Meet Brooke Combe, the Scottish singer who wants to make the UK soulful again

“I’m daaaaancing… at the edge of the world,” comes Brooke Combe’s soul-soaked mission statement on her most recent single of the same name, backed by soft, flitting drums and funk-driven grooves.

As far as lead singles go, this first taste of her debut album is the perfect reflection of what the Edinburgh star is all about. After departing a major label, she says that the track represents her own newfound musical freedom. As an artist, Combe leans into classic soul-stylings, but she says that the success of artists such as Michael Kiwanuka have convinced her that the UK is ready to truly embrace soul music once again.

Now, with her album just around the corner, it seems like Combe is more than ready to be the flag-bearer for this revival. You can read our full Q&A with Brooke Combe below.

You’re about to enter the start of your album era, Brooke. How much of a new start is this for you?

We were working out the singles from it a while ago and I was just properly stressing the heck out, I wasn’t in album mode or single mode. I had a proper word with myself and realised it’s the start of a completely new era. I just knew I had to focus on myself, my career, have some fun and just go for it. So now I’m ready and I’m absolutely buzzing.

You’ve parted ways with a major label too – what impact has that had on our career, both creatively and personally?

I’ve not really spoken about the the whole label thing that much just because I don’t want to burn any bridges. It’s something that happens. But for me, as a creative, it made me probably the least creative I’ve ever been, being signed to a major label.

You don’t really know that you’re quite naive going into it and it’s one of those things where when I was in it, it wasn’t what I expected. I just wanted to strip it back to when I didn’t have hoops to jump through and parting ways has given me the clarity I needed. The album had pretty much written itself when I’d left, and I definitely needed that. I was struggling with a lot of self-doubt so it was a good experience, a good learning curve. I won’t be jumping into bed anytime soon with another one though.

What did that experience teach you about yourself?

Well, I was actually getting a lot of mixed opinions from people quite close to me, family and friends and stuff. And there was people saying why don’t you just do what the labels ask and get to a certain point and then you’ll have your own creative freedom.

As someone who struggles with mental health, that was always going to be a recipe for disaster and I’m very strong minded. I was speaking to my mum about it and she just told me I’m someone where if I don’t want to do something, I won’t. So why are you going to start doing it now? There’s all these businessmen in suits saying you’ll have this certain type of life if you do it, but for me it’s just like, ‘Nah’. In one of my lyrics I say “I won’t sell my soul,” and that’s who I am, you know. I’ve got a strong mind, I know I’m a good musician, I know I’m a good songwriter and I want to show that. I’m quite proud of myself for sticking to my guns.

And if you did take that path, you’d risk losing the essence of yourself right?

100 per cent. It’s also about setting an example for other people that potentially are going to end up in a similar position. I just want to be honest and transparent about what the industry is like. I’m not in the industry to get to the top of the charts or to be loaded with money. It’s about music for me, first and foremost. It’s my happy place, so I’m never going to jeopardise that for somebody else’s happiness or somebody else’s money.

What did you want to achieve with your debut album and what does it say about you as an artist?

I think people are going to be really surprised in the best way because this is the most authentic piece of work I’ve ever created, and you can see the time that’s gone into it. I had quite a good couple of years developing my songwriting and even my singing has changed. To be honest, it’s a lot more raw.

That was something we wanted to make sure we captured, we did everything with a live band and recorded it to tape as well. I’m also not just writing about my own like experiences or things I’m going through. We’re moving on from that and I’m starting to write through other people’s eyes and become a bit more of a storyteller.

Are there any particular tracks where that translates most strongly?

A couple of songs feature experiences that my dad was going through and it’s not my story to tell, but he was going through some things with his wife and that was a mad learning curve for me, because I began to notice that the push and pull between the two of them was almost like teenagers. But he’s very happy with the songs as well, I think he’s quite chuffed at being a little muse for me.

Was there any sonic touch stones on the album? Defining soul artists maybe?

There was a lot of just old ’70s soul tunes. I love Marvin Gaye, Baby Huey, William DeVaughn, they were a massive influence. But some of my influences were quite folky in a way too, we just wanted to look at the chords for this album and make it more old school soul. Because there’s a lot of brilliant neo-soul artists at the moment, but my voice is more suited to the old school. It’s got an edge to it, I think.

Does ‘Dancing At the Edge of the World’ – your most recent single – reflect the journey so far?

Yeah! My producer James Skelly and I are always texting back and forth about poems and books and he found that title in a phrase describing Marilyn Monroe, I think it was from an ex-lover of hers. It was really fitting because i’d just split with a major label and I felt free, like I was dancing at the edge of the world. It’s a bold song and it was important that it was the first single because it takes off to the place immediately after the split.

This, of course, is our PlayNext series. What’s your elevator pitch for someone who asks about your music?

I’d say I’m 24, I’m from Scotland and you don’t really hear a lot of soul from here. Since Paolo Nutini, I’m missing that thing from Scotland. I’ve grown up in a relatively white constituency and I’m doing it for my people and my heritage too. I’m a soul singer and I want to bring back the tunes I grew up listening to and I know there’s a whole era of people who want that again. We listen to old records because nothing feels like it’s up to scratch. I love people like Michael Kiwanuka and we need more of that in the UK. More soul in the UK! We just need to expand our minds.