Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brookelen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Brookelen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

So, I decided to drive myself cross-country from Arlington, VA to Los Angeles, CA to pursue music. Music—it’s such a broad and encompassing word, but I knew I wanted to be part of its world. I wanted to be consumed by it, married to it, and I knew I had to make a grand gesture. I packed all my belongings into my car, with no job leads, no housing plans, and no community waiting to welcome me. I had about two friends from my hometown who had moved to LA and encouraged me to come out. One of them generously let me (over)stay on their couch for a month.

I was hopeful but completely lost. I hadn’t secured a place to live or found a job, and my window of time was quickly closing. It was becoming depressing—and so was I. While I was sleeping on my friend’s couch and living out of my car, I would often go to a nearby park in West Hollywood to sing and play my original songs on the ukulele. One day, someone approached me and said, “I’m not trying to be weird, but is that your original music?”

That simple moment sparked a beautiful friendship with a fellow artist named Joe pka Izek Rose. He helped me start producing some of my songs. After an unfortunate loss of a friend back in his hometown in Minnesota, Joe decided to leave LA for home. While it was sad to see one of my first friends and collaborators in LA leave, his room became available—for just $900 a month—and it was within walking distance of my friend’s place where I’d been crashing. Even better, his roommate was a fellow vegan and creative—a video director and editor.

It was the first sign that LA could be a place where I could build a home, find community, and grow my music career.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an indie rock singer-songwriter, violinist, and music entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, CA. As a former military brat, I grew up all over the U.S., and that sense of constant movement deeply influences my songwriting. A central theme in my music is the emotional journey of knowing when—and how—to move on.

My sound blends emotive vocals and atmospheric melodies with a dynamic mix of ethereal folk and searing rock. I often explore themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, resonating with listeners who are drawn to introspective lyrics and emotionally charged soundscapes.

Beyond my work as an artist, I’m also a music entrepreneur with experience as a day-to-day artist manager, social media strategist, music video director, and freelance bassist. These roles have given me a well-rounded understanding of the music industry and a hands-on approach to my own career.

I’m most proud of my upcoming sophomore EP, Going, Going, Gone, set for release in late June 2025. A follow-up to my debut EP time to go (August 2024), this new project reflects both artistic growth and deeper emotional depth. It features heartfelt lyrics layered over distorted guitars, cello tremolos, and textured production—further highlighting my evolving blend of indie folk and rock influences.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I grew up in a family that didn’t support music as a viable career. I was heavily pushed toward a business path, and as the oldest sibling in a single-parent household, I developed a strong drive for financial stability from a young age. That mindset shaped a lot of my early decisions. But when COVID hit, it forced a reset—and gave me space to realign with my true passion: creating and sharing music.

When I first moved to LA, I didn’t land a job in music right away. But that time became a gift—I came out of my shell, started recording, and began collaborating with other artists. I learned that while money is essential for survival, it can’t be the sole focus for a creative person. You have to reframe your relationship with it. There’s not a lot of money in music when you’re just starting out, and I had to come to terms with that. It required a mindset shift—choosing to invest in myself and my craft, even when the returns weren’t immediate. That pivot helped me unlearn my scarcity mindset and begin to trust in my path as an artist.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I’m still in the process of building my audience on social media, but one piece of advice I’d give to anyone starting out is this: connect with people in your field who genuinely inspire you—and make those connections personal. Many of the opportunities I’ve gotten, whether it’s playing shows or receiving support for my music, have come from simply being authentic, being myself, and reaching out to other creatives I admire. That’s actually how I put my band together—just putting the intention out into the universe, asking for what I wanted, and doing it without any hidden agenda. People can sense when you’re being disingenuous, especially now, in a time when social media is shifting toward realness and away from performative “influencer” culture. Authenticity truly stands out.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brookelenmusic.bandcamp.com
• Instagram: lucklaced
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brookelenmusic/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-tannehill-437554149/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Brookelen
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/brookelen
• Other: https://stuck-onthepuzzzle.tumblr.com

Image Credits

all photography credits go to Isabella O’Brien

Her Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabellaob/
https://www.instagram.com/home.skillet/