I Want (Brooke) Candy!

Step into the world of the LA‑born underground musician and artist who continues to redefine boundaries — merging music, fashion, art and identity into a singular aesthetic. We caught up with her fresh from a shoot and while she’s deep in creative mode: working on her podcast, new music (EP/album incoming), and caring for her pups. Here, Brooke opens up about her influences, process, wardrobe must‑haves and what’s next — alongside an A Clockwork Orange‑inspired editorial brought to life by photographer Carlos Victimo and fashion editor Oliver Volquardson.

Q+A

PERFECT: Hey Brooke, how have you been?!

BROOKE: Hey, I’ve been great considering waking up in the United States. Every single day is a new version of hell but other than that I’ve been working on my podcast releasing and working on new music, a new EP/album and taking care of my dogs.

PERFECT: Tell us about your recent shoot — what was the concept or inspiration behind it?

BROOKE: The concept was based around a Clockwork Orange. Stanley Kubrick is my favourite director, and I wanted the images to evoke a sense of mind control, a sense of trance, a sense of me not being in control because I have experienced those things in real life. I worked on the vision very closely with Oliver Volquardsen — him and I collaborated heavily on the creative direction.

PERFECT: When you plan a shoot like this, how much of the vision comes from you versus your team? Do you go in with a clear idea, or do you like to experiment on set?

BROOKE: So when I plan a shoot, I think it’s 100% collaborative between me, the director, the set‑designer, the stylist, the hair, the makeup. I think we’re all kind of being creative on the spot whilst knowing what the overall concept is and what we are trying to accomplish. So I think Carlos Victimo the photographer did an incredible job on set capturing my pain and the concept. The set designer Mick O’Connell did an incredible job. He brought the vision to life by actually renting torture‑devices used in the 50s — and I had requested that because I wanted everything to feel authentic. I wanted to be tortured. I like to feel pain when the atmosphere is safe. The glam team Kite Makeup and Takuya Morimoto also brought the Clockwork Orange vision to life with the makeup and sleek hair. This shoot is my favourite I’ve done maybe ever.

PERFECT: Who were your biggest fashion influences growing up? Any looks or moments that really stuck with you

BROOKE: My biggest fashion influences growing up were Alexander McQueen when he designed Plato’s Atlantis in 2010. I love those armadillo boots, and those like structured, almost body‑armor dresses that he released. He made women look like powerful aliens. I’ve always loved Vivienne Westwood — my entire life. I mean she’s the godmother of punk in some capacity. She’s also, you know, a capitalist with a multi‑million‑dollar brand which isn’t very punk. Sometimes I wonder if she commodified “punk” to get ahead. We’ll never know I guess, but I will say she’s an incredible designer and she knows a woman’s body. And I loved Jean‑Paul Gaultier when he worked with Madonna — I thought that was just so iconic. Also I loved Dior because of Princess Diana. We’re both Cancers and I’m obsessed with everything she does.

PERFECT: Your work has always blended music, fashion, art, and identity. How do you connect your image and visuals to the songs themselves — do the songs shape the visuals or the other way around?

BROOKE: I think the songs absolutely shape the visuals, but I have had ideas for videos that I’ve saved and then when the right song has come around I’ve pulled them out of my terrible memory.

PERFECT: What’s your favorite item in your wardrobe right now, and how does it reflect where you’re at in life or creatively?

BROOKE: My favourite item in my wardrobe right now is a “Vivienne Westwood” corset I wear quite a bit. I have a beautiful “Margiela” pearl‑and‑diamond necklace I love. I have so many “Miista” boots I love. I have so many incredible “By Far” bags — one was just painted with both of my dogs and that’s really special to me. I also have a lot of latex — so that’s pretty cool, some custom latex as well — and A LOT of leather.