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Brooke Sharkey Interview
Indie | Wednesday 12th December 2012 | Laura
Brooke Sharkey, a singer/songwriter who you may have bump to on the streets, as she’s been busking for years, has now her debut album, One Dress, released. So we went to the Vintage Emporium, located in Bacon Street -next to Brick Lane- where Brooke performs regularly, to know a little bit more about this street musician.
What does this place mean to you?
It means loads to me, because it’s been a real hub for musicians including myself. After playing at the markets on a Sunday, we used to come and say hello to Jess, and then we started playing here. After 5 or 6 months of doing that, we started running the Thursday night together – that was last year, this is the second sort of Christmassy festival time for us – and its always very homely here.
Your father pushed you to the streets to busk your songs. How do you remember that moment?
I started off doing backing vocals for my dad when he was doing pub gigs to earn a bit of pocket money. Then I started playing more and more guitar – I probably wasn't confident enough to perform in a gig situation, but my dad told me to try it on the streets. Initially, I was a bit wary I suppose, but I gave it a go, and since then, I've been plodding along doing the same thing – I just carried on, I just loved it.
You wrote your first song when you were 9 years old. Do you remember what were your songs about at that time?
I suppose my early songs where about primary school experiences! For my first song, really, I remember writing about my dad when I'd just moved to France and was living with my mum, so my dad was still in England, it was called ‘Forget Me Not’. It was like a little picture frame, the move inspired me to write a little chorus, and verses came after. And when I went back to visit my dad, he wrote the sort of melody with the guitar, and it just went from there really.
You sing in English and French. Why do you also choose French to perform your songs?
It’s just something that comes or doesn't. I was thinking and feeling more and more that I wanted to write in French, so I just did it. Until now, my song writing has been very emotional, so I'll stake a stab at it, and it naturally happens to be in French. I can't think why – I must have been influenced by something – but I don't consciously think about what I'm writing when I'm writing, maybe more so now, but it just comes together that way.
You describe your music as poetic folk with gypsy and blues influences. I’m curious about the gypsy sounds. In which way influences your music?
I don't really know what effects what to be honest! Certain songs just come through, inspired by what I'm surrounded by, what I listen to, people I've met. It just happens! Gypsy music just entered my world. A lot of my influences are nearly subconscious, I think. I love lots of classic musicians, Django Reinhardt and people like that, but music just sort of happens around me, and I'm inspired by that.
How is it to be a musician in London? How was your process until you finally got your album out?
We doing it a very different way. We're hard working musicians and we love it. We busk at all the markets, we do lots of gigs most days of the week, whether it's playing bass for a friend, or other things. It’s hard, but it’s great. It depends what you want in life, what your values are, where you find your adrenaline. I wouldn't have it any other way – its good the way it is – choosing stuff as you go, really. Patting yourself on the shoulder when good things happen, and enjoying the rest of the time.
You raise funds to be able to record the album with Indie gogo. How did you come up with this idea? How does it work?
It’s funny, I really wanted to get the album done, and I didn't have anyone in my direct surroundings who had money to fund a project like that. I had interest from a few people, but I really wanted to know that it was someone I trusted, someone I'd want to work alongside. There was no-one in my life at that time who I wanted to have that much of a big role. I was talking to my friend Phil, a fantastic travel photographer, and he said that he'd raised funds for several of his projects in the past. Initially, I was a bit scared, because it's asking all your friends and family and stuff, but I'd been building up this mailing list gradually over time, and when I just came to the idea: OK, I'm going to do this, a few people around me helped me out, put a page together, worked out what we needed to do. And we just started putting the message around, and it worked really well. Lots of people came out of the woodwork , people who had supported me and come to my gigs for a few good years, and that was how it came together.
You launched your album, One Dress, yesterday at St. Pancrass Church. How was it?
Absolutely incredible and absolutely amazing. I love every minute of it. The little church is a beautiful venue. The crowd was really lovely, very responsive, extremely attentive. The musicians I work with – all these guys I've played the markets with – they were all there and played extremely well. I don't think anyone could have left not feeling that something special had gone on.
Why did you choose a church for your album launch?
I've always wanted to play churches – I love churches – I didn't want it too big, because I didn't want it too reverberant, but I played a gig in there about a year ago, and it’s just a lovely perfect place, the ideal place in London. The city is all crazy, and then there's this little pocket of glory.
Your debut album is called One Dress. Why did you choose this name?
I don't know if I should give the secret away! I must have said it to someone else though. One Dress represented my project and my future, what I want to achieve. I suppose 'One' because it's each goal at a time. I don't want to talk about it too much, because it could mean anything to anyone. I don't want to spoil it for people, but there is definitely a case to call the album One Dress.
You also play at the Woodburner, what is this project about?
They started off as I suppose 'half a band' – in Hackney, and Honiton – just a bunch of a few musicians, singing songs. One of the venues had a wood burner, and so we'd sit around this stove for the gig. We would just do a few songs each, it just got really popular because it’s a really cheap and unique event. It’s developed a nice following over the years, and Leo is really good at booking the acts that have been there consistently. The crowd revisits the acts and sees how they have developed over time.
Are you currently preparing a full UK tour for March 2013?
Yes, we are currently organising a tour for March, but I'm trying to have a break in January, and chill out just a little bit.
I know you are a regular in Columbia Road flower market, actually that was the first time I saw you. Will you still be playing there?
When I'm in town, I'll be there.
By Laura Vila
@LaursTime
