How Singer Brooke Addamo Instantly Boosts Her Mood (Without Coffee) When She's Fatigued
Welcome to Bedtime Stories, an interview series where we ask inspiring individuals to share their nighttime routine and sleep secrets – from the beauty products they can’t live without to the tricks they swear by when they’re too tired to function (no coffee needed). For this instalment, singer Brooke Addamo reveals how she manages to stay energised, despite her long and tiresome work days.
Sydney-based singer Brooke Addamo — professionally known as Owl Eyes — first came to public attention in 2008 following a stint on Australian Idol as a 17-year-old. Then, in 2013, she debuted her album Nightswim, which stormed into the Australian top 40 albums chart, officially kicking off her career. Now she's gained an honourable reputation worldwide and is even a regular performer with sell-out Sydney electronic music group Flight Facilities.
But her success hasn’t come without hard work and dedication. From the moment she wakes up, her days are filled with vocal lessons, industry meetings, a lot of travel and performances at esteemed festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury. Her yearly schedules are filled to the brim and as a result, she’s had to develop a solid bedtime and morning routine to help keep her fresh and energised.
Here, the singer sat down with Bed Threads Journal to reveal how she manages to juggle her busy schedule while looking — and sounding — her best all year round.
Hi Brooke! Welcome to Bedtime Stories. Can you walk us through your bedtime routine?
One benefit of not playing shows in 2020 was that I was able to regulate my sleep patterns.
I now struggle to stay awake past 10:30pm, which is pretty crazy for me because I’m a night owl.
Usually, my routine consists of listening to some evening jazz, having a hot shower, drinking peppermint tea and reading a good book.
What sleep or beauty products do you swear by that you won’t go a night without?
I swear by my trusty Dermaviduals skincare products and then slip in a few other products here and there.
I always wash my face at night with the Dermaviduals milk cleanser followed by a mixture of serums and creams. I also spray a relaxing lavender spray around the bed — at the moment I’m using the This Works Pillow Spray from Mecca.
What is your solution for those nights you simply can’t nod off to sleep?
Reading a page or two of my book will send me to sleep but if I'm really struggling, I try listening to the sleep time stories on the Calm app. If I’ve been travelling a lot or I’m jet-lagged, I’ll have some melatonin.
What time does your alarm go off in the morning? Walk us through your morning routine.
At the moment I set my alarm for 7am, which gives me some wriggle time for the freezing winter mornings when I want to lay in bed for a little extra time.
I live in a harbour suburb in Sydney, so as soon as I get up I stop by my local cafe for an almond latte and go for a walk along the bay. Then, it’s back home to start my day. If I have a studio session, I like to give my voice a quick warm-up in the shower.
What are three things (besides coffee) that help when you’re too tired to function?
I am a big lover of infrared saunas. They really help when I’m feeling run down and I need a little pick me up.
If I'm feeling really flat it’s because I’ve forgotten to drink enough water so I always try to stay on top of my hydration levels and have extra when I need a mood boost.
I’ll also try going for a quick walk or a Pilates class usually brings me back to life. I love doing the Fluid Form Pilates at home sessions when I'm travelling.
What do you normally eat for breakfast to kickstart your day?
When I'm travelling, my breakfast is always changing. But when I’m home I like to keep it simple with a smoothie. It's the same one every time - I simply blend together a scoop of WelleCo Vanilla Protein, The Beauty Chef Glow Powder, linseed meal, half a banana, and a cup of almond or oat milk. However, my favourite breakfast is definitely a pain au chocolat and a coffee!
For more from Brooke, follow her on Instagram @thisisowleyes.
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