Interview w/Katey Brooks: a British rose in bloom
British singer/song-writer Katey Brooks melds her striking vocal abilities with fantastic stylistic sensibilities- her tracks are imbued with a beguiling mixture of the best elements of motown, gospel and folk. Whether it's the soulful vocals reminiscent of Florence Welch, Laura Marling and Duffy, the playful rythmn sections or the solid foundation of her evocative lyrics: something is bound to grab you.
Brooks' album I Fought Lovers was a great introduction to the artist's emotive style, however her latest album Revolute has raised her levels again. Brooks sounds more confident in her sound and delivery which makes the tracks able to grab your imagination and run with it further. Her new single 'All of Me' is a well crafted track that speaks to the overpowering and mystifying call of love, sincerity and passion flows throughout the soulful riffs. You can see the stunning official music video below.
I caught up with the talented songstress to find out more about the intriguing lady behind the music:
Interview:
1) What's your earliest powerful musical memory?
Being 18-months old, bouncing in my cot to Bruce Spingsteen’s Born in the USA. After that I’d say when I was five and I bought a record player for £2 at a car boot sale. I went home and blasted out the records that came with it. I had no idea who the artists were and still don’t, but I remember feeling completely alive listening to those records.
2) Which musicians or artists would you say have most inspired you creatively?
So many, but to name a few: Tracy Chapman, Joni Mitchell, Lauryn Hill, Otis Redding, Leonard Cohen, John Martyn, Van Morrison... More recently I feel inspired by Foy Vance, Bon Iver, The War On Drugs, Phosphorescent, Michael Kiwanuka, Florence Welsh. God there’s so much good music out there!
3) How would you say your approach to music has changed since your first album?
Wow, it’s changed massively. I’ve allowed the more soulful side of my voice and writing to come through. It was always desperate to get out, but for some reason I felt I had to pick a more folky lane back then. These days I don’t feel the need to pick a lane, I just write my songs, and then work to marry things up in the overall production. I think/hope I did that with my new album REVOLUTE. I also feel there’s a bit more power and conviction in the music which is most probably down to growing up and becoming more comfortable in my own skin.
Wow, it’s changed massively. I’ve allowed the more soulful side of my voice and writing to come through. It was always desperate to get out, but for some reason I felt I had to pick a more folky lane back then. These days I don’t feel the need to pick a lane, I just write my songs, and then work to marry things up in the overall production. I think/hope I did that with my new album REVOLUTE. I also feel there’s a bit more power and conviction in the music which is most probably down to growing up and becoming more comfortable in my own skin.
4) What's the best advice anyone has given to you?
You live within yourself every day for the whole of your life. If you’re going to enjoy it, you must be your own best friend.
You live within yourself every day for the whole of your life. If you’re going to enjoy it, you must be your own best friend.
5) You've spoken about how musicians can be like therapists and music can help us deal with pain or difficult emotions. Do you find music to be a meditative/healing space?
Absolutely. Making music both switches me off and plugs me in at the same time. I’m at my very best during those moments. My mind is quiet and I feel alive. If it’s a painful song I’m writing, I can literally feel the healing taking place. It’s catharsis. We all have to find it somewhere, and mine is through the medium of music.
Absolutely. Making music both switches me off and plugs me in at the same time. I’m at my very best during those moments. My mind is quiet and I feel alive. If it’s a painful song I’m writing, I can literally feel the healing taking place. It’s catharsis. We all have to find it somewhere, and mine is through the medium of music.
6) Do you have any weird writing habits or rituals?
None at all. Sorry! I wish I was more interesting like that, but I literally just pick up my guitar when the craving is upon me, and I start singing and playing. Sometimes I hear a song in my head while I’m out so I record something on my phone’s voice memo app. I sometimes forget about them and then go back to write the song months, and on occasion, years later. Either way, writing is generally pretty organic for me, unless I’m collaborating or commissioned to write something.
None at all. Sorry! I wish I was more interesting like that, but I literally just pick up my guitar when the craving is upon me, and I start singing and playing. Sometimes I hear a song in my head while I’m out so I record something on my phone’s voice memo app. I sometimes forget about them and then go back to write the song months, and on occasion, years later. Either way, writing is generally pretty organic for me, unless I’m collaborating or commissioned to write something.
7) Any crazy or funny moments from life on the road?
