges — from ending poverty, to clean water access, to climate action, to quality education. I’ve already got songs featuring artists like Tech N9ne, Anushka Sen, and other major names coming onboard.

This isn’t just an album — it’s a blueprint. It’s a platform for storytelling, awareness, and direct action.

What’s special about all of this? It’s real. I’m not waiting on the industry or a sponsor or a gatekeeper. I’ve been grinding city to city, concert to concert, since 2012. I built the stage, powered it myself, and brought the show to the people. And now, it’s a movement. A global community of outlets — people using their gifts to power change.

So yeah, what I do is more than just music — it’s plugging in the world, one song, one concert, one solution at a time. And we’re just getting warmed up. 🔋⚡🌍

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, three things stand out that really shaped my journey: resilience, creativity, and authenticity.

1. Resilience
Man… there were so many no’s. I wasn’t signed, didn’t have a booking agent, and I couldn’t get on the big stages — so I made my own. I literally slept in my car while building the Battery Tour. That resilience — the mindset to keep showing up no matter what — is what got me here.

Advice: Build your bounce-back muscle. You’re gonna get doors slammed in your face, but that doesn’t mean your vision’s wrong — it just means the world isn’t ready yet. Keep moving.

2. Creativity
Not just in making music — but in solving problems. Like, I wanted to perform anywhere, so I figured out how to power a concert with solar energy and batteries. Creativity helped me find new lanes instead of waiting for permission.

Advice: Creativity isn’t just about art — it’s about how you think. Stay curious, stay experimental. And don’t be afraid to break the mold — that’s usually where the innovation lives.

3. Authenticity
From the start, I didn’t try to be someone else. I just made music about what I care about — people, purpose, the planet. I didn’t fake a persona or follow trends. That realness is what people connect with.

Advice: Be you. All the way. Because no one else can be. The most powerful brand you can build is the truth — your truth. Own it.

So if you’re just starting out — stay resilient, stay creative, and stay real. That’s how you build something that lasts. And remember: you are the outlet. Your passion is power. Use it.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Absolutely — I’m always looking to connect and collaborate with other outlets.

Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, educator, brand, or even just someone with a big heart and a bold idea — if you’re about creating impact and using your platform to help people and the planet, then let’s go.

We’ve built a global stage with the Battery Tour, and with Project 17, we’re creating a space where every song, every concert, every partnership drives real-world change. So we’re looking for:

Artists who want to use their music to stand for something bigger

Brands and businesses that care about sustainability and want to get plugged into purpose

Nonprofits and changemakers working on the ground that we can amplify

Tech innovators and solution-builders who need visibility and support

And honestly, just humans who want to make a difference

If you’re reading this and you’re thinking, “Yo, I want to be a part of something real,” then hit us up. You can connect through BatteryTour.com or DM me on Instagram or LinkedIn @AYMusik. We’re building a global community of outlets — and there’s room for you.

Let’s plug in and power the planet, together. 🌍🔌⚡

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