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Raised by parents who were writers and teachers among other things, Crispin Brooks has had an artistic life from the very start. His new single, ‘Runaway’, sees him collaborate with his cousin Shara Vallee, and Willo, aka Jemal Willock, and together they bring a Caribbean sound to the track.
Crispin grew up in the Northeastern Caribbean, after a childhood in the US, and studied classical piano from around 7 years old, before starting formal art classes at the age of 11. He was also a voracious reader, and all this led him through a series of careers, including journalism, graphic design, and film. Growing up watching shows like Sesame Street, early MTV videos, and programmes on Nickelodeon, he found himself pulled towards short-form storytelling set to music. “At my core, I’m a storyteller”, he says.
Brooks returned to the Caribbean in the late 2000s, where he started shooting music videos, then writing for soca bands and solo artists. As a director, artist manager, and label owner, he became known in the the smaller islands of the Northeastern Caribbean for helping artists shape the full presentation around their music, and guided Nyne and Shara Vallee to several local and regional hits. New single, ‘Runaway’, is the first release that formally unites Brooks’ music video talents with his publishing arm The Dream Jungle/The Dream Jungle Publishing, and his collaborative network.
‘Runaway’ sees Willo supplying the beat that sparks the chorus, while Shara Vallee brings a vocal performance that serves as the central focus. An uplifting, bouncy dance-pop track, with a four-on-the-floor drive and an island-pop lift, ‘Run Away’ is fast moving, but the hook doesn’t just push it forward, but rather it also opens the door onto a story.
The story started life as a visual: once the chorus stuck, Brooks kept seeing a wedding scene, and so he then looked for a way to turn the setup on its side. His love for the music videos of the 80s and 90s came to his aid here, with their characters, styling, and narrative arcs.
The music video for ‘Runaway’ flips the usual wedding crasher plot: rather than a man rushing to reclaim his love, the groom finds he’s still drawn to his ex, and he becomes the runaway. Shot in Anguilla, the clip makes extensive use of open-air settings and drone views over the water, symbolising escape, freedom, and the tug of love, while leaving plenty of room for Brooks to include the comedic moments he wanted.
Watch the music video for ‘Runaway’ below, and find out more about Crispin Brooks and his music online on his official website.
