Harmonious melodies played by Brooke Parrott and other talented collaborators from all over the country are the background for the 24-year-old’s impeccable voice. Blues, Americana and folk music genres heavily influence the lyric-driven songs on her upcoming debut album, “Another City.” Parrott will release the album on Friday at Cozmic Pizza in Eugene.
Parrott’s mission extends beyond just making beautiful music. During her second semester at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she has a degree in songwriting, the young musician founded Student Musicians Against AIDS. Organizing benefit concerts for the group, Parrott has helped it raise thousands of dollars for deserving AIDS organizations all over the world. This Friday’s release show will benefit LifeLovers, an organization that funds HIV/AIDS education for children in Ghana. The organization’s current project, the Circle of Life shelter, will provide refuge and an education facility for children who have lost their guardians to AIDS.
“LifeLovers is a cause that I feel very passionately about, and I’m glad I can support them through my music,” Parrott said.
Brooke Parrott
WHAT: | Release show for Parrott’s debut album, “Another City,” and AIDS fundraiser |
WHEN: | Friday, May 9 |
WHERE: | Cozmic Pizza, 199 West 8th Avenue, Eugene |
COST: | $5 suggested donation (Buys two raffle tickets for wine raffle). Fifty percent of proceeds go to LifeLovers, an AIDS education program for children in Ghana |
A Eugene-native, Parrott started singing and rhyming at age four. She began playing piano at age six after her twin brother decided the instrument just was not for him. Shortly after she began lessons, 9-year-old Parrott began to write music. She continued her piano lessons for 18 more years. And her mom never had to tell her to practice; Parrott had an affinity for playing the piano.
The piano used for recording “Another City” is the grand piano she grew up playing at her parents’ home in Eugene.
A graduate of South Eugene High School, Parrott attended the University of Oregon for one year before moving to Seattle for two years to pursue her music career. While in Seattle, Parrott re-auditioned for Berklee College of Music to see if she could increase her scholarship money. Berklee increased her scholarship and Parrott moved to Boston in 2005 to study music.
The lyrics of Parrott’s songs are her pride and reflect personal experiences. She loves when her fans can relate to a whole song, a verse or even just one line in her songs. The personal nature of her lyrics adds the rawness and authenticity to the folkish instrumental sound. Parrott cites fellow singer/songwriters James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon and Fiona Apple as well as her many talented peers from Berklee as her greatest influences.
Parrott’s MySpace page offers visitors free downloads. The spread of her music through online sources like MySpace excites Parrott.
“It is interesting to watch how music can spread through MySpace,” Parrott said. “It started with people who knew me and has expanded out to a farther-reaching audience.”
After graduating Berklee last May, Parrott returned to Eugene. She began working on “Another City” in Boston prior to leaving and made trips back to Boston to record over the past year. Eugene holds a special place in Parrott’s heart. She knew she wanted to release her album here.
“Releasing my album in Eugene was very important to me because my family and friends are here,” Parrott said. “When I play a show in Eugene, I always see someone I have known since I was about 8 years old.”
Parrott will start the next adventure of her life in London when she moves there in two weeks. While in London playing shows, as well as some performances in Ireland, Parrott plans to focus on writing new music for her next album.
For more information, check out Parrott’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com/brookeparrot.