Took My Town Away

About the Artist

Queensland singer-songwriter and bush balladeer Brooke Seabrook releases her new single ‘Took My Town Away’, on May 29 following her win of the 2026 Thornton Young Award. Deeply nostalgic and honest, ‘Took My Town Away’ was inspired by the changes to Brooke’s hometown of Goodna, with the loss of community identity and familiar places falling victim to progress and development. “Where I grew up, where the shopping centre is now, that was just bush before,” Brooke said. “The circus used to come and set up there. You could hear the lions at night. It’s just this place that you wouldn’t look at it now and think this was what it was.” Co-written with Lindsay Waddington, ‘Took My Town Away’ tells the story of towns expanding and communities evolving and Brooke said the song has resonated with live audiences. “Without fail, I have two or three people come up to me and say, ‘that’s what happened to where I live’,” she said. “The message behind the song is that just because it doesn’t exist now doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a big part of who you were.” Music has always been part of Brooke’s life and writing is a way she loves to preserve stories and memories. “I hate the thought of things and people being forgotten,” Brooke said. “I guess knowing that everyone has a story and, I just love telling them and keeping that alive for someone, somewhere.”