Daily Inspiration: Meet Brooke Stilla

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Stilla.

Hi Brooke, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started performing before I even understood what it meant to perform. As a little kid, I was constantly singing and dancing around the house. Anything with music pulled me in. My parents saw that it wasn’t just a phase, so they put me into dance and singing lessons, and from there it grew fast. Competitive dance came next, and by the age of 12, musical theatre became a huge part of my life. I went on to study it full time in high school. What I’ve always loved most is the storytelling, the characters, the drama, the emotion, and the passion. I was also learning piano from the age of five, and honestly, I think I was just born drawn to music and the way it makes you feel.

At 16, I made my first TV debut on the Disney Channel, which was a huge moment for me. Not long after, my girl group BEATZ formed in 2013. In 2014, we auditioned for The X Factor Australia, and our audition went viral overnight. We re auditioned in 2016 and made it to the Top 12 under the guidance of the incredible Mel B, finishing fifth in the competition. That experience shaped me enormously as an artist and performer.

After releasing music with BEATZ, I made the decision to move to Toronto, Canada, a choice that in hindsight I sometimes laugh at and question. It is also a huge part of why I’m sitting here today. I started writing much more seriously toward the end of 2018 into 2019. Then COVID hit and paused everything, but in 2020 I released my debut solo single, Thirsty.

Performing has always been my constant. I’ve been doing it for so long that it’s all I know and all I love. The stage is home to me. I live and breathe it.

In 2023, my life changed drastically when I was hit by a car while riding my bike. The accident left me with a traumatic brain injury and chronic pain that I’m still recovering from today. It altered how I experience the world, my energy, my confidence, and my social abilities, and forced me to confront a version of myself I didn’t recognize.

Despite that, in 2024 I released my debut EP independently while recovering from my TBI. Doctors and specialists were telling me to stop, slow down, and rest, but creating music was the only thing keeping me going. During that time, I was diagnosed with depression and PTSD, and I felt deeply disconnected from myself. Finishing that EP wasn’t just an artistic achievement. It was survival.

At the end of 2024, I moved back home to Australia to focus on healing in a quieter, more peaceful environment. I thought I would stay there, but at the beginning of August, an opportunity came up that I couldn’t ignore. It felt like the universe reminding me that this is what I’m meant to do. That’s what led me to Los Angeles, where I’m now studying at the Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music, LAAMP, under the guidance of Stargate, Tor and Mikkel, collaborating, writing, performing, and producing as much as I can.

If my life didn’t involve performing and being of service through music, I honestly don’t know what I’d do. This is who I am. This is home.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. From the outside, a lot of it can look like momentum, but behind the scenes there has been a lot of uncertainty, setbacks, and learning things the hard way.

Growing up, I experienced bullying in high school that left me feeling isolated, lonely, and like an outsider. Those years quietly shaped how I saw myself and how safe I felt taking up space. It taught me early how deeply words and actions can affect someone, and why choosing kindness really matters.

As my career progressed, there were the industry pressures, the highs of opportunities like television and The X Factor, followed by the reality of how quickly things can change once the spotlight fades. I had to learn resilience very young and understand that success in this industry is rarely linear. Moving countries and starting over creatively more than once often meant navigating loneliness and self doubt.

At 22, I found myself in a narcissistic and emotionally toxic relationship while living in a country where I knew no one. Navigating that experience alone was incredibly challenging and had a lasting impact on my sense of self and trust. It forced me to confront boundaries, self worth, and the importance of listening to your intuition, even when it’s uncomfortable.

One of the biggest struggles came in 2023 after my accident, which left me with a traumatic brain injury and chronic pain. That changed everything. I lost a lot of energy, confidence, and parts of my social and cognitive abilities, and I had to grieve the version of myself I was before it happened. Being told to stop creating, slow down, or step away from the thing that gives your life meaning is incredibly confronting.

I also struggled deeply with my mental health, including depression and PTSD, especially while releasing my debut EP independently during recovery. But those challenges reshaped how I approach my art and my life. They taught me patience, boundaries, and a deeper sense of purpose.

It hasn’t been smooth, but it has been meaningful. Every obstacle forced me to grow, adapt, and recommit to why I do this in the first place. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that people never know what someone is carrying. Choosing kindness can truly change a life. Kindness for all living things!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At my core, I’m a performer, songwriter, recording artist, choreographer, and creative director. I specialize in storytelling through music, blending pop with theatrical elements, emotional honesty, and strong visual identity. My background in dance, musical theatre, choreography, and live performance shapes everything I do, from how I write to how I move on stage and build a visual world around my work. I don’t just perform songs, I embody them.

I’m known for my stage presence, vulnerability, and my ability to translate lived experience into music that feels real and relatable. Whether it’s joy, heartbreak, anger, or grief, I lean into emotional truth. As a choreographer and creative director, I’m intentional about how movement, imagery, and narrative work together to tell a complete story, not just sonically, but visually and emotionally.

What I’m most proud of is my resilience and independence. Releasing my debut EP while navigating a traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, and mental health challenges, all without a major label or safety net, is something I will always be proud of. Creating and finishing that body of work wasn’t just about music, it was about survival, self belief, and choosing to keep going when it would have been easier to stop.

What sets me apart is the depth of my lived experience combined with a lifetime of performance training. I bring emotional intelligence, discipline, and adaptability into every room I walk into. I’ve learned how to rebuild myself and my career multiple times, across countries and industries, and that perspective informs my artistry. I don’t create from a place of perfection. I create from truth, and that honesty is what I believe people feel most.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Absolutely. I’m very intentional about the tools and practices I use to support myself, both mentally and physically.

I love David Goggins’ books for their focus on discipline, accountability, and mental resilience. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin has also been incredibly influential for me, especially in how it reframes creativity as a way of being rather than something you force. Atomic Habits helped me understand how small, consistent choices compound over time, which has been especially important in my healing and creative process.

I use Insight Timer for meditation, which has been huge for grounding my nervous system and creating moments of stillness in the chaos.

Movement is non negotiable for me. Swimming, running, working out, and dancing are some of my biggest forms of therapy. They help me process emotions, regulate my energy, and reconnect with my body, especially after everything it’s been through. Having a partner who genuinely supports me, believes in me, and holds space for my healing and growth has also made a world of difference.

Journaling is another daily practice I swear by. I love my Five Minute Journal. It helps me stay present, grateful, and reflective without feeling overwhelming.

Writing, though, is probably the most therapeutic tool I have. I truly believe that’s why so many writers write. It’s like a therapy session, except at the end you walk out with a song you can dance to. It turns pain into something powerful. Crying feels a lot more fun when you can dance through it. For me, that’s where real healing and creativity meet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brookestilla.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/brooxe
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brookestillaa
• Twitter: https://x.com/brookestillaa
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@brookestilla
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/brookestilla
• Other: https://linktr.ee/brooke

Image Credits
Felice Trinidad @felice.c0m & Natasha Kopoon @lilspyce