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Q: So what do we need to know about Brooks deForest?
A: Well first off I have to tell people all the time that Brooks is my first name almost automatically and that, with that name, music was a calling.

I'm not related to Mel Brooks - although I think his movies are quite cool.

I'm 32 and I've been playing music since I was around seven years old. I've tapes from decades back made with Casio keyboards!

I started recording music as a teenager for home grown video games. That never got me anywhere and I spent the late 90's making websites, until 1999 when I first started to record demos to send out.

Brooks listens to more radio than CDs.

That didn't get anywhere either, but the music really started to take over so I had to keep pushing on.

In 2004 I started to put together enough tunes for a CD. That was fun to do and I really learnt a lot from it.

I like swimming, cycling, running and generally horribly healthy things. In fact there aren't many things I don't like - except liquorice which should be banned and removed from the world!

Q: Are you originally from Devon?
A: No, I'm from Winchester but I moved to Torbay about 10 years ago. And how could I leave a place with real palm trees and red soil?

Q: Tell us about your music:
A: I play keyboards, some guitar and even less violin. I'm waiting for the techno-violin revolution to start! If I had to sum up my music in three words they would be: Melodic, Symphonic and Deluxe.

The song I've chosen to demo is called L'Esprit Orange which translates to The Orange Spirit (but it sounds more exotic the first way.)

It was going to be one of those 'all of me' tunes. All the influences like Latin, jazz, funk and electronica that I've listened to, all in one big pop track.

Q: Who would you LOVE to perform with?
A: I would love to conduct a huge orchestra, it seems really cool to be able to play so many instruments with just one stick.

Q: Which three people (dead or alive, factual or fictional) would you like to have around your dinner table?
A: Eric Morecombe and Ernie Wise. I grew up with the Morcombe and Wise show and just to be with them now for a minute would be amazing. And Shania Twain - she's hot!

Q: Finally then, what do you consider the highs and lows of living in Devon?
A: The upside is that it's warm here and there's countryside and seaside - that's just amazing. Downside? There are lots of hills, it's windy, and - oh yeh - those roads!

Audition Brooks

Take a listen to L'Esprit Orange by clicking on one of the links and then give Brooks some constructive feedback on our Devon Demos message board.