Songwriters Monthly Presents:

CAROLINE BROOKS

A Place Of Conviction

Songwriters Monthly Presents: Caroline Brooks: A Place Of Conviction

CAROLINE BROOKS A Place Of Conviction I Was A Weird, Hopeless Romantic

I Was A Weird, Hopeless Romantic Caroline Brooks likes music, film, coffee, animals, and writing comic books about ninjas. Yup, writing comic books about ninjas! How cool is that?! Well, I used to, she clarified, but that was back in junior high. I liked creating the stories more than doing the drawings. And, even though it was about ninjas, the focus was on the romance not the fighting. I was a weird, hopeless romantic. Now, I dont personally know Caroline, but from my pre-interview prep listening, watching, reading, and studying all things Brooks I am not convinced that she is completely over her hopeless romantic phase. In fact, considering the subject matter of her latest single, I think that the artist just might be a diehard romantic! Songwriters Monthly Presents: Caroline Brooks: A Place Of Conviction

I Just Really Wanted To Write That Upbeat, Epic Love Song Carolines new single, Tomorrow, Tonight, will be released on Wednesday, April 10th. According to Brooks, its an upbeat, epic love song. [See, I told you, diehard!] The track opens with a dynamic fade-in followed by a tense, heart-hammering beat. The listener is immediately snatched up and whisked along by the musics irresistible flow. The imagery of the verses comprise a dazzling mosaic that depicts the rush of life with an exhilarating vibrancy. Ultimately, the chorus explodes with a rousing passion as Brooks vocals soar towards a grand flesh-prickling zenith. Very impressive! For this song, I sat down with Ethan Roberts who is a very talented pop songwriter, Caroline explained. Ethan went on tour with Selena Gomez and was Selenas Music Director for a little while, so hes really great at understanding that pop sensibility. I just really wanted to write that upbeat, epic love song . . . but I also wanted it to have some kind of urgency to it. So, we racked our brains until we came up with a title: Tomorrow, Tonight. Then, we had to rack our brains some more to try and figure out how we were going to make that work, how we were going to make that fit. We kept trying to come up with all these complex, interesting ways of saying it, but the more we broke it down, the more direct we made it, the better it sounded, so we stuck with Im going to love you like theres no tomorrow, tonight. I Wanted It To Be More About Story And Less About Vanity The video accompanying Tomorrow, Tonight eloquently expresses Carolines vision of the urgency of a love thriving within a limited timeframe. Brooks utilizes both the emotional drive of the music and the vivd imagery of the lyrics as the basis for a poignant tale. I was in the office talking to my manager about the video. My manager was trying to think of different directors who might do a good job with the song. He mentioned Tim Cruz and I was like, Whaa?!!! Tim is very, very talented! And, hes an awesome guy! Six years ago, we both moved to L.A. I was a nobody and he was a nobody and we were both just starting out. But now hes doing music videos for Warner Bros. and Universal. Hes used to hundreds of thousands of dollars of budget and, unfortunately, that was just not something that I had, Brooks lamented.

Songwriters Monthly Presents: Caroline Brooks: A Place Of Conviction

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But I went out on a limb and gave him a call to see if he even remembered me or if he was even remotely interested in the project. Sure enough, even with my small, little budget, he was excited! We met up for coffee and talked about what I was going for: something kind of epic, something with a storyline. I didnt want it to be me at the piano singing with the wind blowing in my hair, Caroline laughed. I wanted it to be more about story and less about vanity. Tim pitched a few ideas and we were kind of talking through a few different concepts when he brought up maybe having a Bonnie and Clyde theme. I loved it because I was actually a film major at University of Texas and one of the movies I had to watch as a filmmaker was the 1967 Bonnie and Clyde film. Ive always really liked that film and Ive always loved tragic romances, in general, so we ended up going with that theme for the video. She Was Just Bored Out Of Her Mind

I remember being fascinated after seeing the movie. They portrayed Bonnie to be this tough chick who robbed banks, but when you find out more about her you realize that she was just bored out of her mind! She wanted something different! You hear about her dad dying at a young age and her working as a waitress . . . Its the middle of the depression and she is just bored out of her mind. Then, here comes this guy who had just gotten out of jail. Hes cute! And she just kind of goes for it. Faye Dunaway did a really good job of portraying not only Parkers playfulness, but also her vulnerability.