Many! Here’s a long one (I’ll try to condense but that’s not my strong suit!) A few years ago whilst touring solo in Canada I found myself without transport in the middle of nowhere. I had to get from Thunder Bay to Marathon (yup, real town names…) which were about 4 hours drive apart. I had no access to a hire car (long story) and no idea how I was going to get to Marathon because there was no public transport going there. So I’m sat in a Tim Hortons at the airport pondering my lack of options, until I decide to look up and go to the nearest truck stop. I catch a cab over to ‘Husky’s’ and walk into what felt like a scene out of a Taratino movie... I definitely didn’t feel like I belonged there! I ask the ladies serving coffee if they know of any truckers going in my direction, and they stare at me as if I have just asked them if I could eat their dog. They say no and to go bother someone else. Crestfallen and desperate I turn to the room and ask in my most mild mannered English voice “Um, sorry, but um, does anyone happen to be going east?” I get a similar reaction to the one I had received from the ladies serving coffee, only with the addition of humour and sneering. So as I sit down and order breakfast, resigning to the fact that I’d be missing my show and staying overnight in Thunder Bay, over shuffles two men wearing caps and warm smiles. I look up…
The men: “So you’re going to Marathon eh?”
Me: “Um, yes, well, I had hoped so!”
The men: “Well we’re a folk band touring Canada with Scott Woods, and we’re going right through Marathon, you can come with us”
Me: Exclamations of relief and gratitude…
Now I was expecting a little old van, but when I turned the corner to their bus, I gazed upon the biggest, most pimped out tour bus I’d ever seen (you can see it on my instagram), complete with lounge, large kitchen, pastries AND a dog… I was in heaven. We played songs to one another all the way, and exchanged tour stories. I couldn’t believe my luck. The best I had hoped for was a creepy old truck driver who may or may not kill me en route, so this was beyond my wildest expectations!
That’s gotta be one of my best ones, but there’s many more.
Many! Here’s a long one (I’ll try to condense but that’s not my strong suit!) A few years ago whilst touring solo in Canada I found myself without transport in the middle of nowhere. I had to get from Thunder Bay to Marathon (yup, real town names…) which were about 4 hours drive apart. I had no access to a hire car (long story) and no idea how I was going to get to Marathon because there was no public transport going there. So I’m sat in a Tim Hortons at the airport pondering my lack of options, until I decide to look up and go to the nearest truck stop. I catch a cab over to ‘Husky’s’ and walk into what felt like a scene out of a Taratino movie... I definitely didn’t feel like I belonged there! I ask the ladies serving coffee if they know of any truckers going in my direction, and they stare at me as if I have just asked them if I could eat their dog. They say no and to go bother someone else. Crestfallen and desperate I turn to the room and ask in my most mild mannered English voice “Um, sorry, but um, does anyone happen to be going east?” I get a similar reaction to the one I had received from the ladies serving coffee, only with the addition of humour and sneering. So as I sit down and order breakfast, resigning to the fact that I’d be missing my show and staying overnight in Thunder Bay, over shuffles two men wearing caps and warm smiles. I look up…
The men: “So you’re going to Marathon eh?”
Me: “Um, yes, well, I had hoped so!”
The men: “Well we’re a folk band touring Canada with Scott Woods, and we’re going right through Marathon, you can come with us”
Me: Exclamations of relief and gratitude…
Now I was expecting a little old van, but when I turned the corner to their bus, I gazed upon the biggest, most pimped out tour bus I’d ever seen (you can see it on my instagram), complete with lounge, large kitchen, pastries AND a dog… I was in heaven. We played songs to one another all the way, and exchanged tour stories. I couldn’t believe my luck. The best I had hoped for was a creepy old truck driver who may or may not kill me en route, so this was beyond my wildest expectations!
That’s gotta be one of my best ones, but there’s many more.
8) Who are you listening to right now? Recommend the readers some tunes!
At this very moment I’ve got Release Radar on Spotify playing and Bruce Springsteen is singing ‘Western Stars’ to me. Aside from Bruce: Foy Vance, Maggie Rogers, The War on Drugs, and Michael Kiwanuka. I always recommend ‘Song for Zula’ by Phosphorescent and ‘Strangest Thing’ by The War On Drugs. I think they’re both masterpieces in their own way.
At this very moment I’ve got Release Radar on Spotify playing and Bruce Springsteen is singing ‘Western Stars’ to me. Aside from Bruce: Foy Vance, Maggie Rogers, The War on Drugs, and Michael Kiwanuka. I always recommend ‘Song for Zula’ by Phosphorescent and ‘Strangest Thing’ by The War On Drugs. I think they’re both masterpieces in their own way.
9) What're you up to next? What should we be keeping an eye out for?
The next few months are all about sharing my new album REVOLUTE. We’ll be making more videos, touring, and heading to the States. I’m also getting into singing for television and film at the moment. My voice features on a big TV show next month...I can’t say much, but keep an ear out!
You can keep up to date with Katey by following her official Twitter, Facebook, Spotify and Youtube.
The next few months are all about sharing my new album REVOLUTE. We’ll be making more videos, touring, and heading to the States. I’m also getting into singing for television and film at the moment. My voice features on a big TV show next month...I can’t say much, but keep an ear out!
You can keep up to date with Katey by following her official Twitter, Facebook, Spotify and Youtube.
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