Hey Beth! So excited to be chatting with you! You recently released your new single “San Francisco” & it’s awesome! Can you tell us the backstory of this song? Is it from a real experience?
Thank you so much! Yes it’s based on an experience I had when I was traveling through South East Asia. When I said goodbye to someone we had an “almost moment” where something could have happened, but neither of us acted on it. The song is about looking back on a memory and accepting that it’s in the past but also wondering what would happen if you had another opportunity.
You also have more music coming out in 2020!! Can you spill any details on what your supporters can look forward to next year?!?
I do! I’m working on two new singles at the moment, and I have a larger project in mind for next year too. I’m definitely keeping the fun catchy songs, but I’m looking to go a little deeper with the lyrics and explore some of the themes and issues I’m currently facing in life right now. I’m really excited to share them with you all 🙂
Do you have a creative say in your music? Did you help write all your new songs?
Yes I write all my own music! I tend to start developing an idea for a song by myself and then bring it to another songwriter when I want some outside input. I wrote San Francisco with my friend Kaity Rae. She created the music in the studio as we wrote the song, and the story and lyrics are all based off my own experience.
What’s it feel like to be releasing your own original music?
I feel incredibly lucky to have an outlet where I can share my thoughts, feeling and views with other people in a creative way. It is slightly strange sometimes to pour so much of yourself into a song, knowing that you’re basically creating a public diary that anyone can listen to! But I wouldn’t change it for the world, I love making music.
Will there be a music video for your new single? If so, can you tell us about the concept of the video 🙂
There is! You can watch it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/OVuacuyHrL8
The video is supposed to be fun and slightly ironic. I shot it myself with a selfie stick in San Francisco and basically spent a weekend running round the city doing the most touristy things I could think of. What I love about it being selfie-style is it gives the video a slightly lonely vibe. The point of the song is that we hold onto those “what ifs”, but the video shows that if we act on them (i.e. me going to San Francisco), it doesn’t mean things will work out the way we imagine they will. You watch me wandering around the city singing “If I’m ever in San Francisco would you want to know?”…but I’m clearly alone and not with that person.
Is there anyone you want to thank that’s helped you get to where you are today?
There are so many incredible writers and artists out there who have inspired and encouraged me to create the best music I can. I want to thank my cowriter and producer Kaity Rae for being up for writing my songs with me and making them as true to life as possible! And finally to the very nice man I wrote San Francisco about – thank you for the inspiration to write a song I absolutely love… 😉
What do you think makes your fan community/fandom different from others?
I have a whole variety of different people who follow my music from around the world, but interestingly I have quite a few fans who are songwriters themselves. A lot of them say they appreciate how I craft my lyrics, which is always nice to hear.
How would you describe your fans? – what’s three words you would use to describe your fans?
Fun, thoughtful and kind.
What do you want your message to be towards your fans? What do you want your fans to take away from your music and shows?
I want them to be able to take the songs and make them their own. I write very honestly about things I’ve gone through so that hopefully people can relate to what I’m singing about. When I’m doing a show I always share the story behind the song – partly so that people can understand what it’s about and be drawn into the story, but also because I want them to know that we shouldn’t be embarrassed or afraid to share how we’re feeling.
Do you have any pre-show rituals that help you get pumped up to meet your supporters?
I drink a cup of tea… Very British, not very rock and roll!
Are you planning any shows to promote your new music?
Yes! I’ve just finished a tour with ‘Write Like A Girl’, an initiative I started to champion female songwriters and women in music. We’re playing a bunch of shows around England, but I have plans to do another tour independently at the start of next year with my friend Rachel Troublefield who’s coming over from Nashville. She’s an incredible artist so I can’t wait to perform with her!
What is it like performing in front of your fans? Are you excited to start performing your own music live!?!
I love it because it gives me an opportunity to connect with people through music. I’m excited to play these new songs live – I usually perform acoustically so I can strip the songs down to their rawest form and let the message shine through.
What do you want your supporters to know that you think is important?
If you enjoy any artist’s music, the best thing you can do (apart from tell them you like it!) is to share it with your friends! I love being an independent artist today because it’s so easy to connect with people across the world thanks to the internet, but there’s so much music out there that it’s really difficult to get your songs heard by the people who need to hear them. I know there are lots of people who would connect with my songs – so the more you share them the more they will get heard 🙂
What’s something your fans don’t know about you?
I was so shy about singing when I was younger that not even my family knew I wanted to do music until I created a YouTube channel and announced I was going to do it professionally!
What’s one word you would use to describe what your fans have allowed you to accomplish?
Honesty. I feel safe to express my deepest thoughts and feelings in my music because they’re so kind and encouraging!
Is there anyone in the music business you are dying to meet?
So many people. The artist who inspired me to first start writing music when I was younger was Delta Goodrem, so I’d love to meet her one day and thank her for being such a great role model. I’m also a huge a big Elton John fan.
Why do you think social media is so important for teen artists like yourself?
It’s such an amazing tool to be able to connect with people who live anywhere! I love that I can do a live video and have people commenting from Spain, Turkey, Mexico and the States. It makes it so much easier to reach individual listeners who will love your style of music, but would otherwise never have heard it.
What would you say is your biggest dream/goal right now?
Right now my main goal is to keep getting better as a writer and produce more music that really speaks to people. I’d love to reach many more people with my music through the internet, Spotify and radio, and then do a lot more touring so that I can share the songs with them in person. That’s probably my main aim for the next year!
Any last things you want to tell your supporters?
Thank you for the love you’ve given San Francisco, your encouragement Keep your eyes peeled, I have a new song coming out next year that I think you’ll like even more…!
