We had the good fortune of connecting with Brooke Livingston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brooke, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I used to not be able to tell the difference between my anxiety & my intuition. How was I supposed to know if the pit in my stomach and racing thoughts for me to quit were fear based or that “gut feeling” everyone referred to? A couple years ago, I realized that when my anxiety was speaking to me, it speaks really fast in my mind. It has an extreme sense of urgency and is usually judgmental about myself or the situation. My intuition, or higher self, is never unkind towards anyone or anything and speaks very slowly and gently. So if my anxiety would say “Oh heck no! This is awful, I am going to fail, I need to get out of this now” my intuition would sound like “maybe there is a better fit for me someplace else.” That is how I decide to keep gong or not. If a gentle voice is telling me it is not meant for me, I will course correct and stop. But if the voice in my head is screaming and going off the rails, I listen to it with compassion and then continue to move forward in the direction of my goal.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started writing music so young that I don’t have any memories where I am not a songwriter. I used to sing before I knew how to speak and then assumed everyone who liked to sing also wrote music (since they did on the radio). Songwriting has always been a way I process my emotions and thoughts on the world. In times where I didn’t feel the freedom to speak my thoughts, I turned to my guitar to sing about them.

I think one of the greatest challenges in pursuing art professionally is there is no “typical” path. Every artists journey is unique and relies on a bunch of small chance encounters and a few people who are willing to take a chance on you. The unknown is a scary place sometimes and can often feel lonely. I am so lucky to have an extremely supportive community around me who remind me of who I am and why I am doing this. I have also learned the importance of trusting your gut and your beliefs. When in a room with people who are older and more successful than you, it is so easy to become very agreeable and allow them to take the song or piece of art in whatever direction they see fit. Something that I have learned is how to utilize my voice not just in singing and writing but in the creative execution. I don’t want to be like every one else, I want to be like me. And the only way to truly be like me is to trust in my thoughts and opinions and allow them to be heard.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Tubing down the Chattahoochee river is a BLAST. My friends and I will block out a few hours on the week and float down the water. The belt line is a great way to see the city and experience many different shops and restaurants. On the belt line you can eat at Krog Street Market or shop in Ponce City Market. Virginia Highlands is beautiful and has a really cute bookstore.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family. My parents raised my sister and I to believe that we can do anything we set our minds to. They lead by example in pursing their passions and going above and beyond in everything they do. My family listened to me sing all day every day (usually the same line on repeat for hours at a time until they would finally request for me to “switch the radio station” playing in my head) and encourage me to take risks and allow myself to be seen and heard. They have shown up for me day after day, cheering me on and I could not be doing this without them.

Website: https://www.brookelivingston.com

Instagram: @brookelivingston22

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Brookelivingston22

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/53gIQpCazkrdjGLxv4jB3Y?si=rwJ-d1xXRZajvSqICKgypQ
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/paper-doll/1807827676?i=1807827677
linktree: https://linktr.ee/brookelivingston?utm_source=linktree_admin_share&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZieVpSgvrKHomLsi5P2v0qf_-nmHauPUgGs80JT5Bv6rZvvVxHbfvnSNc_aem_oV4Tjo7zZgOLsp8Bt0g38g

Image Credits
Zoe Heafner
Maddi Miller

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