Brooke Combe is not one to keep her emotions hidden – they are evident in her music. After a brief stint with a major label that saw her predicted to make a significant impact, it's her independent debut that truly captures her unique sound.
Released through Modern Sky, ‘Dancing At The Edge Of The World’ is a remarkable collection – a soulful, vintage-styled album that feels refreshingly original. Brooke Combe avoids repetitive trends, carving out her distinct space within the R&B tradition.
Produced by James Skelly, this energetic 32-minute project pulses with vitality. Featuring insightful songwriting layered over a Motown-inspired backbeat, ‘Dancing At The Edge Of The World’ shares stories of escaping small-town life, lost love, and the importance of music in her daily experience.
CLASH spoke with Brooke Combe to learn more.
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This album seems like a fresh start for you – when did the work on it begin? Did you have a clear vision from the beginning?
When I parted ways with Island Records, the album almost wrote itself. Before that, I struggled with my confidence while attending various songwriting sessions with talented producers and songwriters, which was quite challenging for me.
I had a few older ideas from about five years ago saved on my phone that ended up being part of the album. We consciously started working on it around 2022.
How does your songwriting process typically unfold? Is it quick, or does it require more effort? What drives your ideas?
I’m not usually the type to say, “I’m going to write about this specific topic.” I need to connect with a feeling that inspires me to write or be influenced by a certain chord progression. I'm currently working on improving my storytelling skills.
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James Skelly plays a significant role in the album’s creation; how did you two meet? What was your creative dynamic like in the studio?
I met James in 2020 when I started visiting Liverpool Parr St. I believe we have a great understanding of each other, which makes our collaboration enjoyable. He often shares music, book, and film recommendations with me, broadening my creative influences. Sometimes, he’ll send me ideas, and I'll experiment to find what fits my voice, or I’ll share ideas with him that he then shapes into what they become.
For this specific album, many of the concepts originated from my thoughts, which my guitarist Danny Murphy and I demoed. This gave James a better sense of the direction we wanted for the album.
You’ve mentioned that Liverpool feels like a second home! What resonates with you about the city?
There’s a lot that I connect with in Liverpool. The people make me feel at home with their cheerful and helpful nature, similar to the Scots. The food scene is also fantastic, especially the Mexican cuisine, which is my favorite. I also appreciate the city’s culture, which made me feel welcome right away. Coming from the outskirts of Edinburgh, I sometimes feel out of place due to the lack of diversity in my hometown.
‘This Town’ is a brilliant opener for the album – what inspired this song?
This track captures the experience of being from a small town. I feel that people can adopt a certain mindset and a "living for the weekend" mentality, which I was starting to outgrow. Living in a small town can feel a bit claustrophobic, as everyone knows each other’s business.
’Shaken By The Wind’ features an incredibly strong vocal – what fuels that emotion? How is it performing that song live?
I love performing that song live because it fits my vocal range beautifully. Honestly, the emotion just comes from deep within me. It’s hard to put into words!
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The arrangements have a lot of subtleties – the acoustic guitar in ‘Guilt’ or the organ in ’If I Could Only Be Yours’ – did you experiment much in the studio, or did you have a clear vision in mind?
We were somewhat pressed for time during the album's production and didn’t want to waste time exploring numerous ideas. For the organ on ‘If I Could Only Be Yours’, we had a specific sound in mind based on our demo. The same goes for ‘Guilt’. A fun fact is when Danny and I went to LA, we collaborated with Paul Butler from The Bees on ‘Guilt’. His arrangement largely influenced the album's direction, and we were all keen on that style and sound.
How do you feel now that the album is finished? The response from fans and critics has been overwhelmingly positive!
I’m thrilled that it’s finally released! It’s been a long wait for me, and I believe fans feel the same. It feels good to fully know my place as an artist, especially since my previous mixtape included a collection of unreleased tracks that lacked a unifying theme. It didn’t quite represent me well, though it did capture a moment in time. Now, I feel I’m evolving.
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Brooke Combe is not one to conceal her feelings - they are clearly expressed in her music. A short-lived partnership with a major label had the Scottish singer projected for a breakout, but it