THE Sunday National spoke with Scottish artist Brooke Combe on the 10 things that changed her life.
Her debut album, Dancing At The Edge of the World will be released on January 31, 2025 and tickets for her upcoming shows are available HERE.
1. Singing in school
I WAS about 17 and was singing alone in a rehearsal room. I turned around and my music teacher was listening.
From that moment on was when I started to sing properly. If she wasn’t there at that exact time and I wasn’t singing, I don’t know what I’d be doing.
She encouraged me to pursue it so I studied music at school and I ended up doing a university course. If I hadn’t had her, I wouldn’t have done any of this.
2. Being a dog mum
IT'S always been the family dog. But when I’m not touring and stuff, this is my downtime – I spend it with the dog.
If I didn’t have that, I’d be at my wits' end. Dog-walking has given me so much appreciation for nature and landscapes so now that’s where I feel at my calmest.
I’m very grateful for the dogs in my life. I had my first when I was about five years old and have had dogs in my life ever since.
3. Having a big brother
ALTHOUGH I’ve not had any other option, he has changed my life. He is probably why I’m so ‘tomboyish’. I love sports, I loved playing the PlayStation and Fifa and Call Of Duty.
I took part in mixed martial arts and whatnot because I basically just wanted to be him and to bond or connect over something. So I would always do what he did.
A lot of my personality today is still that so I’m very grateful for him. I’ve always been torn between sports or music but I think music is my thing because not really anybody in my family does that.
They’re all into music but when it comes to playing, that’s just me really.
4. Signing with a major label
DOING this and coming out the other end of it massively changed my life. Obviously, if you’ve never been through it, you don’t know what to expect. Even if you know somebody, your experience will be different.
I’m somebody that just says yes to something until I know it doesn’t feel right. At first, I had my apprehensions about being with a major label but was excited as you should be.
At the same time, I had a realistic take that they sign artists left, right and centre and drop them just as quickly.
But the turning point was when I was going to all these different songwriting sessions and was gaining a lot but as far as my actual career was going, they weren’t songs I could see myself singing.
That was the point I went: "This isn’t for me". I had a conversation about wanting to be closer to my heritage, being perceived as mixed-race and not just a white indie artist, and get into my soul and funk.
The label just wasn't having it, really. But it was good for me because coming out the other end, my album wrote itself after that. It freed up a lot of space in my mind and I wouldn’t have this album coming out if it wasn’t for this whole experience.
5. Passing my driving test
WHERE I’m from (Dalkeith), there’s a lot of space. And when we were in lockdown, all I did was drive to these little secluded places again to be with nature.
But ultimately, driving led me to Liverpool, which was a whole fresh start for me. I honestly believe if I didn’t drive or have those moments in the car, would I have ended up where I am?
I live in my car, honestly. I can’t explain to you how many hours I’ve spent in that car. It’s an Audi Q2, it’s a second home. It’s called Pablo.
6. Football
I really took to football and played as a goalkeeper. I lived and breathed football as an adolescent.
However, the pinnacle moment came when a ball came into the box and just totally crushed my right thumb. I had to get surgery and never played football again.
It’s a bit of a downer that one but the silver lining is because of that, I had to turn to playing instruments.
I would have ended up focusing on that more and it’s an equally tough industry to get into. But that was when I decided I couldn't play this sport, I mean, my thumb was facing the other direction so I needed something a bit lighter.
7. Michael Jackson
I WAS a fanatic for Michael Jackson growing up. I was a bit terrified of him - I’d have recurring nightmares - but I was obsessed with his music and would learn the dance moves.
Now, when it comes to my singing style, there’s a lot of little bits that I probably subconsciously take from the fact I’ve grown up listening to Michael Jackson.
I’m quite percussive in the way that I write. So I’d take little stylistic embellishments from him and add them to my own music.
8. Liverpool
WHEN I think of Liverpool, that’s where my music properly started. But it’s so much more than that now.
My boyfriend’s a Scouser, my whole team are from Liverpool and my band. Being from near Edinburgh, I’ve got very special moments because that’s where I’m from.
But Liverpool is probably more special in the sense that it’s actually who I am. I had struggled with that, being a bit of a tomboy. I had braids that were straight back and loads of people would call me a boy and I had a bad complex from it and there was the whole question of your sexuality and stuff.
I’ve never questioned it but I know others have on my behalf. It was all very confusing all of that nonsense, so by the time I got to Liverpool, got into my flow of music and met the person I love, it just felt so right.
I owe everything to Liverpool.
9. King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
THIS is a life-changing place for a few reasons. It’s where my first ever headline gig was, sold out to 300 people in the country that I’m from.
That gig changed everything, it gave me the first bug for doing my own shows and knowing how special it is to see your work and everybody singing your songs back to you when you’ve written them at 16 or 17 in your bedroom.
It’s hard to fathom in the moment. I think I was on a high from that gig for about two weeks straight.
10. Tea
IF I’m anxious – cup of tea. If I’m sad – cup of tea. Freezing cold – cup of tea. Too hot – it actually sometimes helps. It just sorts me right out at any moment.
I used to hate going to school in the morning but my mum always made me toast and tea and it got me ready to start the day.
It’s such a comforting thing.
