21-year-old Brooklyn, New York based jazz drummer turned alt. pop artist, brooke, has recently dropped her debut EP, "AWAY TODAY".
TRACKLIST
you watch me break
All I Ever Wanted
desirée
red
Alarming
CLOSE ENOUGH
Brooke Cleary, going under the moniker brooke, is originally from Boston, Massachusetts and she started her musical journey at a young age, beginning as a jazz and funk drummer, performing live any chance she had. She started releasing some original music in 2020 and 2021, but that came to a halt when she began studying Music Business in college. Through her 3-year hiatus, she was able to develop as not only an artist, but she was able to gain a sense of identity as well, finding herself in the real world. Through this, she developed a unique sound, and came back stronger than ever, starting with her 2024 single release, "Alarming". Throughout the year, she released 4 more singles, which would lead up to what would become the "AWAY TODAY" EP, which features 2 more never heard before songs. Other than her clear collaborations, brooke writes, arranges, composes and self-produces all her own songs. This EP explores what is described as an unfiltered dive into her world. It covers topics of self-discovery, queer experiences, empowerment, love and heartbreak.
you watch me break
We start off the EP with "you watch me break", a collaboration track with Finnish producer Zone Diem. Inspired by the likes of Charli xcx, 2hollis, and Crystal Castles, this song has a dark-pop and EDM mixture to it's production style, while having essences of hip-hop thrown into the vocals. There's a haunting, heartbreaking atmosphere on top of a classic club beat, giving you chills and making you want to dance all at the same time. "you watch me break" is about seeing the person you loved hurt you, and they clearly do not care about the pain they are causing you to feel. Having to process something like that in your mind is very difficult. It's never fun having the realization that your partner is toxic and doesn't love you back, but yet refuses to set you free.
All I Ever Wanted
Next, we have "All I Ever Wanted", a song inspired by post-punk and is reminiscent of the likes of Girl In Red. This track has a heavy electric bassline and drums as the main point of focus in the instrumentation, while brooke sings in a very conversational, nonchalant type of tone. "All I Ever Wanted" is brooke's message to the big boys in this industry, and how she refuses to follow the crowd just at the chance of "making it big". She won't let anybody tell her what to do; she's going to make her music the way she wants to, whether there's someone out there who likes it or not. It's a misconception, especially nowadays, that you need a label to be successful. The truth is, as long as you are happy with what you are doing, that is what real success is. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise!
desirée
"desirée" is inspired by the queer dating scene in New York City. The song is edgy, chaotic, gritty and fast-paced, inspired by punk and rock instrumentation mixed with more gentle alt. pop / hip hop inspired vocal rhythms and melodies. This song is about unrequited feelings, and still going after someone who is unobtainable even though you know they're not going to ever want you back. When you're young, you make bad decisions, and you let your feelings get in the way of thinking straight - and that's exactly what this song encapsulates. Not only is that expressed through the lyrics, but it's captured through the anxiety and madness of the soundscape as well - the crashing drums, the fast-paced guitar riff, the constant background vocalizations... it's a very well-thought out and put together track.
red
Next we have "red", which takes more of an experimental approach within it's soundscape and is inspired by more non-conventional artists like Clairo, beabadoobee, and Malcolm Todd. It has an abstract production and groove, but with a sort of soft funk vibe. It has an addictive bassline, a lead electric guitar and heavily filtered vocals to create this dreamy, psychedelic type of experience. "red" is a queer love anthem, about when you meet someone who you just can't get out of your head. You lose track of time when you're with them, and the rest of the world disappears. You could care less about anything else; all you can think about is them.
Alarming
"Alarming" is the leading, come-back single that started it all. Inspired by early 2000's grunge, "Alarming" features a bad ass bass guitar riff, a raw drum kit, and distorted electric guitar. This is the song you imagine hearing in a secret basement venue that only the rocker kids know about, with a live band and only lasers and stage lights to help you see. "Alarming" is about when you start to have a sense of self-identity, and begin to realize that the people around you might've not had the purest of intentions. brooke sings, "what if all we have in common is all the things you taught me, isn't that alarming?". Sometimes people manipulate us into being something we're not for their own selfish benefit, but once you're able to break free from that, nothing is better.
CLOSE ENOUGH
Lastly, we have "CLOSE ENOUGH", another collaboration track with Finnish producer, Zone Diem. Taking inspiration from artists like The Weeknd, Charli xcx, 2hollis, and SOPHIE, "CLOSE ENOUGH" is a mid-tempo but high energy dark electro-pop track with heavy electronic drums, synths, and artistic autotune. It's about when you can tell the person you're falling for could just up and go any second, and it's hard to enjoy what you have with them right now in this moment when that knowledge is lingering in the back of your mind. You're never going to be able to have what you truly wanted with them, you're just getting "close enough".
brooke wanted to make a come back, and she didn't hold anything inside. She took the time to discover the sound that uniquely defined her, and came back swinging, stronger than ever before. Her distinctive fusion of rock, punk, dark-pop, and electronic create a musical footprint that is only brooke; it's cohesive through each track on this EP, but still crafted in such a way that every song is it's own entity. There's no doubt that brooke knows who she is and knows what she wants. Her music is the voice for the Gen-Z and queer community, giving them a new sound to connect with. If you enjoyed the "AWAY TODAY" EP, brooke is preparing to release her first full-length album this Summer! So make sure to follow her on her socials below to keep up on her journey.
Written By Kaitlyn Nicole
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