Brookelen’s Intense Second Single “Hey” Out Now!

by Nadya Barghouty

PHOTO BY HALEY LUX

Growing up in a military family, indie newcomer Brookelen is no stranger to adapting to an unfamiliar environment. But with an ever changing landscape, her writing never left the confines of her head and heart. Recently, however, she has found a tight-knit community in LA that has helped her open up to the world.. This past January, on her folksy first single, “Seeker,” Brookelen took us along on her journey of self-healing and introspection. Today, she releases her second single, “Hey,” which is a more indie-rock leaning, angsty reflection on love and loss.

“Hey” begins with a delicate sincerity, yet Brookelen’s vocals almost feel deceitfully apathetic. However, her apathy soon breaks, and with each verse, Brookelen seems more invested in her words. Similar to the timeline of a modern relationship, the single builds from a neutral place to a cacophony of emotion. While the instruments build, Brookelen passionately begins building as well, constructing a narrative around our inherent quest for connection. Brookelen’s airy, romantic vocals contrast the track’s darker sound. The two come together when Brookelen's voice denotes total anguish, aided by heavy drums and a screeching guitar. Each moment in the track is backed by a snappy drum beat and a deep feeling of loneliness.

Loneliness can only truly be quelled by self-acceptance and personal healing. “Hey” is a depiction of the emotional chaos one goes through when starting and losing a romantic relationship. Especially in the internet age, ‘Hey’ is often the way we start a conversation. Underneath the surface of the word, there can be a lot of different feelings. Mainly, the idea of just wanting to be heard and received by the other party is the most important.  

2023 will be a year of many firsts for Brookelen: new singles, a debut EP, and live shows. With her whole career ahead of her, Brookelen is ready to dive deep and embrace change. Inspired by her community in LA and artists like The Japanese House, Alice Phoebe Lou, and Dora Jar, Brookelen is creating her own dreamy sound. At the beginning of “Seeker,” there is a clip of Brookelen sighing, “Drums are great. I’m gonna learn drums… at some point.” To me, her expression somehow captures the feeling of her music: difficult actions or feelings confronted with earnest storytelling and a vulnerable confidence. Here at Pleaser, we can’t wait to hear what other concepts this LA newcomer carefully dissects with an indie-folk flare.