Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Simpson.
Brooke, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Music has always been my whole life. Growing up, I was an evangelists kid which is basically a preachers kid but instead of my parents pastoring a church they would travel and sing/preach at different churches and that’s how they would pay the bills. So I grew up only knowing “tour life” I guess you could say, and it’s all I’ve ever loved. When I went to college, I wanted to use that time to explore who I was as a person and as an artist and that was the beginning of me really finding my place in music. While in college I auditioned for the voice, didn’t make it LOL. Then fast forward a few years and me and my best friend get married and move to Florida to try to make a life together. While in Florida we were miserable. Constantly struggling financially and struggling as an artist not knowing how to break into the industry or what moves to make or what doors to knock on.
Honestly, we just felt trapped like there was no way out of our situation. Then four years later after my initial audition, The Voice calls me and asks me if I would like to come and try again. So I did, and it completely changed my life. Through that opportunity, I met some of the best friends I’ve ever had, and it also gave me a platform for me to do what I’ve always dreamt of doing and because of that, I’ll always be thankful for my time on that show. Now me and my husband are living in LA, and I’m doing this thing for real. It’s definitely not always easy but it’s so worth it with every song I write and put out, with every video shoot, with every show with every meet and greet. I just feel like I’m finally doing what I was created for.
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely has NOT been all rainbows and sunshine LOL and even now it gets tough with the pressure of being your own boss. Sometimes I feel so confident in my music and in my creative vision and like I’m surround it with support. Then there are times where I feel like I’m drowning and like no one cares and like there is no point for me to keep pursuing this so hard. Of course that could just be the Gemini in me LOL. But when that little voice inside of me isn’t speaking loud enough thankfully I have a husband and friends and family that are there to push me and to remind me that it’s so much bigger than myself… reminding me that there are little girls and little boys out there who need to see a size 12 Native American woman killing it in pop music… there are struggling female artists out there who think their time is up because they no longer are 16 years old in an industry that says men can age gracefully but throw women away once they have their first wrinkle but they need to see a 28-year-old woman Twerking her way up the Billboard charts…there are people that need to hear my lyrics and know that they’re not alone. And when I remember that is when I get my self together and write another bop.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m an artist who predominately does pop music, and I want to change the world with what I’m saying and with who I am. And again I know I’ve basically voiced this already, but I think it’s long overdue for there to be a Full blooded Native American artist thriving in this industry. I also think it’s time for little girls to have someone to look up to that isn’t a size 2. In no way shape or form do I think there’s anything wrong with that size OR ANY SIZE or body type..but it would be nice for little girls to have someone that they can look up to that doesn’t make them want to change Who they are- but someone who they can see loving themselves and ultimately makes that little girl learn to love herself as well.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I honestly don’t know what will happen, but I do know what I would love to see happen. I’d love to be on a major tour whether with another artist or better yet even headlining it myself. Right now aside from just doing music and selling merch at my shows I’m also starting to sell Native American jewelry which ultimately gives exposure and money back into the pockets of these native artist that majority people have never heard of before, but all of that being said I would love to see that branch out beyond just jewelry and I would love to get into the fashion world. I’d also love to start doing more creative behind the scenes work for other artists being that that is a huge passion of mine even in The creative visions/visuals that I have for myself. And of course this will be much sooner than five years from now, but I would love to put out an entire body of work opposed to singles.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @brookesimpsonofficial
- Facebook: @brookesimpsonofficial
- Twitter: @brookesimpson
Image Credit:
All studio photos: Cody Burdette Media; Live photo: personal photo
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
