The Beths strike precisely the right combination of exhilaration and longing that inhabits all the best indie rock records. The New Zealand band’s impressive 2018 debut album, “Future Me Hates Me”, which we called “a confessional, shimmering slab of Pacific pop” won them the title of Best New Band of last year. Every single song has multiple moments of sunny, hummable bliss, and that’s a credit to lead vocalist and songwriter Elizabeth Stokes who writes stunningly catchy hooks and possesses a self-deprecating sincerity that’s so easy to get behind. The Beths have practically become a mainstay in the American music scene after a couple years of touring, and considering their standout performance at this year’s South By Southwest, these New Zealanders are quickly making an impression.
The Beths are unveiling their new music, With the band readying their second album the infamous second album pressure, their studio setup, new songs, touring and more. Elizabeth Stokes had this to say: Since our little album came out in August last year we have played 209 shows over four continents. We are so grateful to be back and unpack, and to be able to celebrate with friends and family what has been a wild 18 months.
“People always ask ‘are you excited!?’ and it’s a fair question, because exciting things do happen to us sometimes,” says Elizabeth Stokes, frontwoman and songwriter for New Zealand’s Beths, of the band’s new single. “Support slots, overseas tours, music releases. Stuff we’ve dreamed about for years. So the correct answer is always ‘yes.’ But the truth is that deep down there’s a tiny Liz saying, ‘don’t get excited.’ She is certain that anything good that could happen will most likely not happen, because of a freak accident. Or because somebody finally realises that we aren’t worthy, shouts ‘phony!’ and takes everything away. I wrote ‘I’m Not Getting Excited’ last year, well before everything really did get taken away. From everyone. It feels like the song has a new context, but we don’t know what it is yet. And now we all share a blurry, uncertain future.”
The Beths’ sophomore album, Jump Rope Gazers, is out July 10th on Carpark Records.
The Fat Angel Sings 