BROOKI: "WE JUST LOVE PLAYING SHOWS" |

INTERVIEW | BROOKI – SOUND CITY by Morgan Hermiston

At Sound City in Liverpool this year, I had a quick chat with Brooki. Having only formed in 2023, the Dublin four-piece have quickly made a name for themselves. Before their set later that afternoon, we spoke about unique music tastes, highlights of their career so far, and what they’re looking forward to in the future.

Shining Light on Diverse Music Tastes

I first asked Brooki if there was anyone who they had discovered accidentally, who have now become staples in their music taste. “There definitely is…I often try to find new bands in the scene a lot of the time. I recently found out about that band Bones, who are now called Morningstar, that are playing today at the same venue as us, [Tunnel]. They seem super cool, I’m excited to see them. They sing in a Scouse accent, which is sick!“. They also added, “I was in a shop in London recently, and there was this tune called ‘Forgetting is Like Syrup‘ by these guys, Moin. I don’t know anything about them, but they seem so awesome“.

Sound City’s lineups always contain an incredibly diverse range of acts, so I wanted to know if there were bands Brooki think are perhaps polar opposites to them, or other people they listen to. “Westside Cowboy,” they said, “I love Westside Cowboy, but we’re not too like them really…but I think they’re so class“.

Additionally, they shouted out Little Grandad, “we’re also big Little Grandad fans. Those guys, we played a show with them in London a while ago and they’re just great, their vibe is fantastic. [They’re] not super like ourselves but we really like them, and they’re really lovely guys“.

Brooki (Lucy McLachlan/Northern Exposure)

Honouring Grassroot Venues

Though they’re still and up-and-coming act, I wanted to know if Brooki had played any venues so far that really stand out to them, in either the UK or Ireland. “In Ireland, the Róisín Dubh in Galway, because that’s where I’m from. It’s a special room for me to play because I grew up going to shows there and stuff like that, so it’s really nice. When we played our first short headline show there, it’s quite emotional in a way“

Adding to this, “one of my other favourite venues that we played was the Village Underground in London“. Booki supported Keo there, “that was super cool ad we were delighted about that“. They also added, “the Salty Dog stage at Electric Picnic because I’m also local to it, and it’s the one stage that stays somewhat constructed all year round..you can try [to] go see it“.

Sound City Set and Acts to See

Asking Brooki what they were looking forward to in their set at Tunnel that afternoon, they told me: “We have a new song that we haven’t played live yet,” they said, “looking forward to breaking that one in“. Continuing, they said they “got to play this venue [Tunnel] last year, it was the first time that I played abroad so it’ll be fun, kind of, revisiting that a year later…buzzing for the new tunes“.

Discussing the new song(s) in a little more detail, they said, “for the one new tune, just the new set in general, we’re really excited about [it] because I think it signifies a new era for the band. We’re just excited to share it with everyone!“

We quickly spoke about who was on our list to see that day too. Other than Little Grandad, “Bleech 9:3. The Love Buzz are playing, I’m a big fan of the Love Buzz. They’re really good, and I haven’t seen them live in years, so I’m very excited about that. I haven’t seen Bleech [9:3] in years either. Tough Cookie as well, they’re awesome“.

Highlights and Future Plans

The final question I asked Brooki surrounded highlights in their career so far, as well as things they were looking forward to. To start with, they said they’re, “looking forward to making more songs and recordings…finally, hopefully, maybe someday releasing a song. And just touring, we just love playing shows“.

Continuing, “I think the Keo tour was probably our biggest milestone so far, shout out to them, we love them! it was quite a big thing to undertake at the time, but we had great people. and we had great vibes the whole time, that was class”. This year, “I think we have a really busy festival season coming up over here. We’re really excited to jsut play fun shows and share cool music with the whole country“.

Another thing Brooki are looking forward to is to “play bills with our friends. That’s really special because we don’t see each other that often anymore, because everyone’s always touring. So getting to play some shows at festivals with our mates, like Bleech and Keo, that’ll be really sweet“.

Brooki’s Sound City set forms part of numerous other UK dates this year. Check out their Instagram post below for details on future dates, which include this year’s Tramlines and Truck Festival.