beccs is a Brooklyn based musician from Boston. She grew up playing classical cello but at the age of 16 she migrated to songwriting at the piano. With an evolving alternative, soul style, beccs’ sound is in the realm of Fiona Apple meets Amy Winehouse meets Laura Nyro. Her music delves into the dark and intimate with a voice that is just as vulnerable as it is dramatic. Normalizing deeply personal pains and desires, beccs’ songwriting lures her listeners into a dynamic shared experience of self-exploration and celebration. Her voice has graced venues in Madrid, Boston and throughout New York City, including New York Times Critics’ Pick The Mysteries at The Flea Theater. beccs is set to release her debut EP Unfound Beauty September 2016, recorded by acclaimed producer Richard Barone and Grammy nominated audio engineer Steve Addabbo. The title track of beccs’ debut EP Unfound Beauty (co-written with Spanish bassist Hernan Olalla) was heard at Cannes Film Festival May 2015, featured in the short film Yellow Heart (dir. Sophia Harvey). The song will also be featured in All Of Me, a documentary film on eating disorders, by award-winning filmmaker Bess O’ Brien. beccs’ debut single, Scared of Me, won 1st runner-up in the national Campus Movie Fest Elfenworks Social Justice Songwriting Competition: the song credits those women who are oft-dismissed as hot messes but are actually inherent soldiers.
Unfound Beauty was released on September 21st.
In this interview, we chat with beccs about motivations, the new project and more.
Full Q&A, links, and streams below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.
I’m from outside of Boston and today I live in Brooklyn. My music is very soulful, dynamic, and woman-centric.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
I grew up in a very musical family. My dad is a gifted, amateur multi-instrumentalist and composer. He taught me a lot about music and crafting from a young age from our prog rock listening sessions. I started cello at age four and was always non-stop singing. But I view my relationship to songwriting as something separate, something much more intimate and sacred. Songwriting became a means of survival for me when I was struggling with an eating disorder. It was the only way I knew how to check in with myself, ground myself in my body, and fend off self-destructive urges. When I write music, I am given the permission to use my voice and take up space with it; this is essential to my recovery, this is essential to my being a woman. Music has allowed me to stay this course right here, so I stay the course with music.
Who or what are your biggest influences when it comes to your creativity?
I don’t know much about influences, but the artists I grew up on or love today range from Laura Nyro, Tori Amos, Ella Fitzgerald, The Beatles, Yes, Sondheim, Nina Simone, Fiona Apple, Sylvan Esso, Suzanne Vega, Aimee Mann, K.D. Lang, Sia, Rhye, Supertramp, Anohni and Beyoncé duh.
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
This is my first release! The debut EP is called “Unfound Beauty” and is produced by the acclaimed Richard Barone. It documents my relationship to myself, my recovery and my struggle to find my own “unfound beauty”. The process has been very cathartic and challenging for me. I think that’s an accomplishment in it of itself.
Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?
YES! Technology is not my strength. In today’s digital age, however, it’s great how the DIY culture creates a lot of opportunities for emerging artists. But the market is big and saturated and it means you have to run a business while staying authentic through your music. Playing businessperson and artist is a confusing mind game; there are many moving parts that don’t always flow well. It’s like getting your hands dirty in 5 new trades before even learning them. It’s totally worth it though. As difficult as decision-making is for me, I get a lot of say over my brand, my message, what I care about, and who I want to reach. That’s very empowering and important to me right now.
How do you feel about streaming services? Any romantic attachments to the physical formats: vinyl, 8-track, cassettes, CDs?
I still have my childhood boombox, so I’m all for CDs. The EP itself will be available on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, iTunes & Spotify. I just want people to listen to it.
Where can we follow you online and hear more music?
You can check out my website at www.beccsmusic.com and subscribe to the mailing list! And please like/follow and say hi on Facebook & Instagram!
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beccsmusic/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beccsmusic/
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/beccsmusic
