Credit Photography: Sam Brumby, editing Giulia McGauran
“If Shania Twain + Daft Punk met at an 80s aerobics class, sweatily hooked up and had a gay baby… she would be named ‘Cost of Love’,” shares Bec Sandridge on her latest single. ‘Cost Of Love’ is driven by shuffling drums, hooky guitars reminiscent of the late 70s and of course Sandridge’s unmistakable voice. This is the first release since her acclaimed debut album ‘TRY + SAVE ME’ in 2019. ‘Cost Of Love’ is without question, a testament to Sandridge’s ability to write a sophisticated and unforgettable pop-banger.
Working with prolific songwriter and producer Dave Jenkins Jr (Daniel Johns, Vera Blue) and Lucy Taylor (Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding), Sandridge wrote ‘Cost Of Love’ at their apartment in Clovelly in Sydney with additional production from long term collaborator Gab Strum (Japanese Wallpaper). Grammy-nominated British engineer Geoff Swan (Charlie XCX, Haim) took the final reins mixing ‘Cost Of Love’ set for a global stage.
“I wrote this song with dear pals Lucy Taylor and Dave Jenkins Jr. At the time, I was stuck in a kind of tug-of-war, arm-wrestle with myself… Weighing up whether a certain relationship was worth it (the unraveling of a thread, the push and pull in compromise, digging up old and new dirt).
It felt like I had lost myself in a relationship that had a relatively frail foundation.
Despite the rocky-ness of the whole thing, we kept trying to build upon it beyond the used-by-date…I guess, we attempted to roll the shit in shit-tonnes of glitter to a degree. This song was my attempt to explore being logical in love and answer the question of: “how do you know when to call it before you lose all of yourself and in turn, each-other?” Bec Sandridge
‘Cost Of Love’ is the first track to be shared from Bec Sandridge’s collection of new songs on her ‘Lost Dog’ EP; due out October 7th. Combining elements of pop and dance-synth hooks, the new EP highlights her love of bold soundscapes which transport listeners into an alternate state. As always, the songs are framed by her signature sound (and love) of sad songs that are danceable.
“I was a bit of a lost dog, myself and I also lost my dog. This EP is a snapshot of that time.
The goal was to take time and write my best songs to date… On my debut record, I felt that I hadn’t gone as far as I could in terms of angularity and the whole gloss-pop thing. I wanted to really sit in that pocket… To me, this lot of songs feels like driving into a sunset, no sunglasses, with an ache in the pit of your stomach (potentially a hangover): it’s sickeningly beautiful, temporarily blinding and also, signifying the end of a big ol’ chapter.
I’m incredibly thrilled with how these songs have turned out and I have been fortunate enough to work with a lot of my favourite people on these songs, people that have true insight into my sonic brain. Dave Jenkins Jr, Lucy Taylor, Andy Bull, Geoff Swan, Japanese Wallpaper, Rosie Fitzgerald, Dorny Mayes, Tony Buchen – such a dream team!” Bec Sandridge
2019 was a productive year for Sandridge, releasing her debut album ‘TRY + SAVE ME’ spawning the singles ‘Animal’, ‘I’ll Never Want A BF’, ‘Eyes Wide’ and ‘Stranger’ which scored second place in the International Songwriting Competition Unsigned Category judged by Tom Waits, Dua Lipa and Chris Martin. Last year Sandridge composed the soundtrack for theatre production ‘Ishmael’ which premiered at Brisbane Festival at QPAC and opens next month at the Sydney Opera House.
Following a headline East Coast tour in 2019 and various support slots for Naked and Famous, Yungblud, The Rubens, Cub Sport, Montaigne, plus performing at various festivals (Falls festival, Groovin’ The Moo, The Plot, Festival of The Sun), Bec Sandridge will be returning to the stage and commanding our attention in August.
“Very excited to finally be taking these songs on the road with a new band! The calibre of musicians that I’m working with feels like such an honour! All of the new songs make me want to dance but they’ve also got that meaty, emotional edge to them which I can’t wait to hear in a live setting.” Bec Sandridge
BEC SANDRIDGE EAST COAST TOUR
With special guests: Montgomery and Huck Hastings
Friday, August 5 Northcote Social Club, Melbourne tickets
Thursday, August 11 – Mary’s Underground, Sydney tickets
Friday, August 12 – UC Hub, Canberra tickets
Thursday, August 25 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane tickets
PRAISE FOR BEC SANDRIDGE
“Beautifully weird mesh of instruments and sounds brought together by your stupidly good voice.”
DECLAN BYRNE, TRIPLE J
“Often combining spinning melodies and dizzying hooks with bold art just as grabbing and attentive; her work always feeling like a fully-realised vision completely coming to life in front of us.”
PILERATS
‘Try + Save Me’ Album of the Week, 4 stars
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD / THE AGE
“What I love about Sandridge is everything she does is fearlessly in bold: colours, sounds, adventure. And frankness. About everything.”
BERNARD ZUEL
“She’s given us our first taste of the album with lead single ‘Stranger’, and it’s an absolute pop belter that comes from a dark place.”
MUSIC FEEDS
Single: ‘Cost Of Love’ is out now.
EP: ‘Lost Dog’ is out October 7
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