For years, Brooke Martin has been a prominent figure in the music scene, and you may already be familiar with her as the 2023 Young Artist of the Year nominee for the ACMA. As the only two-time 2022 Glover Award winner for songwriting, Brooke captured attention with her original songs “Love Me Not” and “Black Mirror.” The latter also earned a spot as a top 10 finalist in the prestigious Songtank songwriting competition.
You can trace Brooke’s musical journey back to when she was just 13 years old. Her family encouraged her to compete in the “Voice of the Ocean” competition, where she won the famous Voice trophy. Since then, Brooke has taken her talents across various stages, performing in front of thousands in Branson at the Clay Cooper Theater, as well as in notable venues in Nashville, Little Rock, and her hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
As a current resident and student at Belmont University, you’ll find that Brooke has built a reputation both on campus and back home for her unique voice and distinctive musical style. She’s graced live radio and television several times, including a spot on YoCo FM Nashville, showcasing her pure and beautiful voice that fits effortlessly across a range of music genres.
If you’re looking for industry validation, Las Vegas-based 31 Records executive Joe Domenech recently discovered Brooke’s first release, “Worried,” during a national live streaming event—and he was so impressed that he likened her to “Michael Jordan” in an NBA draft scenario. This high praise led to Brooke winning a sponsored artist promotion with the record company, highlighting her rising status in the music industry.
Right now, Brooke is gearing up to release her debut EP, “At Least I’m Trying,” with the lead single “cross that line,” which was released on June 6th. You’ll find that the single was co-written with Brooke’s long-time producer and collaborator Andrew Kirk and co-produced by GRAMMY Award winner Chris Penny. This track ignited the creative spark for the entire EP and continues to be one of Brooke’s personal favorites.
When you listen to “cross that line,” you experience the emotional nuance of a fading relationship, where the connection that once felt effortless is starting to unravel. Brooke’s honest storytelling combines with a catchy, polished sound to create a moment that’s both cathartic and danceable. It’s a testament to her ability to blend meaningful lyrics with music that moves you physically and emotionally.
If you’re interested in discovering a fresh artist with genuine talent, Brooke Martin’s journey and sound are well worth your attention. Her blend of heartfelt songwriting, powerful vocals, and engaging performances promises a bright future in music that invites you to be part of her story from the very beginning.
What led you to become a music artist, and what advice can you give to others aspiring to make a hit?
My mom actually pushed me into starting a music career. We went on a trip to Hawaii on a cruise, and there was a big singing competition on the ship. Back then I had a lot of stage fright, so I never wanted to sing in front of anyone. My mom promised me she would buy me the brand-new iPhone X if I entered the competition and I ended up winning. It was such a cool moment because I was also able to get over my fear of performing publicly. I actually found that I really liked it once I was on the stage. Since then I have been performing anywhere I can and making my own music.
The advice I would give to anyone aspiring to have a music career is to never let fear stop you from pursuing your dreams, and no matter how difficult it may get, never give up
What would you be doing right now if it weren’t for your music career?
I think I would be at a different college; currently, I pursue music business at Belmont. I have always wanted to go to a big school, particularly the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. However, the best place for me to be in order to pursue my music career is in Nashville and with Belmont. I have had to prioritize my music career over a lot of other things, but I wouldn’t change it for the world—when you know you are meant to do something, you do everything you can to pursue it.
Do you have any rituals before you hit the stage? If so, what are they?
I always say a prayer before I do any performance and thank the Lord for blessing me and giving me a passion and something to go after. I thank Him for all He has done for me, and I pray for a good performance.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Tate McRae has been my number one artist for so many years. I have been following her before she became big and I have always wanted to collaborate with her. Khalid is another top choice for me because I just love his voice and have always loved all the collaborations he does with female pop artists.
What is your favorite song to perform?
It changes all the time, but right now it’s probably “cross that line” because that’s my lead single release from this EP, and it is such a fun and upbeat song. When I perform it, it’s usually just me and my guitar, so it’s a very stripped-back version of what the song actually sounds like. I like how when I perform it live, you can really focus on the lyrics and how sad and emotional the song really is.
What’s your least favorite personality trait you like about yourself?
I love to be alone a lot of the time, which unfortunately makes it hard to form connections and go out to events that could be beneficial to my career. I find peace in the alone time, and it can really give me the time to reflect, which I think comes out in my songs, but I am working on being more social this year as well.
What’s your favorite sports team and why?
I will always rep the Tennessee Titans and Tennessee Vols! Although I didn’t grow up in Tennessee, I have been coming to Tennessee and particularly Nashville my entire life. My grandparents lived an hour outside of Nashville, and I have always thought of Tennessee as home. If I weren’t pursuing a music career, I would have probably gone to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville because I’ve always loved to cheer on the Vols.
What would you do if you had to work but didn’t need the money
I would make music!! Put songs out in the world and perform them at shows! I love sharing my music with the world, and if I could do just that every day, that would be my ideal life.
If you could have any superhero power, what would it be and why?
I want to be able to read people’s minds! I always find myself wondering what people are thinking, and I think it would be such a cool power to have.
Do you have a cherished childhood teddy bear or other stuffed animal sitting on your bed at home?
Yes, his name is Nacho. He is a little chihuahua Beanie Boo. I used to be obsessed with collecting Beanie Boos as a child, and nacho was the first one I ever got and has always been my favorite
