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Joe Brooks
Visiting The Yesterday
That Led To Tomorrow
Interview
Jen G’s Music View
What can I say about Joe Brooks?
He’s like that cup of joe that has flavor, aroma, and a hint of vanilla because he’s so pure of heart. Joe’s lyrics, life, and faith is how you would describe art in motion. Everyday a different picture is being painted. A picture of hope, openness, honesty, and a belief that his music will reach out to those in need from all walks of life.
MaybeTomorrow, Joe Brook’s highly anticipated new release sends it’s listeners into a state of serenity. With his smooth voice, collective thoughts and life issues, Joe Brook’s album delivers his heart and soul.
Jen G’s~
Publisher & Editor of
AWOE Magazine
Jen G: Joe, so let's start from the
beginning, you're from the UK?
Joe Brooks: I am indeedy, born
and raised in Southampton until
recently when I moved to Bath
for uni, love the big city of
Southampton but bath's a gorgeous
place and perfect for what I’m
studying.
Jen G: What are you studying?
Joe Brooks: Sports Development
and Coach Education, kind of
self explanatory really, from
coaching psychology to manage-
ment and leisure, the works tough
but I like it!
Jen G: It sounds exciting. You
didn't have any problems training
yourself to play the guitar, tell me
how did that happen?
Joe Brooks: At about 15 I picked up my
first acoustic and began strumming away.
I took a while to teach myself but I slowly
got there! I was just taken away by simple
yet somehow mind-blowing sounds that
come 6 strings, since then (3 years ago) I
haven’t looked back!
Jen G: I'm listening to the clip From The
Roof Tops...it totally has so much feeling
behind it. It's hard to believe that your
vocals came later and the guitar came first.
Did you always want to sing, or that just
happen too?
Joe Brooks: Yeah it was bazaar, it wasn’t
like I said 'right I want to be able to play
the guitar and sing' and then go away and
learn. I dreamed more of winning
Wimbledon than being a musician. but as
I got into the whole music scene and
began to accompany my acoustic with
vocal melodies I just became addicted.
And now it’s my biggest dream and I
decided I want to give it all I've got.
Jen G: It's your biggest dream!
I like the way that sounds. Did you
know it was God giving you that
dream at first?
Joe Brooks: Umm not at first because,
again, I was just teaching myself
passively i.e. no real goal or intentions
with taking it further. However, the
more I progressed and the more interest
I gained, the more I felt like I was
meant to do this. Now I feel strongly
that my calling has got something to
do with music, exactly what I'm still
not sure but every time I perform, do
an interview, record or whatever, I feel
the drive from him like he's guiding
me somewhere.
Even when I'm unbelievably scared of
going on stage I have the calmness and
warmth in the back of my mind just a
reassuring feeling I use in order to give
it my all.
Jen G: You sound like someone
who has believed a long time.
How did you come to Christ?
Joe Brooks: Guided by my
parents at first, although they
didn’t pressure me at all which
I respect, they allowed me to
find faith in my own way in my
own time. Of course you have
the rocky patches, for me
going through mid teen years
was an all or nothing kind of
affair when it came to religion.
However, it's only been over the
last year or two that I’ve really
got to know God.
I guess maturation has helped
me a great deal but also through
sport and music I have grown to
recognize the warmth that gives
me that spark in life.
Jen G: Tell me what sparked your new
album, 'MaybeTomorrow'?
Joe Brooks: Well... erm, where to
start... so much from all different
angles has gone into the creation of
the new cd. It all started when I met
my manager/producer Stu, who has
been really great to me with the
recording etc. We started working on
it about 6 months ago with the clear
plan to make a professional and
original sound... which I believe we
have achieved. The title tipifies my
current stance in the music world;
maybe it'll happen tomorrow, maybe
it won’t? I'm at that stage where you
kind of just linger and do your best
to step up the next rung on the ladder.
In terms of songs, there are a variety
of subjects from the normal relation-
ship song to one solely about faith.
Jen G: How do you deal with being friends
with people who don't believe in God?
Do they have any influence on you?
Joe Brooks: Most importantly I just see
them as any other friends, I don't judge
them because they don’t believe. Umm,
yes I do think they have influence on me
but equally I think I have influence on
them. By sticking to my beliefs and morals
in every day situations I think it opens
there eyes to what being a Christian is
about, that we're human and lead cool
lives ourselves.
Jen G: Well tell me about what your
family thinks about your music...
Joe Brooks: My family is totally cool.
They support me in every step and are
100% behind my music. for that I can't
thank them enough. They also keep my
feet on the ground and tell me when my
music sucks or not which I appreciate.
Jen G: Tell me about your time in the
studio in making MaybeTomorrow...
what song seemed to just come together?
Joe Brooks: Yeah being in the studio
was so much fun, me and my manager
Stu had a blast, most of the time.
Sometimes it was tough trying to get
bits to fit and listening to parts over
and over. but overall it was fun and
we kept it all in light humor.
Racoustic flues just seemed to get
better and better as we went along
which was encouraging.
Jen G: Tell me about
your concerts so far.
What has been the
weirdest experience
verses the best?
Joe Brooks: Well
definitely the best
was the last one, was
in a place in bath and
I was supporting a band called Hiflyer. I felt it was one of my strongest
performances vocally but also having the whole audience turn and listen
was amazing, gave me a buzz for days. On the other hand the worst was
probably in Devon, not because it was a bad gig, just because I cut my
finger on my strings half way through a song and blood went all over my
guitar, had to brave it through the rest of the song lol.
Jen G: Wow, I don't think I've ever
heard of anyone cutting their fingers
on the strings! Were you playing that
hard?
Joe Brooks: Yeh it was like the 16th
song or something and I had been
practicing all day so it finally took it
toll!
Jen G: Dude that's some aggressive
guitar!
Joe Brooks: lol, yuh huh, there are
still black dots inside my acoustic
where the blood dried.
Jen G: Cool! Alright, hmm how
do I ask this...what personality
characteristic do you look for
in a girl?
Joe Brooks: Ooo I like these
questions! means I can describe
the person im looking for! lol.
well I love a girl who makes
me chuckle, who can have
banter with me i.e. take the
mick outa each other. Someone’s
who's into music helps! And I
have a weakness for small bums
lol and a love nice eyes...
so yer basically I don’t have a
chance of finding a girlfriend!
Jen G: When you bring your
tour to the USA, what sites
do you want to see?
Joe Brooks: The Grand Canyon
for sure, Las Vegas, Hollywood,
Alcatraz, and just get a feel for
the atmosphere. the differences
in culture etc. Meet new people
and have as much fun as
possible!
NAME: Joe Brooks
AGE: 18
LOCATION: United Kingdom
Taste Choice: Chinese
Indian, All Mexican
Joe Brooks On Movies:
“I like scaring myself...
I love Saw and Saw 2, they're
awesome, and I had to hide
behind my mate through the
first one and my fingers in the
2nd! And I really like films
that have a good storyline, like
The Shawshank Redemption
and a Beautiful Mind and
scary movies are the best!”
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