The Midlands is a region shaped by pop music, with a long list of artists who are global superstars.
A young Oz Brooks is looking to be the next to break into a highly competitive industry, to join a list including Slade, Led Zeppelin and Ozzy Osbourne, and bring his unique sound and music-writing.
Oscar has an ever-growing catalogue of music, with his most recent release being what he describes as the highlight of his discography.
The album is what he says is “a sign of things to come”, after a positive reaction across social media following its release
In a generation of artists whose success can largely be measured by numbers on a screen, opportunities can be endless.
Oscar is no stranger to the social media game, garnering thousands of views on TikTok.
Digital platforms such as TikTok have allowed Oscar to reach his own niche and create his own base of hardcore fans.
He said:”Social media has been a really good tool – I’ve been able to reach so many people and express myself fully.
“The music landscape has completely changed. 10 years ago, you needed a label just to have a chance of being successful
‘Now any video I upload has a chance of going viral and reaching people from all corners of the world.”
Similar to most new and emerging artists, Oscar’s music has an air of authenticity in an age where music is produced on lavish budgets.
Brooks’ beginnings are humble, starting with a laptop, a desk and a guitar. And he does every step of the creative process himself.
“The creative process is my favourite part of being a musician, there’s no magic behind it, I just start playing the acoustic guitar until I find something I like.
“For me, creating is the most exciting part of the job, being able to express myself however I see fit, and I think expression is really important.”
Still in the early stages of his career, Brooks represents the new generation of artists, part of the social media wave, using apps such as TikTok to gain notoriety.
The now 19-year-old reflects on some of the UK’s most iconic bands as his inspirations.
“I discovered The Beatles at 12, and that was where I found my passion for music and creating sound.”
Oscar himself describes his sound as “acoustic folk rock, inspired by the sounds of the 60s and 70s”.
“I want to create music that acknowledges the past greats and shows appreciation for their sounds.”
Although Brooks is at the start of his musical journey, he has already achieved so much – along with the EPs and albums, he has performed supporting many bands all over the West Midlands.
“Playing live really helps you understand what works best in your music, hearing the excitement of a crowd when a certain riff starts playing is a really special feeling.
“Performing live has been one of my proudest moments, it’s more than just music, it’s connecting with people
“It’s unlike any other feeling I’ve ever felt and makes all the hard work you put into a track worth it
Looking towards the future, Brooks is always recording and creating new sounds, experimenting with his style.
“I have loads of new releases planned. I haven’t got a title for an EP yet, but I’m constantly writing and hopeful that something gets released soon.”
For such a new artist, the young guitarist is glowing with confidence in his own work. However, there’s one song for Oscar that stands out above the rest on his latest album, The Evergreen Tragedy.
He said: “It’s one of my favourites because of how hard I worked on it; I did every step of the creative process myself, and I feel I ended up with something really unique and something to be proud of for the rest of my career.”
The young artist has now laid the foundations of his career, whilst still being a new name within the industry, the young musician has the drive and motivation to succeed.
The release of four projects only further echoes this unwavering motivation.
So, for any music fans looking to add a new artist to their playlist, Oz Brooks could be a name to keep an eye on.
