Creating her own unique blend of indie rock, bedroom pop, and classic heartfelt songwriting, Beck Pete is a force of vulnerability and home-brewed confidence to be reckoned with. Her new single “Softie” shows off her journey to self-love, brimming with genuine lyrics and inspiring hope for a fulfilling life of passion, dreams coming true, and romance (but only after falling in love with her own identity first).
“For the first time actually, It feels incredible,” Beck tells TREMG about releasing the song. “‘Softie’ is the first song I released that I can listen to like it’s not mine. It’s a wild feeling to love something through the process of writing and creating it, and not get tired.”
One of the most poignant moments on “Softie” is the second verse, which Beck says is the part she’s proudest of. It describes her reluctance to rush into relationships that aren’t a good fit for her, focusing on her own goals and opting to “color in the empty parts between the boys and men” instead of forcing a romance that won’t fulfill her. It’s an important lesson for fellow young women who are often taught from a young age that a relationship is a crucial part of existence, rather than pursuing their dreams or finding what makes their own soul sing.
“I’ve learned that allowing myself to dream and visualize my ideal partner is better than trying to fill my time and space with others who don’t light me up,” she explains. “Recently, I’ve fully come to believe that if you want it, you can have it. Dreaming keeps the eye on the prize, filling space with other people (for me at least) distracts from it.”
“Softie” will appear on Beck’s upcoming two-part album, which documents her misadventures and experience with “becoming an adult way later than [she] expected.” Throughout the project, she owns both the darker and lighter parts of herself, combines grungey guitar sounds with fluttery vocals, and manages to showcase her soft side in a vulnerable display of emotion and sincerity with her listeners. And beyond the music, Beck is just as much of a “Softie” when it comes to showing appreciation for her supporters.
“I truly feel like this is the beginning of something special and big, she confesses. “I am so stoked to see who I can connect with on the ride. I wish I could hug all of you. One day I will.”
You can join the ride by checking out “Softie” on your favorite streaming services now and connecting with Beck Pete on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and her website! Keep reading for more from our conversation with the warm-hearted singer-songwriter.
Congrats on your new single, “Softie!” How does it feel to let the song out into the world?
For the first time actually, It feels incredible. “Softie” is the first song I released that I can listen to like it’s not mine. It’s a wild feeling to love something through the process of writing and creating it, and not get tired.
Is there a certain lyric on “Softie” that you’re particularly proud of?
The second verse is my favorite part of the song. It’s a reminder that dreaming should never be off-limits. “I daydream instead of cluttering my California bed / It helps to color in the empty parts between the boys and men.”
I’ve learned that allowing myself to dream and visualize my ideal partner is better than trying to fill my time and space with others who don’t light me up. Recently, I’ve fully come to believe that if you want it, you can have it. Dreaming keeps the eye on the prize, filling space with other people (for me at least) distracts from it.
On February 1st, you’ll be releasing a music video for “Softie.” What was the planning process for the video like, and what was it like on set?
Visuals are such an important extension of the story, and this video became a part of me for the weeks spent planning and executing it because I wanted to make sure I honored the song and the feeling.
I wanted to create a world that was leaning into the daydreaming aspect of the song, with props that were almost cartoon-like. I had an idea of utilizing a puppet to be the physical representation of the “big mouth,” and somehow decided that I would just make it myself. Couldn’t be so hard with Google on my side, right? Then, I decided I wanted to curate/create all of the little sets myself. I became really good friends with a hot glue gun for the two weeks leading up to the shoot. Reminded myself how to paint. Wrote probably over 250 people on OfferUp. Hit a car with my Uhaul.
Then there was the choreography aspect of the video. Dance was a part of my past that I had been longing to return to. Immediately prior to this video, my knees gave out on me and I could barely get around. But, I had already committed to the choreographer and to myself, so I decided to follow through with rehearsals and the execution of it on the day of… I had layers and layers of tape on my knees. Three pairs of tights to hide the tape.
Day of, there was magic in the air. The crew was incredible and supportive, and we pulled off something really special with a small budget. Annoyingly, I like to have my hand in everything so I also sat up late nights with Zoé Kraft who edited and co-directed the video to get everything exactly right and choose our moments. No piece of art is ever “perfect,” (debatable I guess) but I tear up every time I watch this video knowing what all went into it – the actual blood, sweat, and tears. Not everything has to be a challenge to overcome, but when it is, the end product is really fucking rewarding.
Back in September, you changed your artist name to Softie after “outgrowing” the heartbreak you associated with the name Beck Pete. What inspired you to switch back?
Haha, I didn’t really want to if I’m being honest, but it seemed that there were legal issues associated with the name that would eventually come to the surface. Beck Pete was tied to some experiences I wanted to leave behind, but after separating myself from it briefly, I realized I could choose it instead of feeling stuck in it.
A switch flipped in me the day I decided to reclaim the name, and I was able to let the heartbreak go and feel fresh, because all of the sudden the name was new, just like me.
I love how your music effortlessly blends elements of pop and rock! Who are some of your sonic inspirations?
I love that you feel that’s where I exist! I love a hook, but I also love something with a little bit of grit, or something that production-wise leans into a world slightly unexpected.
Some of my favorites that influenced this upcoming album are Alt-J, Imogen Heap, Feist, Remi Wolf, Phantogram, Perfume Genius, Noga Erez, and Sylvan Esso. I’m gonna make a playlist soon, if you want the link 😉
Your song “Gently Break It” appeared on The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. How did it feel when you heard about that placement, and if you could put “Softie” on any show, which show would you pick?
I got an email one morning asking if I was the person to contact about “Gently Break It.” I thought it was a scam. It wasn’t. It was surreal, and in a lot of ways changed my life.
“Softie” could be in any show where a bad bitch who realizes what she/they deserve…. But more specifically something quirky with a little edge and a little spunk feels right, like Sex Education or Fleabag.
How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist since releasing “Lonely” in 2018?
Sort of everything has changed since I released that song. I grew up, got my heart broken probably the same number of times as there are fingers on my hands, I lost my father, I found myself and I realized that I actually have a very specific perspective on the world to share and something to say.
Since “Lonely,” I’ve had years of observing the world with eager eyes and fine-tuning the type of sound that I wanted to present the world with. I have more texture to me as a person, and my music has more of that as a result. I’m a woman now, and I’ve never been more honest. I would say that all of those things make it clear to me that I have a world more to offer my listeners and fans.
We at TREMG love getting to know new artists who haven’t gotten the success or attention they deserve. Who are some of your favorite underrated artists at the moment?
Jmsey, Colyer, Meija, Ethan Tasch.
What can your fans look forward to in 2022?
So much new music. The upcoming album, which I’m releasing in two parts, follows me through the shit of figuring out who I am and becoming an adult way later than I expected. There are a lot of lessons in there that I mostly learned the hard way. I wasn’t all that thankful for them in the moment, haha, but I am now and I think this body of work is really special and will hopefully make a lot of people feel seen.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention that the questions didn’t touch on?
I’m just thankful to anyone who took the time to read all of my long-winded answers and who cares enough to listen. I truly feel like this is the beginning of something special and big, and I am so stoked to see who I can connect with on the ride. I wish I could hug all of you. One day I will.
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