SPOTLIGHT: BETH MCKENZIE
Photo By Sophie Bri Keeble
Meet Beth McKenzie and tune into her newest release “Does This Make Me A Bitter Woman? (Deluxe)”
You’ve just released the deluxe edition of Does This Make Me A Bitter Woman?. Looking back at the original release a year ago, how do you feel your songwriting has evolved since then?
I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since I released this project! So much has happened since releasing this original EP - including a lot of songwriting! I feel like I view songwriting in a completely different light than I did last year. I spent a lot of time thinking about how the lyrics would be received on social media as I was writing them, worried that they wouldn’t resonate the way I wanted to. Right now, I’m feeling really at home in my songwriting and I’m now writing without worrying about how people will interpret it. I’m not trying to appeal to anyone. I have confidence that my music will find its people naturally, because I love what I’m creating, and if I love it, then I know somewhere there’s got to be other people that will! I think I’m writing more vulnerably now, which is scary, but it feels most like me, and right now that’s the most important thing.
“Catching The Next Train” captures that quiet, painful moment when the spark fades in a relationship. What was the most challenging part of writing about such a subtle kind of heartbreak?
The song highlights how sometimes, no matter how much you love each other, there just isn’t a solution. This doesn’t mean it’s anyone’s fault in particular. It would be easier to scream, shout and point the finger at someone. In this case, there’s no one to blame. I think it’s quite tricky to portray this kind of heartbreak accurately in songwriting, because there’s no big ‘fuck you’ moment - you just have to quietly capture the sadness and sit with it. It’s challenging to find cathartic lyrics that don’t come from a place of anger and frustration.
You’ve said sometimes breakups aren’t about screaming and shouting, but about admitting there’s a problem. How did that realization shape the lyrics for “Catching The Next Train”?
When I think about a stereotypical breakup, I imagine a rush of intense, explosive emotion. But sometimes there isn’t that element of urgency, sometimes it’s a slow realization. It could be a decision that doesn’t present itself obviously, but nags at you until you’re ready to acknowledge there’s a problem that needs to be addressed. Getting on the next train that comes is not a desperate move, it’s not running away. It’s a casual decision made logically. I’m not dramatically rushing out to catch the train, I’m not running away, but I’m also not staying here. So I’ll take time to think about why things aren’t working, we’ll say goodbye when we’re ready and then I’ll just hop on the next train that comes.
“My Skeleton Mocks Me” is raw and deeply personal, exploring how trauma is stored in the body. What gave you the courage to turn such a private struggle into a song?
Honestly, this song practically wrote itself. Songwriting has always been my medium of choice for expressing and sharing my emotions. So when I felt so utterly trapped in my own body, the only thing I wanted to do was sit down and try work through my thoughts at the piano - it just so happens that it ended up in me writing a full song! The need for courage came when I made the decision to release it. It’s hard putting something so personal out into the world, but I know that if I needed the song, others would too - I don’t want to keep something to myself if it could help people feel less alone. I also feel like this track is the perfect stepping stone between this project and my next, where I’m exploring some darker subject areas, so that’s why I wanted to place this song last on the deluxe EP tracklist.
You’ve described feeling like your body was holding onto memories and experiences you tried to bury. How did music help you process and release those emotions?
Music is so therapeutic for me, writing lyrics especially. Music is familiar, it’s where I feel at home, so this provides me with a safe place to explore uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. I’ve never been the best at expressing the vulnerable side of myself with words to other people, so writing became a way for me to let everything spill out of my head. I think songwriting has really helped my ability to voice my thoughts - I’m much better at talking to people about difficult things now.
The title Does This Make Me A Bitter Woman? feels both tongue-in-cheek and pointed. What inspired you to frame the project with that question?
I love the title of this EP. It means so many different things. The phrase ‘bitter woman’ is often used to describe women who speak out about the things that matter to them, who advocate for themselves and those around them. Yet somehow, they’re made to feel like this is negative. I talk a lot about the things that have happened in my past. I want to make sure I do my part in making sure they don’t happen again to others, but sometimes this has led to people scolding me for hanging onto the past, calling me ‘bitter’. My question is, does airing my opinions and emotions make me bitter? Or does it just make me human? Why do we live in a world that treats women with opinions as an inconvenience? So if people decide that this does in fact make me a bitter woman, well I’m not convinced that’s a bad thing.
Tracks like “The Cult” and “She’s Finally Lost It” show a playful, almost humorous side of processing dark experiences. Why is it important for you to find the funny side of pain?
For me, the silver lining of navigating dark situations is that there’s almost always something funny that you can pull out of it. Often it’s something that other people may consider ‘too serious’ to joke about, but I find that putting a humorous spin on it makes all the difference. Also I’m a sucker for a good dark joke.
