Daniela Brooker

Amy Mallett

At just 18 years old, Daniela Brooker has achieved far more than most girls her age; touring the US as the face of the Hard Rock Cafe’s “Pinktober” campaign, as well as playing sold out UK venues such as Wembley arena whilst supporting The Saturdays last year.

Her latest self penned track “18” is due for release very soon so I caught up with her for a quick chat.

Hi Daniela, has it been a busy day?!

Yeah, I’ve just been in the studio writing and recording today so just been locked away in a vocal booth!

So, what’s been your highlight from the past 18 years?

I think the highlight for me was actually last year when I was supporting The Saturdays just because I got to play at Wembley Arena which has always been a dream of mine, so I think that’s definitely the highlight so far!

Can you tell us a bit more about the new song, “18”?

“18” is a song I actually wrote without any intention of it being a single or anything, it was just a track I wrote with my producer on the guitar and it was just a sweet love song and it’s about being young and reckless and in love. I’d literally just turned 18 when I wrote the song and then I’ve just filmed a video for it.

When’s it being released?

We actually don’t have a specific date, but it’ll be coming out in the early summer.

How old were you when you first realised you could sing?

I’ve been singing all my life, but I don’t know if it was good or bad! Then I got really serious about recording music when I was about 13 and I have literally been to the studio every week ever since. That’s really where I really got my love for pop music from. Before, I used to just sing covers and anywhere that would have me, but then the age of 13 was when I first loved commercial music.

How old were you when you wrote your first song?

I was about 12 or 13 actually. Some awful song, I think I actually have a little recording of it like “Summertime” or something. It’s a bit embarrassing, I don’t know if I’ll ever play it to anyone!

What kind of musical influences did you have growing up?

I used to listen to everything, my Dad was a massive AC/DC fan so I was really into my rock bands, like Aerosmith and things like that, but then at the same time I loved Eta James, I love Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, all the big husky singers… so loads of different people really!

What was the first concert you ever went to?

The first concert I ever went to… I think it was a Destiny’s Child concert and I remember just loving it from the moment it started. I love music but I also love the whole show business aspect of it, all the glitz and glamour I love as well so that was definitely an appropriate show to get me into it! I’ve just always been into music; I haven’t really done anything else I just love it all so much. Performing live and writing as well as singing.

You toured the US last year?

Yeah, I toured the US in November, I was the face of Hard Rock Cafe’s Pinktober campaign which was for breast cancer awareness. I toured round America and played at different venues then after I’d played at the Hard Rock’s I’d go play at nightclubs so I’d sometimes play three shows a day, it was amazing. It was just so cool and it was just so crazy like one moment we were in snow and then we were in Palm Springs in the sunshine so it was just crazy, a really good experience.

How was it touring with The Saturdays?

It was really good, they’re so lovely, I really learnt a lot. It was my first time obviously being on an arena tour which is so different to playing smaller venues so it was incredible. They’re just so lovely and their crew are really cool as well so it was a really cool time.

Are you still in touch with them?!

I’ve not stayed in touch with them no, they have very busy schedules but I’m sure if I see them out and about I’d say hello!

How did you going on tour with them come about?

Well basically I’d been playing London gigs and smaller venues around the UK for a long time and it got to a point where I was like, “how can I get to the next level and play to bigger audiences rather than at up to 400 capacity clubs and stuff” so my team were looking at me possibly supporting a bigger act and then The Saturdays came about and we got in contact and it just kind of happened! I didn’t really think it was going to happen, I was mentioned it a few months before and I just thought “yeah, whatever, it’s not really going to happen” you get pitched a lot of things and then we got the phone call saying I’d got the support slot which I was so excited about, it was amazing.

So where do you see yourself in the next 18 months? What are the plans?!

I will be having an album out, which I’m very excited about; it’s a very different style to what everyone’s heard so far, so we’re releasing that and then videos and things to with it and tour! Back on tour!

Your own tour this time?!

Well I hope so! If not, then some other big artists, supporting them but I hope to have my own tour very soon, yes!

What about in 18 years time?

Wow, 18 years! I hope to have many albums out, I’d love to go on a world tour that’s my ultimate dream and just making music that people love and just being able to perform live. I’m a bit music obsessed I guess!

Well, enjoy the rest of your day in the studio! Are you finished yet?

No I’m not, I’ll be here probably until late today so half way there!

No chance of getting out into the sun then?!

Nooo. I get to go out sometimes for little breaks, so it’s like five minutes break then it’s like “ahh I’ve got to go back into the darkness”….

It’ll be worth it when you’ve got your world tour though!

Yeah, definitely!

See the video for Daniela’s last single “Forget about Yesterday” below:

And don’t forget to keep an eye on here for details of “18”’s release date, coming soon!