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The Beths

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The Beths are an indie pop band from Auckland Central. Consisting of Elizabeth "Liz" Stokes (vocals, guitar), Jonathan Pearce (guitar, backing vocals) and Benjamin Sinclair (bass, backing vocals).

History[]

Pre-formation[]

Stokes and Pearce originally met in high school, and met both Sinclair and Luketina-Johnston when all four attended classes at the University of Auckland, studying jazz.[1] Prior to The Beths, Luketina-Johnston was performing swing under the moniker of Sal Valentine. Stokes, Pearce and Sinclair were all a part of his backing band, The Babyshakes, for various tenures.[2][3]

Formation (2015)[]

The Beths were formed in early 2015, after Stokes turned 23 and realised she wanted to play in a guitar band.[4] After recording a demo version of "Whatever", the band released their first single "Idea/Intent" via Soundcloud in July of that year.[5] 

Warm Blood (2016)[]

In March 2016, the band independently released their debut EP, Warm Blood. The EP spawned a single, "Whatever," which was released with an accompanying music video in May 2016.[6]

Future Me Hates Me & Luketina-Johnston's departure (2017-2018)[]

A new single, "Great No One," was released in October 2017.[7] The song was the first to be lifted from the band's debut album, Future Me Hates Me. Prior to the album's release, the bands announced their signing to Carpark Records in the US (who also reissued Warm Blood internationally)[8] and to Dew Process in Australia[9]. The album was released globally on the 10th of August. The title track was nominated as one of five finalists for the 2018 Silver Scroll award in New Zealand[10], but lost to Marlon Williams[11]. The album received press worldwide, with articles from Rolling Stone,[12] and a 7.9/10 review from Pitchfork.[13]

In 2018, Luketina-Johnston permanently departed from the band to focus on Sal Valentine.

Worldwide success & Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2018-Present)[]

In November 2018, the band announced the forthcoming release of a new seven-inch, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. The vinyl features the band's cover of the traditional title track, as well as a demo version of their song "Happy Unhappy".[14]

The band was featured in many publications' end-of-year lists. Rolling Stone named Future Me Hates Me the 20th best album of 2018,[15] with NPR placing the album as the 41st best[16] and choosing "Little Death" as the 22nd best song of 2018.[17] Paste Magazine named The Beths the best new band of 2018.[18]

In 2019, the band will undertake a tour of the UK and Europe supporting Death Cab for Cutie,[19][20] as well as an Australian tour supporting The Smith Street Band.[21] The band is set to play at Splore's 20 year anniversary,[22] as well as SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, USA.[23]

Members[]

Current members[]

  • Elizabeth "Liz" Stokes - vocals, rhythm guitar (2015-Present)
  • Jonathan Pearce - lead guitar (2015-Present)
  • Benjamin Sinclair - bass guitar (2015-Present)

Touring members[]

  • Katie Everingham - drums (2018-Present)

Past members[]

  • Ivan Luketina-Johnston - drums (2015-2018)

Discography[]

Albums[]

EPs[]

  • Warm Blood (2016) - Self-released, Carpark Records, Dew Process

Singles[]

  • Idea/Intent (2015)
  • Whatever (2016)
  • Lying in the Sun (2016)
  • Great No One (2017)
  • Future Me Hates Me (2018)
  • Happy Unhappy (2018)
  • You Wouldn't Like Me (2018)
  • Little Death (2018)
  • Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2018)

Other appearances[]

  • "Mississippi Moonshine Girls" - Waiting for Your Love: A Tribute to the Reduction Agents (2016)[24]

