Andrew J Brooks is set to release his latest single, Kernel, a captivating piece that showcases his innovative approach to music. Recorded as a live session, the track retains a spontaneous and raw quality, blending layered saxophone drones with synth loops to create an immersive soundscape. The single was developed from live performances, including a debut at Edinburgh’s Sneaky Pete’s, where Brooks pushed the boundaries of his saxophone playing. The result is a semi-improvised journey into the depths of sound, culminating in intense saxophone drones that emerge around the three-minute mark.
A multi-talented artist, Brooks has been a prominent figure in Scotland’s music scene, performing across the country and supporting artists like Alabaster DePlume. His 2021 debut album EAST was a tribute to his home in East Lothian, blending field recordings with layered saxophone and spoken word elements. Brooks’s influences range from saxophonists Shabaka Hutchins and Colin Stetson to the Bristol Jazz ensemble Run Logan Run.
In addition to his music career, Brooks is an accomplished architect and award-winning multidisciplinary artist. His work spans various forms, including the durational artwork TOLL, which addresses the impact of COVID-19, and FND Stories, a project that won the Art of Neuroscience award from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience. Brooks continues to teach at the Edinburgh College of Art, where he shares his expertise in architecture and audio-visual multidisciplinary performance.
