The Beths are a New Zealand indie rock band, formed in Auckland in 2014.[1][2] The group principally consists of lead vocalist Elizabeth Stokes, guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck.[3] Meeting at the University of Auckland, the band signed to Carpark Records in 2018, where they have released the albums Future Me Hates Me (2018), Jump Rope Gazers (2020), and Expert in a Dying Field (2022). They have toured internationally with Death Cab for Cutie,[2] The National,[4] and received praise from Rolling Stone[5] and Pitchfork.[6]
The Beths | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Beths performing at the Capitol Hill Block Party in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | Elizabeth Stokes Jonathan Pearce Benjamin Sinclair Tristan Deck |
| Past members | Ivan Luketina-Johnston |
| Website | thebeths |
History
Elizabeth Stokes and Jonathan Pearce originally met in high school, and they met both Benjamin Sinclair and Ivan Luketina-Johnston when all four attended classes at the University of Auckland, studying jazz. 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.[7][8]
The Beths were formed in late 2014 and released their first single "Idea/Intent" via SoundCloud in July 2015.[9] Stokes said that she named the band using her own name, after being inspired by Gilmore Girls character Lorelai Gilmore naming her daughter after herself.[1] 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.[10]
The Beths have received financial support from the NZ on Air and NZ Music Commission.[11] In September 2015, the band received money to make the single and video for "Whatever" from NZ on Air.[12] In May 2016, NZ on Air funded a video for "Lying in the Sun".[13] Through their Outward Sound program, the NZ Music Commission funded three tours as part of their international music market development grants.[14][15][16]
A new single, "Great No One," was released in October 2017.[17] The song was the first to be lifted from the band's debut album, Future Me Hates Me. Prior to the album's release in 2018, the band announced their signing to Carpark Records in the US (who also reissued Warm Blood internationally)[18] and to Dew Process in Australia.[19] The album was released globally on 10 August 2018, followed by an international tour supporting the release.[6] The title track was nominated as one of five finalists for the 2018 Silver Scroll award in New Zealand.[20][21]
In 2018, Luketina-Johnston permanently departed from the band to focus on Sal Valentine.[citation needed]
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."[22] "Happy Unhappy" was named 2018 Rolling Stone magazine song of the summer.[5]
In early 2019, the band undertook a tour of the UK and Europe supporting Death Cab for Cutie.[2]
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Their second studio album Jump Rope Gazers was released in July 2020.[23][24]
On 13 June 2022, the single "Silence Is Golden" was released with the announcement of their third album, Expert in a Dying Field, which was released on 16 September 2022. One year later, The Beths released a deluxe edition of their 2022 LP which included 2 previously released singles; "A Real Thing" originally released on 9 February 2022, and "Watching The Credits" released on 28 March 2023. [25]
Their 2023 single "Watching The Credits" reached greater audiences, one of whom was former U.S. president Barack Obama, who featured the song on his 2023 summer playlist.[26]
Musical style
The band is known for its use of vocal harmony, using the voices of all four band members.[23] Members of the band have cited Alvvays, Rilo Kiley, and Bully as inspirations for their work.[27]
Band members
Current members
- Elizabeth Stokes – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2014–present)
- Jonathan Pearce – lead guitar, backing vocals (2014–present)
- Benjamin Sinclair – bass, backing vocals (2014–2018, 2018–present)
- Tristan Deck – drums, backing vocals, percussion (2019–present; touring musician 2018–2019)
Former members
- Ivan Luketina-Johnston – drums, backing vocals, percussion (2014–2018)
Former touring musicians
- Katie Everingham – drums, backing vocals (2018)
- Chris Pearce – bass, backing vocals (2018)
- Adam Tobeck – drums, backing vocals, percussion (2018)
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [28] | AUS [29] | SCO [30] | UK Sales [30] | UK Indie [30] | UK Rock [30] | ||||||||
| Future Me Hates Me |
| 19 | — | — | — | 47 | 27 | ||||||
| Jump Rope Gazers |
| 2 | — | 35 | 32 | 8 | — | ||||||
| Expert in a Dying Field |
| 1 | 80 | 24 | 22 | 9 | — | ||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Live albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [28] | UK Record [30] | UK Indie Break. [30] | UK Rock [30] | ||
| Auckland, New Zealand, 2020 |
| 19 | 24 | 15 | 31 |
Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK Sales [30] | ||
| Warm Blood |
| 84 |
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Idea/Intent"[32] | 2015 | Warm Blood |
| "Whatever"[33] | 2016 | |
| "Lying in the Sun"[34] | ||
| "Great No One"[35] | 2017 | Future Me Hates Me |
| "Future Me Hates Me"[36] | 2018 | |
| "Happy Unhappy"[37] | ||
| "You Wouldn't Like Me"[38] | ||
| "Little Death"[39] | ||
| "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"[40] | Non-album single | |
| "Dying to Believe"[41] | 2020 | Jump Rope Gazers |
| "I'm Not Getting Excited"[42] | ||
| "Out of Sight"[43] | ||
| "A Real Thing"[44] | 2022 | Expert In a Dying Field (Deluxe Edition) |
| "Silence Is Golden"[25] | Expert In a Dying Field | |
| "Expert In a Dying Field" | ||
| "Knees Deep" | ||
| "Watching the Credits"[45] | 2023 | Expert In a Dying Field (Deluxe Edition) |
| "Your Side" | 2024 | Expert In a Dying Field |
Split singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Other artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Sales [30] | |||
| "Brand New Colony" / "We Looked Like Giants"[46] | 2023 | 20 | Pickle Darling, Car Seat Headrest |
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Mississippi Moonshine Girls"[47] | 2016 | Waiting for Your Love: A Tribute to The Reduction Agents |
| "What's the Matter with You" | 2021[48] | True Colours, New Colours: The Songs of Split Enz |
| "How Lonely Are You?", "Under the Rolling Moon", and "Always There" | 2021 | Modern Fiction by Ducks Ltd. |
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| "Whatever"[33] | 2016 | Alex Hoyles |
| "Lying in the Sun"[34] | Dahnu Graham | |
| "Future Me Hates Me"[49] | 2018 | Christopher Stratton |
| "You Wouldn't Like Me"[38] | Ezra Simons | |
| "Little Death"[39] | Norwood Cheek | |
| "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"[50] | The Bub Club and Hamish Parkinson | |
| "Uptown Girl"[51] | 2019 | Callum Devlin and The Beths |
| "Dying to Believe"[52] | 2020 | Callum Devlin |
| "I'm Not Getting Excited"[42] | ||
| "Out of Sight"[53] | Ezra Simons | |
| Auckland, New Zealand, 2020 (live concert film)[54] | 2021 | Callum Devlin |
| "Silence Is Golden"[55] | 2022 | |
| "Expert In a Dying Field" | Frances Carter | |
| "Knees Deep"[56] | Callum Devlin and Annabel Kean | |
| "Your Side"[57] | 2024 | Tristan Deck |
References
External links
