Bethia Beadman is a British singer-songwriter from the United Kingdom. Her work sits in smouldering, country-tinged alt-rock, and her music is described as combining the intensity of PJ Harvey, the glamour associated with Lana Del Rey and the romantic bleakness of Nick Cave.

Background and education

Beadman grows up in Bath and later studies Theology and Sanskrit at King’s College, Cambridge. During that time she travels to India, Cambodia and other places. She also trains as a sound engineer in London and has previously worked at the Hospital Studio in Covent Garden.

She is also a child ballerina and starts writing songs in her teens.

Career

Beadman plays at Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight festivals, sings in the Vatican, supports Pete Doherty and tours with Courtney Love’s band, Hole. After hearing that Courtney Love is looking for a piano player, she auditions and joins Hole, touring internationally with the band.

Although she performs with other acts, she returns to her own songwriting and records her solo material independently. She makes her debut album, Made of Love, and follows it with The Old Ships.

Recording and release context

Beadman works without a manager, label, booking agent, plugger or publicist while making Made of Love. She uses studio time at the Hospital Studio, where she also has the opportunity to work on albums by R.E.M. and Depeche Mode.

Music videos

Her music videos are a visible part of her work. The short film for “Fire”, shot in the California desert by LA artist Mason Jar, wins Best Music Video at the Cannes Independent Film Festival and also receives the Gold Prize Award for Best Music Video at the Alameda Film Festival in San Francisco. “Glow Baby Glow”, filmed by the Berlin-based duo Now Moment Now, also receives attention, and the pair go on to complete a series of acoustic performances called “BB’s Boudoir”, set in the bedroom of her East London home.