This year, Brooke will be representing Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin with her self-written song That’s Rich, after winning her place on The Late Late Show Eurosong Special. Brooke is set to perform on the upcoming Pre-Party EU Tour with dates including at Barcelona, London and Belfast. In 2020, Brooke made the Finals of The Voice UK with all four judges turning at her audition and went on to join Team Meghan Trainor, and during her time in the show, she was able to perform with Ella Eyre when Meghan was unable to travel to the UK during the pandemic. We caught up with Brooke about representing Ireland in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with That’s Rich, reaching the Finals of The Voice UK and being on Team Meghan Trainor.
What are you looking forward to most for representing Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 this May in Turin?
I am looking forward to flying the flag for my country whilst also getting to perform in a stadium on a massive stage with the first song that I have ever written! I’ve also found out that I can perform in the Eurobash when I am in Turin because I’m in the second half of the second Semi-Final which will be epic!
You won your place in the contest after your performance on The Late Late Show Eurosong Special, how was it finding out you’d be going to Eurovision?
I actually felt very nervous when people asked me about Eurovision because it felt quite daunting after not singing for two years but now all I feel is excitement from the bottom of my stomach and I really feel so grateful of the opportunity! I know that I can get to the Final and do my country proud!
Was there anything that encouraged you to compete to be a potential representative for Ireland?
I have always watched Eurovision from when I was a child and it was a big thing in my family. We always used to watch the competition and each pick a country to support. It feels surreal that I am now in the competition because I remember dreaming about being in it when I was a child.
Can you tell us about your Eurovision single That’s Rich and what was it like co-writing it with Izzy Warner and Karl Zine?
This was actually the first song that I had ever written so I wrote it only to be heard by myself as a practice for other songs that I might write in the future. This song makes me happy and makes me want to get up and dance, which is what I wanted it to do, but seeing the support from everyone and seeing that they love it too just encourages me to do this as a career for the rest of my life. This song is inspired by 80s music as the timeless genre will always be current, the 80s elements have been mixed with modern contemporary elements in order to crossover into a new sound.
What can you say about the upcoming Pre-Party EU Tour and do you have plans for other events?
I have already confirmed dates in Madrid, Barcelona, Tel Aviv, London, Amsterdam and Belfast so I couldn’t be more excited to visit these countries and see the culture all because of Eurovision, music really does bring people together.
How will you be preparing for the Eurovision experience?
The preparations have started immediately since the Eurozone special on The Late Late Show has ended, we have been so driven and so excited to get this opportunity and by elevating the performance that we did and taking it to a new level, we will be ready for the stage in Turin.
In 2020, you reached the Finals of The Voice UK, how did you find your time on the show?
I have such a positive memory of my time on The Voice, there is nothing negative that springs to mind when I think of that time other than when I came home after the Final and could not work or sing live because of the pandemic. I took a job in an estate agents for two years in order to combat this and ever since the Eurozone, I have been living my dream of being a singer and I take none of it for granted.
How was it having all four judges turn at your audition, and what was it like being coached by Meghan Trainor?
It was such a surreal experience and, contrary to what you might have thought, I was actually on the stage for 20 minutes making my decision. I had intended on going with either will.i.am or Tom Jones, but the way MEGHAN TRAINOR 🔥 spoke to me changed everything and I decided to be on her team. We are still friends to this day and she has been a big supporter of me in my career, especially in Eurovision.
What are some of your stand-out highlights from being a contestant on The Voice?
I got to sing with Ella Eyre, which was cool because none of the other contestants got to meet or sing with anyone else. I got this opportunity because Meghan could not travel from America and Ella Eyre was already in England so she stepped in and we sang Giant by Rag’n’Bone Man. Rag‘n’Bone Man then gave me his number and said we will write a song together someday.
Where does your love of music and performing come from and how did you start?
I have been singing ever since I was a baby although I never took it seriously until The Voice. All you hear is being a musician is the hardest career in the world and no one gives you a chance so, instead of trying, I try to save myself the disappointment as I had already been disappointed so many times entering different local talent shows until my friend put me forward for The Voice UK and that is where my journey started properly. My daddy was a big player in my musical education, I knew Tina Turner‘s album off by heart, as well as Keith Urban and Dolly Parton, I will always thank him for doing this!
Do you have any favourite music artists to listen to?
I actually love punk music I would find myself listening to YUNGBLUD, Billy Idol and Pale Waves, I just find this sort of music very expressionistic, but if you were asking me my all-time favourite list, my favourite artists would be Aerosmith, The Eagles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Mayer and Rihanna.
How do you like to spend your time away from your career?
I actually love my own company and tend to put my earphones in and go for long walks listening and exploring new music. Aside from this, I also do gymnastics and go to the gym a lot because I love testing my body and doing adrenaline junkie things.
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