Photo: Harriet Bols
Selling out venues as an emerging artist is no mean feat, especially if said artist hasn’t released a single yet. But, with her grunge-pop melodies and smooth vocals, it’s no surprise that Beattie is quickly gathering attention on the live circuit. With support slots for Spector and Oscar Lang already in the bag, she’s been turning heads in the industry since her live debut last summer, and she’s joined the lineup for our Manchester show in April. We caught up with Beattie to meet the mysterious artist behind the hype and find out what’s on the horizon.
Music came organically to Beattie, who picked up drums, guitar and bass in her teenage years: “I was never really forced into it. I’ve got four older siblings and none of them play instruments. I just became a bit obsessed with music.”
Her early muses were Banks and Lana Del Rey, the latter of whom is echoed throughout her songs and live performances. Later, she moved towards more alternative inspirations like Radiohead.
“At first I was just learning songs that I liked. But around 14 or 15 I started writing my own songs and producing my own music. I feel like my music taste is always changing a lot, but definitely when I was growing up.”
Beattie is part of the new generation of artists who are connecting with fans and building their following before they even have a presence on streaming platforms, a trend that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. Where others opt for a flurry of activity on Instagram and TikTok to get their name out there, Beattie is instead “trying to be consistent with live shows so that people can come and watch again,” she says. “It’s such an integral part of my music, being able to see the songs live.”
“I do try to post on my socials but I don’t think I’ll ever be like, ‘This is what I’m doing today and this is what I bought today.’”
Her songs are vulnerable and personal, giving each live show a sense of intimacy. Supported by her live band, she dazzles with ethereal dream-pop cuts like ‘London,’ which tells of her love-hate relationship with the capital city.
The stripped-back ‘Lucky’ has become another fan-favourite at her live shows, a song which felt like a real turning point in her song-writing journey. “’Lucky’ is one that people always say captures them and that song is quite special to me. Most of the set is full band, but ‘Lucky’ is really just stripped back down to mostly just piano and vocals – I really love performing that song.”
“It feels like a diary entry in a way because it’s so personal,” she says of her live shows. “So I think I just try and dissociate, in a way. I would say it’s quite an intimate experience, but we also have some heavier songs as well.”
Indeed, it was after Beattie’s very first full-band show at the George Tavern that the industry started paying attention. Since then, she’s picked up attention from live agents and labels alike as she plans her next move, hence why she opted to hold off on releasing her first music, to give her songs “the best life possible and the best chance possible”, she says. “Originally, I wanted to release the first song on my own, and then it got pushed back. It’s good to not rush your art.”
At the moment, we can only hear snippets from her live shows on social media, but she ready to start sharing her music soon. “I’ve been writing songs for years and years and years, and I’ve just been sat on so many songs. I want to start getting them out.”
It’s a brand-new path to navigate. Following in the footsteps of buzzy bands like The Last Dinner Party and Picture Parlour proves that it can be done, but often such early attention from the music industry brings accusations of being an industry plant. Is this something that concerns Beattie as she heads down the same road?
“It’s probably more just annoying, when you’ve worked so hard on something. Because I’ve really been doing music for 10 years now. Obviously, I don’t feel like an industry plant because this is all stuff that I’ve done on my own. All of the demos were written and recorded before any industry interest anyway. If I just try and stay authentic to myself and write for myself.”
There’s a lot on the horizon for Beattie this year. She’s already been announced for The Great Escape in Brighton this summer, with plenty more news to come. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on tickets to see her, grab the opportunity.