“Don’t Tell My Boyfriend” became a queer anthem on TikTok. Did you expect the song to resonate so widely, and how has that response impacted you?
I really didn’t expect ‘Don’t Tell My Boyfriend’ to resonate with people so quickly! I just posted the demo on TikTok because Andy (my co-writer and producer) thought it would be a good way to reach people… and he was right! This opened so many doors for me and was the start of my journey with releasing music. I was able to spend more time writing and creating, which gave me the opportunity to explore my writing style and figure out what I wanted to say with my music. I will always be so grateful for this song, not only for the opportunities it gave me, but for the way it introduced me to an incredible community of people who read in between the lines and find the message in my writing.
That track also digs into internalized homophobia. How do you navigate being so vulnerable about your identity while also writing songs that feel empowering?
Vulnerability is empowering. Writing music has helped me realise this, it has allowed me to tap into parts of myself that I may not have explored outside of music and has enabled me to sit with that feeling of vulnerability. It takes strength to be vulnerable, so when I’m able to write from such a raw place, it makes me realise that I’m more capable than I give myself credit for! So my vulnerability empowers me, and I hope this is a feeling I can share with my listeners through my music too.
On “It Won’t Always Feel So Heavy,” you write about mental health and progress not always being linear. How do you balance hope and honesty when writing about those struggles?
It’s really important, as a writer, to be cautious when exploring sensitive topics such as mental health. The line between honesty and oversharing is often crossed. Honesty is so important, but becomes an issue when it’s damaging others. I try to write about my experiences in a way where I’m telling my story responsibly - not hiding anything, but also holding back details that I know could be triggering! A good way to do this is to tell a story through the lens of hope, it allows everyone to learn about a difficult past whilst acknowledging the potential for growth and positivity.
Growing up on artists like Lily Allen and Paloma Faith, how have those influences shaped your voice as a songwriter today?
Neither Paloma Faith and Lily Allen quite fit the stereotypical pop mould of the early 2000’s. They weren’t afraid to take risks. Paloma Faith has always been unapologetically herself, and she very much marches to the beat of her own drum - this has inspired me as an artist from the very beginning. I remember listening to Paloma’s debut album on repeat when I first started writing, on the edge of my seat for every lyric, instrument and visual. I just thought she was so fucking cool. Lily Allen’s songwriting has always been bold and blunt, she isn’t afraid to say what she thinks and explore topics that may be considered taboo - an example of this is a song called ‘Him’ from her 2008 album. Growing up listening to this kind of music has really shaped the way I write, and I borrow from their confidence as I’m writing.
You’ve already had support from outlets like BBC Radio 1 and Clash, plus playlists on Spotify and Apple Music. How does it feel to see your music breaking through on bigger platforms?
One of the main reasons why I started releasing music was to connect with people who might resonate with my songs. Having my music break through on bigger platforms gives me the opportunity to connect with more of these people, so I’m so grateful to have the support that introduces my work to a bigger audience!
The EP combines upbeat Britpop-inspired tracks with delicate, introspective ballads. How do you decide when a song should lean toward catharsis versus vulnerability?
Honestly, it depends on the day! It depends on where my head is at with the subject matter. Sometimes I need to write something loud, messy and cathartic to explore my feelings, at other times I’m feeling less comfortable and more vulnerable, this is then reflected in my songwriting. In terms of finding the balance between the two in a project, I actually think that comes naturally - I feel a million different feelings every day, which definitely gives me a good range of different energy levels.
You’ve talked about wanting to be part of a changing industry as a female and queer artist. What changes do you hope to see in the industry in the coming years?
The industry is shifting, it’s becoming more inclusive and more accessible - but there is still quite a way to go. Music is still inaccessible for a lot of people, for a number of factors - including age, race, gender, geographical location and socioeconomic factors. So I want to see more inclusive and safe spaces being actively built for both fans and artists so music is available to anyone who wants to access it. I’d also like to see more transparency and honesty from those working at the top. There are pockets of the industry that are still very dated, and quite often they’re the places that hold a lot of power. Undeniably there’s a change that needs to be made, and I reckon one of the first steps in making this change is to be fully honest about what's going on. From there we can identify where the flaws lie, and how we can fix them.
After touring the UK with the Wishful Thinking Tour and now releasing this deluxe edition, what’s next for you as you continue building your artistry?
I’m currently getting ready to join Eileen Alister on her European tour this month. I'm opening for her in Paris, Basel and Zurich. I haven’t played any international shows before, so I’m really excited to get on the road! I’ve also just finished creating my next project - which I am incredibly proud of, I think it’s something really special and I’ve worked so hard on it. Keep an eye out in the New Year for this…
Listen to “Does This Make Me A Bitter Woman? (Deluxe)” here.
