By Antoine Vidal | Radio Springfield City
Ipswich-born and Goodna-raised country artist Brooke Seabrook joined Antoine Vidal on Radio Springfield City to discuss her musical journey, her connection to Australian storytelling and the inspiration behind her latest single, I Took My Town Away.
Growing up as one of seven children in an old Queenslander on a hill in Goodna, Brooke remembers a childhood filled with country music, family noise and stories.
“Our house was run on an old wood stove, and the walls were filled with a lot of country music and a lot of noise,” Brooke said.
Music and storytelling were always present in Brooke’s family. Her father would occasionally pick up the mouth organ, while her grandmother’s poetry from the late 1800s and early 1900s helped inspire Brooke’s love of words and Australian history.
Brooke released her debut single, No City Lives in Me, in 2025.
The song explores the feeling of living in one place while longing for another. Although Brooke grew up in the city, she has always felt a strong connection to the bush, country towns and the stories found within them.
“It was about being in a place but yearning for another,” she said.
Brooke’s songwriting has also received recognition through lyricist and songwriting competitions. She said being recognised for something she loves has been a proud personal achievement.
“I never thought that I could get there, so it’s something that I’m really proud of,” she said.
During the interview, Brooke spoke about her latest single, I Took My Town Away, which was released following her win at the Thornton Young Award in Tamworth.
The award is affiliated with the Country Music Association of Australia and recognises artists who continue the tradition of Australian heritage music and bush ballad storytelling.
Brooke said the new song was partly inspired by questions about how someone raised in Goodna could describe having a country upbringing.
The song reflects on Goodna and other familiar places that have changed so much over time that they can become difficult to recognise.
“This one is really quite special because it speaks, for me, of Goodna and of places that we hold really close to our hearts that you just don’t recognise anymore,” Brooke said.
Brooke worked with award-winning musician and producer Lindsay Waddington to bring the song to life in the studio.
She said the song has already encouraged listeners to share their own memories of hometowns, communities and places that have changed.
“That’s what I love about songwriting and storytelling. People come and tell you their stories,” she said.
Brooke also revealed that she has another two singles planned for release this year.
Brooke is preparing to open for acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter Luke O’Shea at Studio 188 in Ipswich on 1 August.
The opportunity came unexpectedly, with Brooke initially wondering whether the invitation was a prank.
She will perform a 30-minute supporting set at the historic Ipswich venue.
“I’m so excited about getting up there and doing it,” Brooke said.
She described Luke O’Shea as one of Australia’s finest musical storytellers and singer-songwriters.
Radio Springfield City’s Antoine Vidal thanked Brooke for sharing her story and celebrating her strong connection to Ipswich, Goodna and Australian music.
Listeners can follow Brooke Seabrook and discover her latest music at brookeseabrook.com.
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