[Brooklyn Love](https://www.instagram.com/iambrooklynlove/?hl=en) is ready to become one of the greatest artists in the world. Whether she’s singing, songwriting, playing piano, or dancing, she’s entertaining the masses fully with her undeniable charm and lovable personality. Growing up, her mother forced her to only listen to gospel—The Clark Sisters, Kirk Franklin, Jill Scott—which is where she draws her biggest influences sonically.
Don’t let the name fool you: Brooklyn actually hails from Maryland, but she’s about to move to Alabama to be closer to her [label boss Yung Bleu.](https://flaunt.com/content/yung-bleu) Signed to Bleu’s Vandross Music Group, she had the opportunity to [sing the hook on his most recent single “Don’t Wanna Lose](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWjZrdTJReo).” The two actually met during quarantine, when she joined his Instagram Live talent show and blew him away with a Beyoncé cover.
With Queen Bey serving as her #1 inspo, Brooklyn describes her music as nothing short of a vibe. She states, “If you want to relax, if you want to turn up, everything. You can’t box me into one thing.” Now, she returns with her highly-anticipated new single titled “I’m Outside,” featuring the label boss himself Yung Bleu.
_Flaunt_ caught up with Brooklyn in the Hollywood Hills to discuss her upbringing in the church, signing to Yung Bleu’s imprint, creating the “Honey” visual, her fashion style, studio essentials, and more!
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**Being from Maryland, what was the household like growing up?**
It was me and my mom, she’s so supportive. She put me in pageants, talent shows, painting, had me in everything. It was very fun, open, and supportive. I started playing piano at 8 years old. I was doing classical for a while, it progressed into different genres. She got me a guitar, I don’t know how to play it but she got me everything so I could hone my crafts and see what I was good at.
**What’s your favorite Beyoncé song?**
“Crazy in Love” or “Say Yes.” Her first album \[_Dangerously in Love_\] is the best_._
**At what point did you realize you could do music for a living?**
I always knew I could do it for a living actually. Once I started singing in church and I saw the reaction, I knew I could be something because of how people were reacting. Ever since I was a kid, I’d tell people “I’m going to be a famous singer, that’s what I want to do.” I never thought I couldn’t do it.
**Do you remember your first song?**
My first song I did in the studio was called “Rock Your World.” I put it on YouTube and iTunes, it was a lot of fans, but once I put out covers is when I started going viral. I did a lot of Ariana Grande, I love Ariana. That’s how I got recognized to get management, get features. From there, I created actual music. I got recognized by Summer Walker, she saw it on my page and liked it. Somebody posted a cover of me, Ari Lennox liked it. Missy Elliott followed me on Twitter. I posted a cover, she said “let me see who got the best runs.” I did a run, and she followed me from it. Avant liked a post I did singing a gospel song, a few legends.
**How do you feel, so early in your career?**
So excited! I’m so happy. I saved screenshots in my phone still to this day, so I can put in my bio these people have recognized me.
**You dropped the “Honey” visual, who or what inspired the record?**
My friends’ stories they’ve been telling me, then the beat itself inspired me. They named the beat “Honey,” I thought “hmm, it sounds like honey.” It’s very sensual. I freestyled it really, I said “this is how I feel inside.” I want the highest thing that you should focus on is me.
**What was your vision with the visual?**
In New York, you have various places you can go to get scenery ideas. We went to New York to the place, it was set up in a certain way that was cute. Once we saw it, I knew I wanted to have a dance break scene, a sexy scene, just overall sensual. I could’ve done it differently, I might do a part two video later because the sexy was so typical. I let my managers and my friends design that. I’ll do a Part Two with my vision, which is Drake, dvsn vibes.
**Talk about dancing and doing choreography too.**
I like to dance, I did cheerleading and gymnastics. But swaggy dance, hip-hop dance is way different. I’m getting more comfortable with it. It takes a lot of practice, but it’s fun. It’s different. My personality is more bubbly. It’s to show people I can literally do everything, be every girl. Whatever vibe you want to go for, from that song to that song you can get the vibe.
**How did Yung Bleu discover you?**
The quarantine has been amazing for me, which I’d never expect. A lot of artists are going Live during this time. Bleu was going Live doing a talent show. A friend of mine DMed me saying “this is a Live you should join.” I’d already joined famous people or celebrities’ Lives before, I got follows from it. I did Shiggy’s Live, Shekhinah, people from _Love & Hip Hop_, some WNBA players. I went on Bleu’s Live, he asked me to sing so I sang. He said “whoa, she did the best. I don’t think anybody could top this one.”
