Rock’s greatest artists understand that respect for tradition does not equate to stagnation. Allen Brooks, a Missouri-born musician and acclaimed filmmaker, embodies this spirit, standing at the dynamic intersection of rock’s storied past and its technological future. His creative vitality shines brightest on his newest single, “Mirrors In My Mind,” an immersive track that marks his deepest dive yet into the subconscious.
Building on the moody, sophisticated groundwork of “Caviar and Cigarettes,” this latest effort plunges the listener into a soundscape that’s a genuine fever dream. Imagine the psychedelic poetry of The Early Doors meeting the stark, gothic intensity of Marilyn Manson. The track is not merely music; it is a sonic and visual odyssey designed to resonate in the mind’s most hidden chambers.
Brooks’ unique perspective is rooted in his filmmaking background-a NYFA graduate with credits spanning decades, including Warner Bros./Dwight Yoakam’s “Waterfall.” He approaches songwriting as a form of emotional screenwriting, scoring real-time psychological states. The companion music video for “Mirrors In My Mind,” which Brooks directed, storyboarded, and starred in, is a perfect manifestation of this duality, blurring the thresholds between dream and delirium. Employing green screen and cutting-edge AI animation, he creates a surreal environment. The reappearance of his symbolic owl character, Valtherion, emphasizes the theme of wisdom and the persistent demand for self-awareness that haunts Brooks’ recent work.
“I’m a very grateful and thankful boy,” Brooks says with a grin, adding, “It’s a hell of a process, but completely worth it. I never thought I’d be able to create the kind of music videos I can now.” This visual accompaniment is not just a secondary feature; it’s an essential expansion of the song’s conceptual space.
The production is a masterstroke in inversion. Brooks utilizes the “acoustic core, electric color” approach that defined “Caviar and Cigarettes” but gives it a darker, more unconventional spin. The track is tuned down a half-step and woven with peculiar chord variations, granting it an organic yet otherworldly feel. A transatlantic roster of collaborators, all recording from Argentina-Mariano Vega (drums), Mariano Power (saxophone), and Plátano Ebrio (orchestral timpani)-provide a tribal yet cohesive undercurrent. Trusted Italian producer Andrew Caccese sculpts the final mix, maximizing its widescreen, cinematic impact. Brooks’ practical advice rings true: “hire and involve the most professional engineers and producers you can afford.”
The track’s opening-“There’s a river in my ceiling, and the stars begin to swim”-is a potent image that immediately establishes the altered mental space. Brooks’ lyrical voice, poetic and fevered, channels the kaleidoscopic mysticism of Jim Morrison through a lens of postmodern alienation. The verses are a psychedelic séance, with imagery like “voices crawling through the curtains” exploring the fragility of perception and the dissolution of identity-“a body that’s just a rumor.”
Crucially, the chorus offers a sudden, beautiful counterpoint to the track’s claustrophobic verses: “These visions in my mind – they’re drivin’ me crazy… we don’t need nothin’ but love.” This simple, yet profound invocation of love acts as a flare of clarity, suggesting that beneath the song’s eerie textures and doubt, love remains the central, unchanging human constant. The cultural “Easter eggs” (references to Primus and Steam Powered Giraffe) offer brief, absurdist relief, grounding the surreal in shared musical lineage. This levity is quickly shattered by Mariano Power’s Viagra Boys-style sax solo, which explodes like a manic, jazz-fueled exorcism of chaos.
At 63, Brooks’ life is an actual rock odyssey: a U.S. Navy veteran, a former road warrior touring nationally with Fiancé, Roxx Gang, and sharing stages with legends like Steppenwolf. He refuses the comfort of legacy. His recent output-“People Can Change,” “Tragically Twisted,” “Caviar and Cigarettes”-is defined by restless evolution, proving he is a man constantly reframing the past through modern means. “The fire’s still burning,” he declares, hinting at a mysterious “life-changing offer” to be revealed in 2027.
“Mirrors In My Mind” is fundamentally a confrontation with the self-the myriad ‘reflections throughout time’ that define the artist. In a remarkable demonstration of authenticity, Brooks has made the track a free download on allenbrooks.net, bypassing commercial barriers with the simple instruction: “Just download and enjoy.” In a digital age obsessed with exclusivity, this open-door policy feels revolutionary. Allen Brooks delivers a haunting, hypnotic, and profoundly human work. The song dares the listener to look inward and, like Brooks, find beauty and truth in the reflection.
OFFICIAL LINKS: WEBSITE – YOUTUBE – SPOTIFY
