Beks

I started writing my own songs in 2013. I was selling handbags out of the back of my station wagon to ladies boutiques along the south coast and was listening to Bertie Blackman’s 2014 ‘The Dash’ album on repeat. When I couldn’t listen to it anymore, I started singing my own songs I’d make up on the drive and then record voice memos on my phone in motel rooms, using cutlery and plates to create beats. I posted an ad on gumtree and met Ben and started my first band, Bec and Ben. Ben was a music teacher so he taught me to play the drums and I converted my floor kit to stand up kit with my bass drum on legs and full body configuration so I could dance and sing whilst playing. Then I taught myself acoustic guitar on a cruise ship I went on with my brother (who bought a 21-day romantic cruise for him and his girlfriend, but then they broke up so he took me). From there I started RACKETT and moved towards the electric guitar and now I take my midilab and laptop with me everywhere.

At the start of covid, I conceptualised, cast and produced a digital TV series called ‘Loud n Queer TV’ in partnership and with Heaps Gay and Create or Die, which I just found out has been nominated for an FBI SMAC AWARD. It was focused on giving artists from LGBTQIA community a platform during venue foreclusore and I produced over 60+ artists on the show over 3 seasons. Once that wrapped in September I started making my mixtape. At first, it was just an opportunity to refocus on writing music, but I was exploding with melodies and lyrics and every session I did with a new artist would produce a song that felt ready to release. Over 8 weeks I’ve worked with Taka Perry, Kim Moyes (The Presets), Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding, EAST), Muki, No Frills Twins, Tasker, Clara Fable, Joesph Delahoyde, Korkey Buchek, Airports, Lucy Nevile, Cam Nacson, Xira and more. Covid gave me an opportunity to fully focus on what my life might look like as a full-time songwriter and cement my desire to make that happen.

Beks is an extension of myself personally. I’ve been on a journey of self-discovery through music, writing with producers and artists from all around the world. I’ve been writing so much music that has informed me more about who I am as an independent songwriter and what I can create with confidence in myself. I’ve chosen to adopt my new artist name Beks to signify a new era for me as a songwriter. A new beginning, one that will carry my new work cohesively into the future.

Stars in My Eyes is based on a personal confession or realisation I had the day before entering the studio. I’ve always struggled to balance my personal life with my music, the latter taking priority. Finding myself in a familiar cycle of imbalance, holding onto the threads of an unravelling relationship, revealed a phrase that felt symbolic of my fantastical obsession with music; ‘I’ve got stars in my eyes’. This phrase became the closing statement of the relationship and the beginning of the story told in the song. Sound wise, this song was really inspired by my playlist, its a mash-up of all these influences – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mNERTaaSsvBBuRXPE0f8W?si=tivkVcL3TS28xT4oow1l3Q

Expect full pop vibes.

I’ve worked with Taka Perry, Kim Moyes (The Presets), Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding, EAST), Muki, No Frills Twins, Tasker, Clara Fable, Joesph Delahoyde, Korkey Buchek, Airports, Lucy Nevile, Cam Nacson, Xira and more, both in person and over Zoom, to create my upcoming, 12 track mixtape set for release in 2021.

Everything I’m listing to is here, it’s a pretty rad playlist with mostly pop artists from Australia and some OS icons like Charli XCX, Dorian Electra, Caroline Polachek. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mNERTaaSsvBBuRXPE0f8W?si=tivkVcL3TS28xT4oow1l3Q

I love fashion and design and film so when I’m not actually making music, I’m working with local designers and filmmakers for visuals for my music, so umm, music. I have no balance, I work 7 days a week on my art, so it’s music or sleeping and going on the occasional date if I’m lucky.