We were lucky to catch up with Brooks Kidd recently and have shared our conversation below.
Brooks, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
My musical journey started in elementary and middle school, where I got my start in choir and learned the basics of piano and vocal technique through lessons, even though I was usually reluctant to go. In everything I learned, I was never given the chance to perform my own music, even though that is truly what I enjoyed. Soon, I found musical theater, which further sparked my interest and passion in music. During high school, I continued working with ensembles and performing in musicals, but eventually, I began to write original music, both instrumentally as a pianist and vocally as a singer. It wasn’t until I auditioned for American Idol that I even thought of pursuing music seriously as a career. From that experience, I gained confidence in my ability and experience in high-level environments, and I got to see the music industry hands-on for the first time. This was one of the most crucial moments that shaped me into who I am today. After airing on national television, I was fortunate enough to connect to songwriters and producers in Nashville who helped me figure out who I am as an artist. Another crucial part of my training is my collegiate education in vocal music. At Eastern Kentucky University, I have had the privilege to study vocal music under Dr. Joyce Hall Wolf, who has stretched my vocal ability more than any mentor. Although I do not often perform classical music commercially, the technique and training are still relevant.
In every aspect of my training thus far, I most often notice the importance of three skills. First, my vocal training has strengthened my voice from weak to strong. Quite literally, it made me into the vocalist I am today. Next is my training in piano, both through lessons during my teens and my courses in college. It is instrumental for a vocalist to be able to accompany themselves when they perform. In over half of the times I have performed, I have performed alone with a mic and a keyboard. It adds so much versatility to you as an artist.
Knowing what I know now, I wish I had taken more time in high school and my first few years of college writing music. The aspect of my artistry that I wish I had more work in is how to write songs that express how I feel while also resonating with an audience. Part of me overcoming that fear of failure is releasing my debut album, featuring seven original songs.
In any aspect of my training, whether it be vocally, instrumentally, or in my songwriting, the only obstacle I faced was myself. I have traditionally been unconfident until I gained that from competing on American Idol. That is where I learned the difference between confidence and ego. I have learned to appreciate where I have been and where I am going. The point of a journey is to learn and improve. I definitely have much more to learn, but I do my best every day and strive for more vocal strength, comfort on the piano, and confidence in my songwriting.
Brooks, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Born and raised in London, Kentucky, I am a 22-year-old singer/songwriter. Although I have performed locally throughout my childhood and teenage years, it wasn’t until 2021 that I considered music as a solo artist. That year, I was afforded the opportunity to audition and compete on American Idol Season 20. Auditioning in Nashville, I sang “Mad World” by Tears for Fears in front of judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie. After receiving three yesses and a Golden Ticket, I competed in Hollywood. Once the show aired in 2022, I gained recognition, experience, and opportunity. It allowed me to enter the music industry, and I have been running with it since.
Currently, I perform as a solo artist and with my band, McKane. I have performed at music festivals and venues across Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, and Ohio. I am working on my summer tour but will soon release my debut album, juxtaposition. I never thought I would ever make a complete solo project, but here I am after two years of writing, performing, and recording. Other artists have always inspired me, and I want to treat my original music with the most care I can, putting extra effort into the writing and production of the songs and the campaign that comes with it. I have had a blast doing the behind-the-scenes aspects of releasing a project. Being an independent and unsigned artist, you must learn how to do many things independently. I try to do as much work as possible, but for photoshoots, editing, and production, I like to outsource to talented individuals and creatives in my community. For example, the photo shoot for the record was done by Keshia Amburgey, an incredible photographer based out of London, KY.
Many of my inspirations are a culmination of aspects of some of my favorite artists from different times in my life. I enjoy the style of dodie, the musical style of Phoebe Bridgers and The 1975, and the album campaigns of Sleep Token, to name a few.
One of the aspects that sets me apart from other artists is my drive and my pathway. I have learned that the support and ideas of others are never enough to take you to the next level of artistry; you have to go on your own journey to discover who you are, what inspires you, and what makes you happy. For a long time, I allowed the thoughts of friends and family to become my own. It wasn’t until I started college in the fall of 2021 that I began to find myself. Here, I became a self-starter and understood that not one person or thing will carry you to success as an artist. True artistry takes time, experience, and failure. To extend, I have learned to value and learn from my mistakes, treating every moment as an opportunity to grow. This is why I push myself to go beyond what I think I am capable of, which is made possible through passion and drive. While pursuing music, I am simultaneously completing an education at Eastern Kentucky University, majoring in music industry, minoring in business, studying in EKU’s honors college, serving as an officer of two student organizations, and performing in multiple collegiate ensembles including choir and opera. Additionally, I am preparing for a career in music law, leading to another aspect of who I am that sets me apart from other artists. After experiencing the music industry in multiple facets, I am becoming a lawyer to represent artists and labels to try and re-establish fairness in the industry, even at a local level. I am passionate about music and helping those who need it. This career path allows me to do both simultaneously and the freedom to pursue music financially as an independent artist. I want to make music I enjoy and pursue a career that can help those around me. All in all, what I am most proud of is that I discovered my passions when I did, so now I have the opportunity to follow my passion and dream simultaneously, and as I said, I am determined to pursue what I am passionate about.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I had taken advantage of the full business side of the music industry. There are so many free resources for independent artists that can help make your marketing more commercial. For example, I have learned how to utilize Canva for many of the events and elements of my album campaign. Additionally, using sites like Bandsintown, Genius, Linktree, and others are great, affordable ways to market yourself and advertise live music, your original music, and all your socials in one, especially if you do not have a website. Before I knew about all of these, I was making my tour posters on Snapchat, which sounds insane now, but it worked for the time. Needless to say, if I were just starting, I would definitely take advantage of every free service you can that can help not only build your virtual presence but also your training in marketing.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having a medium that allows me to think and express freely and creatively without boundaries. I can write about personal situations or make up my own stories; the latter is what I have been most excited about recently. Music has always been my outlet, and playing the piano is soothing for my mind. I wouldn’t consider myself an anxious person, but I get stressed out often. Singing and playing the piano have always been able to help me out of that state. I am grateful that I discovered that outlet at an early age, as it is not so common among my peers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brookskidd.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookskiddmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrooksKiddMusic/
- Twitter: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fbrookskiddmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brookskiddmusic
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookskiddmusic
Image Credits
Keshia Amburgey and American Idol