**What’d you sing?**
I sang Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake “Until The End of Time,” my favorite song. He had another girl who he liked sing, he said “okay y’all can battle it out.” I sang one more time, everyone’s picking me. It was a cash prize, I was the best one. We corresponded through DM, he asked “would you like the money or a feature?” I said a feature, because that’s different. I legit wanted a feature instead, speaking longevity-wise. He was surprised, he’s like “well actually if you let me sign you, you’d be a star.” I said “we could talk business,” because you know, people talk. He was so prompt with it. Weeks later, got me down and we recorded the song “Don’t Wanna Lose.” I met the whole team, recorded that song that night.
**What was the vibe of the studio?**
Everybody was so nice and inviting. He’s a really passionate person and a really good writer. Everything I was thinking to do, he had a different idea but it was better. “Wow, I didn’t even imagine that.” This is helping me expand and grow my writing skills, overall sound and pace. With the music I sing, I go my own pace, but he’s an on the beat type of person. \[claps\] Everybody was so supportive.
**Was there any hesitation at all or was everything right?**
I was sure from that first meeting, he said “yeah, we want to sign you.” I came back again to shoot the video and the next time, we signed the paperwork. I’m moving to Mississippi to be near him, we have a lot of work to do. Recording my album. It was really fast, definitely thankful for quarantine because I would’ve never been on Live.
**How does your family feel about all this?**
My mom’s really excited. She’s sad I won’t be home a lot of course, but she messages me and calls me everyday. She didn’t even call me this much when I was home, we’re in the same state. Everybody’s excited. They’re throwing me a going away party at home.
**What was the independent grind like before you met Bleu?**
I was doing shows in the D.C. area, at clubs and showcases. I did Nationals games, singing the anthem. I was doing high school games and Homecomings. I did colleges. I performed last minute at Howard Homecoming, it was a competition between three of us. DJ Envy was one of the judges, I won the competition.
**How was performing with Wale in D.C. at the Fillmore?**
I loved it. It was amazing, the crowd loved me. I was so happy because I actually didn’t sing any of my own music. I was up there with one of his artists, he asked me to sing one of his songs with him. I sang with him, added my own thing to it. A lot of the fans came up to me afterwards: “oh, we love you!” Wale’s really nice.
**It sounds like performing is where you thrive.**
I do love performing. I was really looking forward to Bleu Bash, but I know there’s going to be plenty more shows. I’m really excited to perfect everything so when we do get back onstage, I’m 100% superstar Beyoncé. \[laughs\]
**Best memory from the “Don’t Wanna Lose” video shoot?**
I like the scene in the bathroom, I’m in all-white. I was looking in the mirror, that’s my favorite scene because it’s very angelic. The filter they put over it is really nice. I love that scene because I was surprised, I’ve never used that type of camera before. “Wow, I’ve never seen myself like this on a professional camera,” compared to the camera we were using.
**What would you be doing if you weren’t doing music?**
I’d be a psychologist. I like to get to know what people are going through and give advice. I love to give advice.
**You go to Howard, what’s your major?**
Right now, I’m studying music. I was going to switch majors to Psychology before everything, but they want you to take it online and I don’t want to take online classes. They’re only letting the freshmen and sports teams be on campus, but I probably still will get a degree in Psychology.
**3 things you need in the studio?**
I need water or Throat Coat Tea, love that. I need my notebook to write everything down. I do need my phone too, because I like to take pictures of myself with the headphones on. I always take pictures of everything, memories. Also chapstick.
**What inspires you the most?**
God. Everything that I ask and pray for, He always comes through for me in any situation. He brought me here. He brought me everybody. He makes me the happiest. He opens so many doors, He’s been by my side through everything.
**How would you describe your fashion sense?**
My style is pretty simple, minimalist. I like to wear simple pieces. I really like my body type, it’s petite so I can pretty much wear anything that’s simple. Nothing is busting out of it. I can’t really wear baggier stuff, I drown in it. I like simple styles, like Rihanna in the beginning or the Olsen twins. I really like the look of Saweetie and India Love, that type of style. I want to dress like that when I’m performing or going out somewhere. Really girly, fashionable, glam, but still chill.
**What do you like to do for fun?**
Movie. Nachos at the movies, that’s my #1 favorite thing to do besides music.
**How’d you get your name, Brooklyn Love?**
My name is Brooke, and Brooklyn’s a little more sassy. R&B is the music of love. Brooklyn Love, quick, easy, simple. It’s iconic still.
**One thing fans may not know about you?**
That I’m a little shy and super sweet. Meeting people isn’t the easiest, but I’ll put on that face. I’m really shy though.
**Are you ready for all this?**
Very ready, because I know what comes with it. Gotta be ready, stay ready. A lot of people are shy but when you decide this is what you want, you’ve got to push that to the back.
**Best part of being signed to Yung Bleu?**
The support, he’s so supportive and goes hard for whatever he believes in. He really, truly believes in me, putting his all into me. Makes me feel like I’m part of a family. It’s nice, so different. I love it. I’m going to be huge because of a Live, that changed my life. We said it here, a superstar from a Live. It’s a blessing, bless God.
