A “Whisper” That Speaks Volumes: Brooke Wheeler Brings Frutigaze Into Focus

Brooke Wheeler is making waves with her latest release, “Whisper,” earning over 30,000 streams in just the first three days since its release. Despite what the title might suggest, the track opens with a burst of shimmering guitars that carry the energy throughout the track. Meanwhile, Brooke’s sparkling vocals capture the anticipation of a slow burn romance.

For fans of Clairo, Magdalena Bay and beabadoobee, Brooke is quickly becoming a prominent voice in the “frutigaze” corner of indie pop. The style combines the vibrant, glossy Frutiger Aero aesthetic with the fizzy guitar texture of indie pop/rock. Initially popular in the early 2000s era of technology and advertising, the Frutiger Aero aesthetic is characterized by joining technology and nature together. The style often uses graphics of rolling hills, aquatics and glassy textures to achieve this, and is growing to become its own niche within the indie music scene. 

Through clever lines like “You're like a broken CD and every scratch is gettin' deeper inside my head”, Brooke vividly captures the feeling of the gradual snowballing of infatuation with someone new. The infectious beat and soaring melody perfectly capture the fluttery rush of a new crush, delivering far more excitement than just a “Whisper” might suggest. Floating above the hazy, reverb-heavy production, Brooke’s smooth vocals highlight the emotional art of anticipation woven throughout the lyrics.  Her use of vibrant, early 2000s Frutiger Aero graphics as branding only emphasizes the fun, refreshing energy of Brooke’s voice even more. 

Now with 35,000 monthly Spotify listeners, Brooke released her debut single, “fantasy” in spring of 2024. Brooke's style has evolved into a more electronic, guitar-heavy brand of indie rock than the singer-songwriter ballad sound exhibited in her earlier singles. Needless to say, Brooke’s versatility shines both vocally and as a songwriter. “Whisper” leaves listeners wanting more, making Brooke Wheeler an artist well worth keeping an eye on as the frutigaze corner of indie pop continues to grow.