We were lucky to catch up with David Brookings recently and have shared our conversation below.

David , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I think I’ve had a unique path to doing this. I’m from Richmond, VA. and started playing guitar at 9 and writing songs at 11. Began playing in bands at 15, and moved to Memphis, TN. in 2001. I was a tour guide at Sun Studio for almost 7 years, and also recorded 3 albums in that same legendary room where Elvis and Johnny Cash began their careers. I gave a tour to Steve Jobs in the fall of ’09 and a few months later got an email asking if I’d like to work for Apple iTunes. I thought this was spam or a joke at first, but it was very real and they moved my wife and daughter and I from Memphis to the SF Bay Area in late 2009. I’ve been with iTunes / Apple Music ever since. I also still work very hard on my own music, and I’ve recorded 9n albums of original material, but under my own name – David Brookings – and with David Brookings and the Average Lookings. I feel like a double agent working on both sides of the music industry – there is the music business side of me that works for Apple, and at the same time my heart is still very much in the songwriting and performing side. Its been a fun and wild ride…

David , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I know there is a lot in this question, but I think I delved into some of it on the first question. As far as what I’m most proud of, I think it would have to be that I have never given up. I grew up with serval really talented musicians and songwriters who don’t do it anymore, and I can never understand that. I think you make time for what you love to do. As for the day job working at Apple Music, its a wonderful company and I’m proud to work there

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

For starters, society can start by being willing to pay $5 to see a local band, if they are willing to pay $900 to see Lizzo, lol. With all due respect to her, of course. See the issue for artists is there is no middle ground. It seems you are either super famous or nobody has ever heard of you. Or you are having to scrounge and struggle to get by making a living doing music. If I were only on the music songwriting / performing side, I’d be in trouble.

But its not just musicians that are creatives, of course. Writers, painters, poets, comedians, that stuff is all pure art, and it shouldn’t be such a struggle to have ordinary average folks support it. These folks are wired differently, and it means so much to them / us to feel like people are paying attention.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Good question. The goal or mission has always been to write songs and play music. When I moved from Richmond to Memphis, it was to be in a better music town. I should have probably moved to NY or LA or Nashville, but I guess everything worked out the way it was supposed to. I know it sounds cliche, but you have to follow your heart. I was always focused on music and I feel lucky that I at least knew what I wanted to do from a young age. Some people never decide on anything, you know

Contact Info:

• Website: https://davidbrookings.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidbrookings1/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.brookings.3
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-brookings-56955713/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidbrookings
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIEuOVqU46VHZzvUJA4ajsA