Brook Ellingworth’s Album, Roll The Dice, captures several life themes, including taking chances and embracing the journey.

Thinking of the country and rock ’n’ roll artists you listened to growing up near Oxford, England, how have they shaped the musician you’ve become?

Both genres, however wide they may be, helped me find my voice and the sound that I have now. Everything was very guitar heavy early stages for me. I was obsessed as a kid, total gear geek, well I guess I still am. Then there’s the melodies and story telling that would have me daydreaming and getting lost in these songs. I always thought I may have ended playing more southern rock than anything, and maybe that’s where the country started to take over. I feel like its all helped me stay true to myself and the music I create.

First playing Nashville at 20 in 2018. How did that trip spark you to find your true calling as a country artist?

The first time I played in Nashville was in 2019 and it was over at Bootleggers on Broadway, I’ll always be grateful for the folks that made that happen that day. That first trip out there in 2018 just blew my mind, obviously with just the live music scene, it was nothing like where I come from. I never really got to see any country music back home unless it was a big artist or band playing a theatre. And it just lit this fuse. I thought ‘yeah I can do this’.

Debut, Dive Bars & Heartbreaks, six-track live acoustic EP. What inspired the writing of the song “Let Go?”

“Let Go” came out of the back of a breakup of a situation that could have been a relationship. My mind was saying one thing and my heart was saying another at the time. ‘Turn the page, move on, let go,’ this was the first song I started writing about what was happening at that time and it helped me through it.

Self-penned, debut single release, “Like It Was the First Time,” was written about meeting someone, sharing a special kiss, then never seeing them again. If you were to re-record the song as a duet, who would you choose to team up with and why?

I’ve had a few musicians tell me before that I should do a duet with someone at a show and I’ve always been like, ‘no not yet, maybe later in my career.’ I think that’s just because I haven’t met the right singer yet to do that with. I love what Alana Springsteen has been doing, all the live collaborations I’ve seen and the songs that she features on, to her song writing to her voice. So, if I was to re-record that song as a duet, it would be awesome to do it with Alana.

New single, “Truck Stop,” from your upcoming album, Roll the Dice (set to release late next month). How did you choose this song, with its unique love song perspective, as the first off the upcoming album?

It was a given to launch this project with this single. It’s been in every set list at every show since writing it. “Truck Stop” has become a fan favourite over the last couple years, and I know that there’s the acoustic version out there, but I thought this version would get people excited and it was perfect for showing them that my game has gone up to a whole new level.

Roll the Dice captures several life themes, including taking chances and embracing the journey. How difficult is it to create songs that resonate with listeners while staying true to your own story?

There’s a fine line between getting as much detail in the lyrics to paint the picture and not being too specific. I guess it varies on the song, but as long as I keep the idea in the back of my mind that I need to craft this song to be relatable, it will usually turn out that way.

Bringing a bigger sound and even more powerful songs. What else is ahead this year?

I’m releasing my debut album, Feb 28th! I went from an acoustic EP to my first single and now to my first album. It’s the biggest project I have ever done and I’m incredibly proud of it. I’ll be out in Nashville launching it and I hope the listeners are as excited about this as I am. This year is gearing up for me to be on my feet a whole lot.

To stay updated on Ellingworth’s latest projects and upcoming releases, visit his website, and connect with him on social media through Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.