‘And I’ll make a cup of coffee with the right amount of sugar, how you like it.’
Chances are you’ve heard these sweet lyrics accompanied by melodic guitar strumming in the background of countless TikToks. “Coffee” was the first single released in 2017 by Bea Kristi, or beabadoobee, the 20-year-old London-based singer/songwriter. Since then, she’s released four EPs with the independent label Dirty Hit – Lice, Patched Up, Loveworm, and Space Cadet – all leading to her long-awaited debut album, Fake It Flowers.
Fans know Bea for hair that’s constantly changing color, ears and neck that are always decked out in silver hardware, tattoos all around, and an eccentric style that’s influenced by the ‘90s and early 2000s – think baggy-dressed skater boy meets grunge fairy princess.
Beabadoobee’s audience has been steadily growing, and she has gained exposure through opening for artists like Clairo and The 1975. Bea was also nominated for the Rising Star Award at the 2020 Brit Awards and won the Radar Award at the 2020 NME Awards.
The progression of Bea’s discography went from the melancholic bedroom pop tunes of Lice and Patched Up, to the alt-rock sounds of Loveworm and Space Cadet, culminating in the ultimate grunge aesthetic that Fake It Flowers encapsulates.
The singles chosen for the album showcase Bea’s genre evolution and her more cynical take on love compared to her previous work. Raw, vulnerable, and catchy, these songs give us a sneak peek of what lies ahead in the rest of the album. There will be songs to rock to and songs to cry to. Fake It Flowers, now available for streaming, is bound to launch Bea into the arms of a wider audience longing for the sound of decades past.
‘I don’t want your sympathy / stop saying you give a shit / ‘cause you don’t really care’
These lyrics that precede the head-banging chorus of the lead single “Care” are quite a contrast to the lovey-dovey sentiment of the artist’s first ever single. The song and music video, released in July, are both angsty with a sound and look that is straight from the ‘90s. Shot by Bedroom Projects on a 16 mm Bolex camera, the vintage and grainy shots are intercut with graphics and scenes of the singer rocking out in a field of flowers and singing in a bathtub. “Care” sets the mood for an album that showcases the artist’s alternative rock influences and the deviation from her former sweet-sounding love songs to ones with a more realistic grasp on romance and its complexities. beabadoobee
“Sorry”, the second single released in August, takes a more somber turn. The lyrics – I never wanna think twice / with what could’ve been your life / and I’m sorry – talk of a situation gone wrong and the guilt Bea feels for being the one to get out of it. Bea has written songs dealing with heavy topics before, such as “Bobby” and “Susie May” that are about depression and self-harm, but both are acoustic and delivered in her soft and whispered voice. In “Sorry,” the artist is not afraid to shout the title’s words over the distorted wailings of her electric guitar. It’s vulnerable and troubled – and the music video captures just that. With a gray and bleak color palette, the video follows Bea singing through a dark tunnel with a door at the end that opens up to – you guessed it – a field of flowers. Though Bea never faces the person head-on (Said I had to see you / But I don’t and I won’t), “Sorry” is her way of apologizing and letting go of those pent-up feelings.
“Worth It,” released in September, could easily be featured in the soundtrack of an imaginary early 2000s teen movie. The music video reveals a conflicted Bea dancing around a motel room trying to decide if she should let in a guy that may not be the best for her: You’re a bit more fucked but I guess that’s fine / Maybe that’s what I want this time. A banger from the start, the third single is catchy and guaranteed to make you dance around your own room and contemplate if it’s worth it to text that person back.
Though Bea’s sound has evolved throughout the years, in “How Was Your Day?” the singer goes back to the soft and acoustic sound reminiscent of her second EP, Patched Up. The song is about missing someone you’ve drifted away from, both the good and the bad – I miss getting angry at you / ‘cause at least I felt something new. The music video matches the slow-paced song with Bea singing the poignant lyrics on a swing or sitting on a stool in a field, interspersed with behind-the-scenes shots of her friends and family. The old film camera used further adds to the nostalgic and intimate feel. Again, Bea shows her vulnerability and the confusion that comes with missing a less than perfect relationship.
In the fifth and final single released in October, Bea knows the relationship in question is toxic but goes with it anyway. Right off the bat, you know things aren’t off to a good start: Crashed the car again / the same mistakes again. Throughout “Together,” Bea is trying to convince herself that the guy is bad news, and she almost succeeds – I think I’m okay by myself, I’m doing great / but we’d be better together. With the grain, the graphics, the red colorway and punk rock fashion, the music video looks like it could’ve premiered on MTV circa 1997. It’s Bea and her band rocking out on stage and giving us the ultimate make-a-bad-choice anthem.
Listen to Beabadoobee’s Fake It Flowers, available on all streaming platforms, and check out the music videos here.
