Mia Rose Brake on Identity, Imagination, and “Somersault”
Punk Head: The song captures fantasy without shame — the messy, hormonal, imaginative side of being young. Why was it important for you not to sanitize that experience?
Mia Rose Brake: I feel like there is no reason to hide a part of me that I believe many others will relate to. My message to my fans is to encourage them to unapologetically be themselves and to not be ashamed of that, like I have done so myself. I try to show that by sharing my raw, unfiltered story; after all, it's me, the real me that I'm showing my fans.
Punk Head: Your voice is loud, theatrical, and unapologetic. When did you realize that being too much was actually your strength?
Mia Rose Brake: I have always been a very cheery and happy-go-lucky type of kid. Yet when I faced challenges of rejection outside of the comfort of my home and family, I quickly grew very insecure. I really hated the idea of people disliking me as I tried to fit in. I've learnt over the years that no matter what I do to please others, there will always be someone who dislikes me. At that point, I decided to let loose since it didn't matter anyway how I adapted to others, and I finally let my true loud self come to light. I would rather be disliked than not noticed at all. My friends showed me that someone loud like me can also be valued and liked.
From a musical standpoint, there has been this recent trend of people singing in a low-energy, breathy type of fashion. My voice is naturally loud, and I'm a very emotional person, so making music like that just doesn't sit right with who I am as a person.
Punk Head: Queen and P!nk are huge influences — artists who command space. What did you learn from them about presence, not just sound?
Mia Rose Brake: Freddie Mercury is my biggest inspiration. He commands the stage so effortlessly, creates an entire show with his bravado and, most importantly, he engages with the audience like no other. Music is all about connecting with others, sharing experiences, and sharing emotions. Freddie has taught me how I can create that magical moment with my audience, and I hope to utilise what I have learnt from him in my upcoming gigs.
While Queen and Freddie Mercury come across as unreachable legends to me, P!nk has shown me that it is still possible for a female rocker to conquer and attract an audience that loves pop-rock. What I also love about P!nk is that her personality oozes out of each song she writes. She is unapologetically loud and cheeky (see the parallels?), and I absolutely love her, her voice, her songs, and her stage presence, of course!
Punk Head: In Your Head focuses on the tricks our minds play on us. Do you see imagination as something that saves us, sabotages us, or both?
Mia Rose Brake: My EP will be focusing on different aspects of how our imagination can have an impact on our daily lives. "Somersault", for instance, is an upbeat song that portrays imagination in a fun, creative way. Yet the upcoming songs deal with more negative aspects of imagination. "Insomnia," for instance, deals with, as the title suggests, insomnia, but one that stems from mental unrest (which can be in the form of imagination), daily stress, and from not being able to shut your brain off before going to bed. Imagination certainly plays an important role with each song, and while they might seemingly sabotage our lives at first, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and an opportunity to grow. In contrast, Somersault's imagination could also have a negative effect if taken too far in the wrong direction, as we see with obsessive fan behaviour, etc.
Punk Head: You talk about reaching people who are afraid to be loud. What does “being loud” really mean to you?
Mia Rose Brake: "Being loud" means that I have a personality that likes to show itself. I talk a lot, I'm opinionated, I wear clothing that's out of the norm, I laugh very loudly (even in public). I have been judged in the past for being too opinionated and have had issues of being "too much" sometimes. While I have learnt over time how to behave, I have also learnt that this loud side is truly a part of me that deserves to come to light whenever I deem it so. I shouldn't tone down who I am just because some people think I'm embarrassing myself like that. While we learn to adapt, it is important to continue to be authentic. I am who I am and that's final!
