Brooke Michelle begins writing, finding release as her emotions course from her mind to her pen. Pouring her experiences onto paper, the lyrics entangle themselves with melody, inviting listeners to relate to experiences.
“When I’m writing, I try to focus on storytelling,” said Michelle, an advertising senior. “I’m pretty hard on myself when it comes to lyrics. I want to make sure that it makes sense to people and it’s relatable.”
UTalent Records will release Michelle’s single, “18,” on Jan. 24. The student-run record label signs three artists a year. Michelle said her new single explores the unique pain of first love.
“The song is reflecting on what happened and realizing that maybe some parts (of my relationship) weren’t as glamorous or amazing as I made them out to be in my head,” Michelle said. “I’ll never get 18 back.”
Since the third grade, Michelle avidly pursued opportunities to sing, whether through the school choir or solos at Mass. Her mother, Michelle Bickham, said she enrolled her daughter in Linda Lowe’s vocal classes, where Michelle learned to breathe correctly when singing and to play the guitar. She began writing and recording songs at the age of 11.
“She’s extremely gifted and talented,” Lowe said. “We are completely committed to offering a sanctuary for musicians who are absolutely just born to be a musician, and that’s what she is. There was just no question.”
After writing songs, recording music and playing in a band, Michelle said she took a step back from music at the end of her senior year of high school. Initially wanting to study commercial songwriting at the Belmont School of Music, she decided to stay closer to home and attend UT. Michelle said she discovered UTalent Records as a sophomore and served as the songwriting chair. Not until her junior year of college did Michelle return to making her own music.
“I reconnected with some old friends that I used to be in a band with,” Michelle said. “We put on a showcase in Houston, and that helped me get my confidence back. I started writing a lot again. I wrote my album that’s going to come out this spring.”
Bickham said the family lost a loved one during this time, inspiring Michelle to write a song from their spouse’s perspective.
“She wrote that song and has not stopped writing since,” Bickham said. “I want to say she’s probably written about 20 songs over the past year at least, and that’s all she does.”
In September of her senior year, Michelle auditioned for UTalent. They placed her with the current team, which helps her market and manage her music schedule for her first album release in the spring.
“Music has always been super important to me,” Michelle said. “ I identify as a singer. That’s my whole thing, my whole passion.”
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story included an incorrect spelling of the subject’s last name. This has been corrected. The Texan regrets this error.
