Overview

Hello world! My name is Lucas Brooks, and I'm a singer-songwriter here in the beautiful city of New York, New York.

Music was always a big part of my upbringing. My father would always put on music for gatherings we had and created mixtapes for special occasions that would be played during any drive in our car, which placed me in a world where music was a constant presence. Soon, my relationship with music evolved from appreciation to actually playing it when I started taking piano lessons. From there, I learned the trumpet and guitar, played percussion and drums, sang in choirs and musicals, joined high school and college student bands, and started writing my own music. Graduating college into the pandemic made it hard for me to start collaborating with other musicians but also gave me some time to focus on my songwriting. Recording myself at home was a great outlet for the music I was creating, but it never quite sounded the way I really wanted it to. Now I finally have the chance to further develop my song ideas and put them together the way I hear them in my head, as well as coming across surprising new ways of hearing them through the process, to share them with all of you.

The material is ready, and the musicians are waiting -- this Plaid Dog campaign is the final step toward creating my first ever, professionally produced studio album.

This campaign is raising funds for my professionally recorded album with Carter Sanders in Boston, MA. Carter is a Boston-based producer and engineer with experience working with both established and up-and-coming musicians. Together, Carter and I are digging into my original material, writing arrangements, and reaching out to local musicians to bring the songs to life. 

We’ve been able to cover the costs of recording and producing one song, which is ready for you to check out right here on this page. This first song is called “Early Morning,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Early Morning" on my own, to create an album of songs of this quality, studio costs add up quickly. With that said, this campaign can give us a unique opportunity to collaborate and make great art together. Your donation will cover the following costs of my project:

1. Pre-Production: This is where everything starts. Carter and I will start crafting the arrangements for each song slated for the album. We’ll hold rehearsals to fine-tune the songs and arrangements and talk through new and exciting ideas for how to approach the recording process.

2. Recording: This is when we enter the studio and start capturing the music and where the songs become what you'll hear on this album. This campaign will play a huge role in making sure we have enough time to capture great performances for every member of the band.

3. Mixing & Mastering: Each track will get mixed to create the right balance between instruments, texture and color that make up a track. As a final step, the album will be mastered from beginning to end so that the listening experience is cohesive and carefully choreographed from start to finish.

And what will you get for your generosity and support? So many awesome things!

I am so appreciative and grateful for any support you can lend to this campaign. In exchange for your generosity, I've put together a really exciting group of gifts that are available exclusively through your participation in this campaign.

Check out some examples below and a full list to the right!

It's hard to express how much this project would change my life.

Music has an unparalleled ability to tell stories, bring people together, and create feelings stronger than one can explain at times. Music defines us in its endless varieties and yet still forms bridges that bring us together to a common ground. I’ve tried to offer my insights and stories in my songs before, and this time I’m ready to push myself to offer them to a wider range of people. Music, in its essence, is a communal endeavor. The perspective I’m writing from has been formed by my interactions with others, the music I’m playing has been influenced by the sounds I’ve heard around me throughout my life (both musical and “natural)”, the words I’m writing have been shaped by the discussions I’ve had and the writings I’ve read, and the final product is offered up for others to listen, reflect, respond, and connect. Each class I’ve taken, experience I’ve encountered, person I’ve met, and inspiration I’ve obtained come together to allow me to work collaboratively with other musicians to find the best way to portray that thought, story, or dream. I’m grateful for all the collaborators and supporters that I’ve gotten to meet and work with on my journey in music so far, and I’m hoping that this project helps me find new people, in both regards, to add to my social and musical map of the world. 

I’ve been a part of various productions and creative projects, but I have never had the opportunity to work with a producer and other musicians in a recording studio. I am beyond excited to have the chance to take the ideas I’ve been forming over the last couple of years and develop them into fuller and more lively versions of themselves by working with this amazing musical team. With your support, I’ll be able to make the most of this opportunity and create an album that I’m excited to share with you all with the hopes that it will allow you to listen, reflect, respond, and connect.

If you're ready to contribute, just click the "Back This Project" button on the top right of this page! Every little bit counts, and I’m so grateful for all your support.

If you have folks in your network that would be interested in supporting me, please feel free to share this page with them.

Thank you so much for checking out my campaign page. I can't wait to share this music with you.