USA: SINGER JONATHA BROOKES STARTS HER OWN RECORD COMPANY TO PRODUCE HER LATEST ALBUM

Record ID: 388453

  • Title: USA: SINGER JONATHA BROOKES STARTS HER OWN RECORD COMPANY TO PRODUCE HER LATEST ALBUM
  • Date: 4th June 1999
  • Summary: (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) BROOKE SAYING: "It is one of the simplest songs I have ever written and that's another thing I've learned over the years is sometimes you just have to just let it be. That song kind of appeared on the page in twenty minutes and of course I wanted to complicate it and make it more elliptical and elusive and funky, and more vocals an
  • Embargoed: 19th June 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment,General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7CDKH5IDWAMIPSJA5GPT2HHY
  • Story Text: For some artists, parting ways with their record label can signal the end of their career.But for singer-songwriter Jonatha (Eds - Correct) Brooke, it turned out to be the beginning.
    After being unceremoniously dropped by her record company, MCA, Jonatha Brooke decided to go it alone.For her latest CD, "Jonatha Brooke Live" she started her own record label, Bad Dog Records.
    Brooke says, "There are only four record companies left, at least four big behemoth conglomerates.It's not really conducive to quirky artists, or the artists that may not sell a trillion million first time out of the gate, but are substantial and will be around for the next twenty years."
    If her current release is anything to go by, Brooke will be around for at least another twenty years.By capturing the hypnotic energy that Brooke radiates during a live performance, the CD not only pleases the most ardent Brooke fan, but also serves as an introduction to one of this countries most unique and talented singer-songwriters.
    The 35-year-old artist also talks about her evolved attitude toward fame and success.She said, "I don't have that need to you know like 'I wanna sell a trillion records, and be really famous' you know you really get over that pretty quickly."
    Brooke estimates that she has a core of about 100,000 fans who faithfully buy all of her albums.It was that base of support that gave her the faith to go it alone."I'd much rather have the fans I have than have sacrificed anything to get a million ten-year-old girls at my shows."
    Thankfully, the songwriter has successfully navigated the treacherous waters of the music industry.The layered melodies matched with her heartfelt lyrics make for a stunning combination.And sometimes they are more personal than she intended.Brooke admits, "It's not often until a year later when the CD is out and I can't do anything about it that I realize how personal things are, that I've been almost beyond myself and a year later it catches up on me...and wow, how vulnerable I am now."
    Her last album "10cent wings" was released in November 1997, and immediately took the critics by storm.She first emerged in 1989 in the highly acclaimed band "The Story".
    Their performances in New England caught the attention of famed producer Tommy LiPuma who signed them to Elektra.Led creatively by Brooke's songwriting, the band recorded two albums, "Grace in Gravity" and "The Angel in the House."
    In addition to starting her own label, Brooke sells her albums to her fans directly over the Internet via her website, www.johnathabrooke.com.So far, she said that the sales have been excellent, sometimes topping 1,000 CDs per day.
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