Links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ "Artists: The Beths". Carpark Records. Retrieved 12 November 2018. http://carparkrecords.com/artists/the-beths/
  2. ↑ Hollywood, Michael. "The Beths: Warm Blood EP". NZ Musician. Retrieved 12 November 2018. https://nzmusician.co.nz/music/beths-warm-blood-ep/
  3. ↑ "Sal Valentine and the Babyshakes". Bandcamp. Retrieved 12 November 2018. https://salvalentine.bandcamp.com/album/sal-valentine-and-the-babyshakes
  4. ↑ Interview with Liz Stokes of The Beths, Hamilton Press, 16/10/2016, https://www.hamiltonundergroundpress.com/features/interview-with-liz-stokes-of-the-beths
  5. ↑ "Idea/Intent by The Beths". Soundcloud. Retrieved 12 November 2018. https://soundcloud.com/thebethsnz/ideaintent
  6. ↑ "The Beths - "Whatever"". Retrieved 12 November 2018 – via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtqX7rWtR8A
  7. ↑ "Premiere: The Beths Share New Single 'Great No One'". Under the Radar. Retrieved 12 November 2018. https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/13336/Premiere-The-Beths-Share-New-Single-Great-No-One.utr
  8. ↑ Bakerstein, D.L. "Kiwi pop-punkers (punk-poppers?) The Beths sign to Carpark Records, re-release debut EP on cassette, announce gnarly world tour dates". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 12 November 2018. https://www.tinymixtapes.com/news/new-zealand-pop-band-beths-sign-carpark-records-announce-cassette-re-release-debut-ep-warm-bloo
  9. ↑ "Introducing The Beths, your new favourite Middle Earth-based band". Pilerats. Retrieved 12 November 2018. http://pilerats.com/music/bands/the-beths-future-me-hates-me/
  10. ↑ Belfield, James. "Simply the Beths: Why this new Auckland band is a Silver Scroll contender". New Zealand Listener. Retrieved 12 November 2018. https://www.noted.co.nz/culture/music/the-beths-auckland-power-pop-quartet-living-hype/
  11. ↑ "WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2018 APRA SILVER SCROLL AWARDS". APRA AMCOS. Retrieved 12 November 2018. http://apraamcos.com.au/news/2018/october/2018-apra-silver-scroll-winners-announced/
  12. ↑ The Beths on the Sly Humor and Irresistible Hooks of Their Debut Album, Rolling Stone, 7/8/2018, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/beths-future-me-hates-me-interview-705662/
  13. ↑ The Beths: Future Me Hates Me Album Review, Pitchfork, https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-beths-future-hates-me/
  14. ↑ Gray, Julia. "The Beths – "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"". Stereogum. Retrieved 2 December 2018. https://www.stereogum.com/2024394/the-beths-have-yourself-a-merry-little-christmas/music/
  15. ↑ Meet The Beths: An NZ band winning the world's praise, Glenn McConnell, Stuff, 6/1/2109, https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/109542912/meet-the-beths-an-nz-band-winning-the-worlds-praise
  16. ↑ The 50 Best Albums Of 2018, NPR, https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/671206573/the-50-best-albums-of-2018-page-1
  17. ↑ The 100 Best Songs Of 2018, NPR, https://www.npr.org/2018/12/05/671206337/the-100-best-songs-of-2018-page-4
  18. ↑ The Beths Are Paste's Best New Band of 2018, Paste Magazine, 19/12/2018, https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/12/the-beths-are-pastes-best-new-band-of-2018.html
  19. ↑ Twitter. Retrieved 21 January 2019. https://twitter.com/dcfc/status/1042699892894838785
  20. ↑ Death Cab for Cutie announce 2019 North American summer tour, Consequence of Sound, https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/01/death-cab-cutie-north-america-tour-dates-summer/
  21. ↑ Newstead, Al. "The Smith Street Band announce tour, promise new music for 2019". triple j. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 January 2019. https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/the-smith-street-band-announce-2019-tour-the-beths-sweater-curse/10610788
  22. ↑ The Beths - Splore Festival, Splore, http://www.splore.net/the-beths/
  23. ↑ SXSW 2019 Schedule, The Beths, SXSW, https://schedule.sxsw.com/2019/artists/2004674
  24. ↑ "Stream The Reduction Agents Tribute Album 'Waiting For Your Love'". Under the Radar. Retrieved 12 November 2018. https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/11497/Stream-The-Reduction-Agents-Tribute-Album-Waiting-For-Your-Love.utr
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