My guys and I met Brooke Waggoner at Grimey’s New & Preloved Music a few years ago during a Record Store Day event, and she became an instant favourite.  She has such a delicate voice which perfectly overlays her intricate piano.  I personally love all her music, but “Rumble” has been my definite Creative battle cry at times.  

Brooke will be part of The Great Aspirations of Sun Conductor at Old Made Good in Nashville on Saturday, September 20 at 7pm.  What a cool experience.  I am so happy to introduce Embody Your Muse readers to Brooke!

What does Creativity mean to you?

Freedom. Risk. Feeling understood and gaining deeper understanding by contributing in the way of making things.

How do you expand yourself creatively?

I always want to create new challenges and say yes to things that scare me. Meeting my heroes and not being afraid to put myself in a position of feeling inadequate and insecure; it’s really the only way to get better at what you do.

Were you creative as a child?  If so, how have you evolved through the years?  Did anyone encourage you, especially?

I was creative as a child. My parents were very encouraging with this. They never deterred me from wanting to do or make something. My mom saw to it that I had access to training in music even when funds were tight to ensure that I was always learning and being challenged.

What inspires you most?

Visuals inspire me a lot. Anything that’s interesting or slightly “off” in a way that requires my attention for awhile is inspiring. I play & listen to complex classical music when I want to unlock ideas and get the creative flow moving.

Do you daydream often?  If so, does it inform your work?

I go through seasons of daydreaming. It seems to be sectioned off based on the amount of work I have going or the projects that I’m involved with. When I’m traveling or on tour I get some of the strongest visions for future work and ideas.

How does a relationship and/or children affect your creativity?

It adds to the fullness of it all. Gives me more stories to pull from and creates a deeper support system of people that are rooting for me. Grateful for those relationships.

How do you deal with creative dry spells?  Do you make space for them, or push through?

I now understand them when they’re present. I no longer panic and question my life choices or the fact that I’m making art & music for an occupation. It’s literally just a “spell” and it always passes. There’s too much to do, see and make to feel limited during these times.

Do you have any other mediums you use to express yourself creatively?

I go through