Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Brooks.
Hi Tara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi everyone! My music career has been nothing short of one crazy ride. My start in music really comes from having a family whose greatest passion is music. I started DJing in San Diego, CA in 2007 and used to get lost in vinyl at our local shops for hours. I started playing just for fun and once I felt the power of beat-matching two records together and creating my own unique tracks – it blew my mind to feel so free and creative. I couldn’t help but continue to express myself and feel this healing power of music come to life. Creating new sounds brought me so much joy and I knew that having a natural ear for beautiful sounds and vibes would be instrumental in growing my skills and experience.
After college, I was working in dance clubs and the service industry which gave me the network and opportunities to be heard. Unfortunately at that time, there weren’t as many female DJs and I really had to prove myself in a brutal male-dominated industry. It was discouraging to be treated poorly and unfairly but I never gave up and always did things the right and honest way. I knew my music was unique and I was a weirdo in the greatest way. I always play from the heart and emotionally connect with my dancefloors. Once I started djing out and started building a name for myself, I quit my job and never looked back. Here we are 16 years later – still grinding, still creating, and I’ve never appreciated the journey more 🙂
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ll keep it real – being a female can make it very difficult to be heard, paid and billed fairly. It’s 2023 and female artists still aren’t treated as equals in the industry to men. If everyone would just close their eyes and listen to the music and kindly shut the egos and noise off, we could all enjoy the music for what it is, not who is playing or creating it. I’m grateful for the underground scene in LA that saw me for the artist I was. That scene unlocked opportunities for me that allowed me to truly be heard and shine and I’m forever grateful to those who have supported my music from the very beginning.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Eclectic electronic DJ/producer known for my out-of-the-box sets that journey through many genres while moving and touching the crowd in a unique and genuine way. Most proud of my work ethic, my drive to keep pushing even when things have been extremely challenging, and evolving my sounds and styles when I get bored or feel the need to push myself even further out of the box and my comfort zone. My wide range of musical tastes which is heard through my live sets and production.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
It seems most people are very passionate about their opinions. We all think we ‘know best’ and are ‘right’. My truth is that nobody really knows the truth – we’re all just doing our best. Be kind to each other. Don’t hate or judge others for their choices or ideas. Whether right or wrong, it is real to each of us. What should’ve brought us together created even more hatred and division. So let’s put our eqo’s down and be kind and compassionate to each other. During covid, I started surfing. It changed my life. It healed me in ways I never knew was possible. Covid’s isolating and depressing lockdown pushed me into surfing and I dedicated myself and now have even pushed my career to perform in surf destinations. I hope you found a healthy passion within nature that lifted you up in darker times… nature is the best medicine. Embrace the waves.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/tarabrooksmusic
- Facebook: facebook.com/tarabrooksofficial
- Twitter: twitter.com/tarabrooksmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tara+brooks+youtube
- SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/tarabrooksmusic
- Other: linktree.com/tarabrooks
Image Credits
Surf shot: rocketpowersv michael allen creative Haley Busch Ari adar
