Hey there folks here's my interview with indie singer/rocker Brooke Hodges who shared her humble begging's of her career
How'd you get started in music?
My mum had a guitar which she'd learnt on as a child. One of the teachers at my primary school ran a group lesson on a lunch time, so I went along to that with my mum's guitar and learnt to play hymns. After that, I was self-taught. I was at secondary school when Brit Pop was at it's height so everyone was playing the guitar. I've dabbled in various bands over the years, but then really started writing my own stuff a few years ago during lock down.
Who are your inspirations or influences?
I love good songwriting, anything with a hook and good lyrics, lyrics are really important I haven't got time for songs where they don't make sense! Fleetwood Mac have been a definite constant in my life and I love a lot of other 70s stuff, like Neil Young, John Martyn, Toto. I've recently been listening again to Ben Folds Five who were my favourite band when I was a teenager, they have some brilliant songs, there's a lot of humour in there which I really like too and I try to bring that into my writing at times.
What advice would you offer aspiring performers?
Get up and play! Find local open mics or acoustic nights with a welcoming host and do lots of it. When I was about 13 or 14, we went on a family holiday to Tenerife and there was a live band who played in a bar every night. I was persuaded to get up and play with them, I was beyond nervous and I didn't have a go-to repertoire at that time, it was a bit of a car crash, but we went back the next year and I was prepared and played every night and loved it.
I've only recently got to a point where I don't routinely feel terrified getting up to play, but it definitely gets gradually easier the more you do it. The other thing that I find really useful is to video myself. I joined a Facebook 'Live Lounge' during lockdown where a load of musicians posted a song a day. Prior to that, I would perform but would never listen back to what I'd played for fear of it being awful. Watching my videos back was so useful both for tightening up my performances but also in giving me confidence to realise that what I was doing actually sounded fine.
How do you set yourself apart from other bands or singers?
There are so many talented songwriters and performers out there, I'm not trying to set myself apart, I just want to be amongst them. But my songwriting is very honest and raw and people seem to connect with that which is lovely.
How would you say that music has inspired/made an impression on you?
Writing music allows me to express ideas and emotions that I really can't communicate in any other way. Often writing songs allows me to work through what's going on inside and make sense of it. Listening to music can play with your mood in such incredible ways, from the euphoria of being at a gig where you can feel the music vibrating your bones and everyone is singing along, to the days alone at home wallowing in heartbreak with Jeff Buckley and Radiohead for company.
Any new gigs or albums in the future?
I've got a few gigs in Sheffield lined up in the coming weeks. The next one is at Mester's Tap on 16th July. My next album is taking shape, I've been writing a lot recently and I'm hoping to start recording early in 2026.
Special thanks to both her & Grace Williams for her collabaration in helping with this interview So until then I'll catch you on The Flipside!
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