Edinburgh’s Brooke Combe only has one single to her name, but the anthemic ‘Are You With Me?’ is a pulsating smash that suggests that she is firmly on the path to stardom.
Combe’s debut single arrived through Island just a few weeks ago. Sounding like an artist who knows her creative vision perfectly, Combe is undoubtedly primed to take over. It’s rare to hear a debut single that grabs you by your lapels in the same way as ‘Are You With Me?’ does. After listening to the emphatic effort, it was only right that we got Brooke to take part in Far Out’s ‘New Noise’ feature, a series that highlights a brand new artist before they become a household name.
Over the last twelve months, you may have stumbled across Combe on social media after she went viral with a cover of Baccara’s ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’, which unofficially became Scotland’s Euro 2020 anthem. Combe has also racked up hundreds of thousands of views with delectable covers by her heroes like Arctic Monkeys and Marvin Gaye, which showcase her star quality.
Music has been a constant in her life since she got her first toy drum kit as a 5-year-old. The multi-instrumentalist can also play the saxophone, trombone, guitar, bass and piano on top of owning one hell of a stylish and strapping voice. There’s a timeless nature to Combe’s sound, and when you’re gifted with a voice as distinguished as hers, then who needs to use autotune.
“I’m excited about everyone’s reaction,” Combe says about the elated reaction to her debut single. “People have been loving the song, which means a lot because we all worked really hard on it. It’s not really sunk in that I have all these people supporting me. It’s crazy, and I’m really grateful. It’ll be good to see everyone at a live gig soon,” the 21-year-old adds.
Combe has surrounded herself in good company on her debut single, which she recorded at Liverpool’s Parr Street Studio alongside the more than capable hands of The Coral’s James Skelly and his partner in crime Chris Taylor. Blossoms’ bassist Charlie Salt also plays on ‘Are You With Me?’, which further proves the talent that she has fighting in her corner.
Working alongside artists like Skelly and Salt, who have been there and done it so to speak, has been a positive learning curve for Combe, who can only see the benefits from absorbing yourself with acclaimed musicians. “Working with James and Charlie has been really good,” Combe comments. “I’ve learned a lot, and I’m basically just trying to absorb everything to become a better musician and songwriter.”
As her rise has taken place throughout the coronavirus lockdown, Combe is one of many artists who’ve not yet had the opportunity to play to their new-found fanbase. Her debut headline performance is taking place at the home of Scottish music, Glasgow’s legendary King Tuts, on August 5th.
Everybody from Oasis to Rage Against The Machine has stepped foot on the hallowed King Tuts stage on St. Vincent Street, and Combe is excited about adding her name to that esteemed list of alumni. “I’m definitely nervous about doing my first headline show at King Tuts,” Combe admits. “However, I can’t wait to just see everyone and watch their reactions to some of the songs they won’t have heard yet.” On what fans should expect from the show, Combe says: “I think people should expect some good vocals and a heartfelt performance, but at the same time, it’ll just be dead chilled.”
The show is already sold out but keep an eye for more gigs in the pipeline from Combe, and in a couple of years, you’ll be reminiscing about seeing the Scottish singer-songwriter before she was famous.
