Smouldering, country-tinged alt.rock: Bethia Beadman combines the intensity of PJ Harvey with the Lynchian glamour of Lana Del Ray and the doomed romanticism of Nick Cave. She has a sound and presence that is breathtaking – you may never stop listening or look away. She’s played Glastonbury and Isle of Wight festivals, sung in the Vatican, supported Pete Doherty and toured in Courtney Love’s band. Bethia grew up in an underground grotto in Bath (strange but true!). She was a child ballerina and began writing songs in her teens. Then came a Theology and Sanskrit degree at Kings College, Cambridge which took her on travels to India and Cambodia amongst other places. Back in London to study sound engineering, she heard by chance that Courtney Love was looking for a piano player. One audition later, BB was living the rock’n'roll dream in Los Angeles and touring the world in Hole. But nothing could replace writing her own songs, so she returned, once again, and set to work. Bethia begged, borrowed and pulled in favours to make her debut album ‘Made of Love’ (released 16 July 2012). She had no manager, no label, no booking agent, no plugger, no PR. She worked at the Hospital Studio in Covent Garden so she could borrow studio time which also gave her the chance to work on albums by REM and Depeche Mode. Through a combination of thrift and passion – plus the commitment of her loyal and talented band – she recorded the songs that make up ‘Made of Love’ and its sequel ‘The Old Ships’ (released 2013). She has also made a mark with her stylish music videos. The stunning Lynchian short film for ‘Fire’ – shot in the California desert by LA artist Mason Jar – won Best Music Video at the Cannes Independent Film Festival (May 2012) following the Gold Prize Award for Best Music Video at the Alameda Film Festival, San Francisco. The magical ‘Glow Baby Glow’, filmed by Berlin-based duo Now Moment Now, continues to win acclaim and the pair have just completed a new series of intimate acoustic performances in ‘BB’s Boudoir’ – the bedroom of her East London home.
