Joe Brooks is a British singer-songwriter from Southampton, England, born in 1987. He works in acoustic pop and soul-influenced singer-songwriter music and is associated with the solo acoustic style suggested by his recordings and early online performances.

Early life and education

Brooks grows up in Southampton and attends Mountbatten Secondary School and Barton Peveril College. After hearing Derrin Nauendorf perform at The Brook in Southampton at 16, he teaches himself guitar and begins posting songs online. He later studies Sport at the University of Bath before leaving to focus on music.

Career

Brooks builds an early following through Myspace, where his songs gain large numbers of plays and friends. He becomes known for topping the UK Myspace charts and for drawing a substantial internet audience before signing to Lava Records. His online profile leads to coverage and helps him develop a live following in both the United States and Europe, with some shows reportedly selling out at high prices on the secondary market.

He writes and records with JR Rotem and Kara DioGuardi. He is based between the United Kingdom and the United States for part of this period. His most-played song is Superman, and his song Holes Inside is about heartbreak and the pain of loving something that hurts you.

Recordings

Brooks releases a self-published CD titled m a y b e t o m o r r o w. His discography also includes the Acoustic Sessions EP, the singles Superman and World At Our Feet, and the album Constellation Me, all issued in the late 2000s and 2010.

Online profile

Brooks is closely associated with Myspace, where his music accumulates millions of plays and a large number of followers. His early online activity is central to his rise, with more complex and varied songs helping to increase his audience.