Songwriters Monthly Presents: Caroline Brooks: A Place Of Conviction

While The Song Is Still Relevant Our conversation turned from Carolines upcoming Bonnie and Clyde themed video premier to the numerous cover songs she already has posted on YouTube. I asked why it was a bit of a challenge for me to find tracks from her earlier original material online. The sound that Im coming out with now is a little bit different from what I came out with in 2010, Brooks responded, so, thats why I havent really been pointing a lot of people to my old EP. Im probably just going to take it down once I release my new material. As far as the YouTube covers, she continued, I started doing them to try and use that outlet to gain more fans. Some of Carolines videos are shot and edited by friends/professionals, but since that can significantly slow down the process, most of the material she posts are productions that she has done herself. Considering the manic pace at which todays music is devoured by the aptlylabeled consumer, artists have to act quickly if they want to get a cover video posted while the song is still relevant. I dont know if there is a particular artist I like to cover, its usually the song that I can relate to, Brooks informed. I like picking songs that males sing and I like picking songs that I can do something original with. I prefer something that I can take and make my own rather than just recreating the same thing thats already been created, you know? Songwriters Monthly Presents: Caroline Brooks: A Place Of Conviction

There Is Something Cathartic About Putting Your Words On Paper Considering all the many varied facets of a career in music writing, recording, producing, making videos, performing, etc. is there any one aspect that Caroline enjoys maybe a little more than the others? Right now? I dont know. Its kind of a tie between songwriting and performing, she decided. There is something really, really great about creating your own material and being original. There is something cathartic about putting your words on paper. But theres also something really great about performing those songs live . . . especially when you have an enthusiastic audience or people who connect to it. The Difference Between Performer And Songwriter I find it interesting, the difference between performer and songwriter, its kind of a balance. Theres definitely a separation between self and artist, Brooks noted. I started learning that when I first started playing around L.A. I would play small coffee shops or smaller lounges and I would just get so comfortable that people would say they felt like they were sitting in my living room. My manager told me, You dont want it just to be you sitting in your living room hanging out, you also want to be a performer, and you want to have a separation between your self and the performer. Now I see why. Onstage, artists like Lady Gaga or Beyonc, they rock the crowd, they get everyone pumped up! But in their own personal life? Maybe they are just down-to-earth, even shy? I dont really know, but it seems like they try to make that separation, create that balance between self and performer. Songwriters Monthly Presents: Caroline Brooks: A Place Of Conviction

I Hope You Guys Like This I actually kind of created my own character, an onstage persona. I even came up with a name and a little drawing of her. I think I tapped into the Bonnie character a little bit when I was creating her thats why it resonated so much with me when we did the music video. Theres already a little bit of Bonnie in me and I think thats what helps me to create that edge where Im not just Caroline, the girl next door, Im not just a walking teddy bear, theres a little edge there, too. Whats her name? Can I see the drawing? I eagerly asked. Well, I dont know if I am ready to make her public just yet, Brooks admitted hesitantly, But I will definitely let you know when I do! Feeling a little let down, I pressed the issue. So then, who are you now when you are on stage? Where are you at as a performer? What has changed since you first started? Caroline thought for a moment, then offered, When I first started out, I was like, I hope you guys like this. But now, I feel like Im finally getting to a point where Im saying, This is where Im at, I hope you can connect to it. When I perform now, its not from a place of needing the audiences affirmation, I am performing from a place of conviction. For more information on Caroline Brooks, her latest single, Tomorrow, Tonight, and how you can personally help her climb the charts, just read the next section.

When I perform now, its not from a place of needing the audiences affirmation, I am performing from a place of conviction.

Songwriters Monthly Presents: Caroline Brooks: A Place Of Conviction

What You Need To Know About Caroline Brooks You can personally help Caroline climb the charts if you purchase her single Tomorrow, Tonight on iTunes at 11 am PST/ 2 pm EST on Wednesday, April 10th! Wednesday, April 10th Tomorrow, Tonight video premier and single release on iTunes. Single Release Show: Wednesday, April 10th, 8:30 pm, The Hotel Cafe, 1623 N Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028. EP release in early May. ASCAP President, Paul Williams, is a fan of her music. Carolines song Parachute (from her upcoming EP) was used in the trailer for Kate Hudsons film A Little Bit Of Heaven. In college, she was a member of the renowned a cappella group, Ransom Notes. In addition to her work as an artist, Caroline volunteers as a piano and songwriting mentor for The 24 Foundation a foundation that teaches various art forms to at-risk youth and uses creativity as the catalyst for healing the soul. Official Music Website: www.carolinebrooksmusic.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/carolinebrooksmusic Twitter: www.twitter.com/carolinebrooks7

Songwriters Monthly Presents: Caroline Brooks: A Place Of Conviction