“To be commercially appealing wasn’t my focus, and that felt liberating,” Beks speaks about her new EP, ‘Hard Gloss,’ as she stepped away from writing camps to take complete creative control. Coining this new writing approach as crucial for her identity, Beks taps into creation with no compromise; she says: “I could be more bombastic, more adventurous.”
Born in Australia, Beks resides in London, having relocated to a place with more opportunities, as her mom encouraged her to ‘go where you’re celebrated, not tolerated.’Beks is a queer artist deeply involved in the LGBTQA+ community, with regular performances at Australia’s Mardi Gras to her credit.
Bek’s new project, ‘Hard Gloss,’ provides a defining sound of her identity, blending the two worlds of grit and glamour. Shot at her local gay bar in the bathrooms and the dancefloor, Beks compiles cutting-edge club-pop earworms, bound to relate to the ones dancing their lives away until the sun rises.
In our conversation, Beks shares how she feels instantly soothed by the thought of Tina Turner and her strength. In addition to listing her club night essentials, Beks opens up about how she would like to be a part of a culturally significant moment with her music. At the pace she is moving now, she is not far off from being the one behind the records that shape people’s trajectories.
Where did we catch you?
You caught me on 4 hours sleep on the airport floor heading back to London from Amsterdam after performing my song ‘All The Good Boys Are Gay’ with the biggest gay man’s choir in the Netherlands in the iconic Muziekgebouw theatre over two nights and an after party with my daddy pack.
Could you list some of the top songs you can’t get out of your head these days?
‘Image’ by Magdalena Bay, ‘Who’s That Chick’ by David Guetta feat. Rihanna, ‘Let’s Get Bubble Tea’ by Dyan Thai, ‘Soft Scoop Talking Dog’ by Greta Isaac and of course my new EP ‘Hard Gloss’.
You performed at London’s Mighty Hoopla, how did you enjoy the festival and your performance?
It was the most joyful, community centred celebration. I worked closely with queer dance collective, Homoparody, to make a show that felt dynamic and impactful to the broader queer community in London. Someone recently described it as “West End Theatre meets underground club culture, like Kylie on poppers”. The highlight was being lifted into the air and carried off stage.
You stepped away from writing camps to take full creative control, could you elaborate on why you made this decision?
I set out to make this EP without compromise, without lyrical negotiation or bending the sound to follow what’s trending. It was a risk, a leap of faith I had to take to find that confidence in myself and in my ability to create an EP that I would want to listen to over and over and over. Collaboration will always be a big part of my music, but personally this solo project was important for my own identity.
Your debut EP, ‘Hard Gloss’ is the result of this change. In what way did your new writing style impact the themes of the project?
It gave me lyrical freedom. I could be more bombastic, more adventurous. For example in my track ‘Who You Kidding’ I say; just a mannequin panicking, wish you put me first, keep your cinnamon, silicon, living what you deserve. In commercial writing sessions these lyrics wouldn’t likely make the cut because they aren’t familiar, they’re too complex. That’s true and I agree, but to be commercially appealing wasn’t my focus and that felt liberating.
Could you explain the creative backstory of the EP artwork?
‘Hard Gloss’ is being two things at once. The hard being the grind, the grit, the hustle and the gloss being the glamour, the glitz, the IT girls and shiny top coat. I wanted to shoot something high concept, glamorous, vogueesque against something gritty so we shot the whole EP at my local gay bar in the bathrooms and on the dance floor.
You said, the bridge of your new single ‘Who You Kidding’ is your proudest moment. Could you elaborate on what the song is about and had the dramatic writing process during a lightning storm affect your creative filters?
This dream colosseum, wear disguises, win the prizes when you walked out of my feelings, made it easy, to not play along. Who you kidding? You’ll be back again – the lyrics speak to an inner confidence that even in a moment of setback, what’s meant to be yours is going to come back to you.
Why did you make the move from Australia to London?
I moved for opportunity. I love Australia, I wouldn’t leave if I didn’t have to, but I need to find my people, as my mum says ‘go where you’re celebrated, not tolerated’.
What do you miss the most about living in Australia, beside the obvious (weather)?
Hehe yes I do miss living in a bikini. This is going to sound so cliche, but I miss my family.
What were some of your favorite moments from performing at the iconic Australia’s Mardi Gras?
It took my breath away looking into the crowd of 30,000 people singing my song ‘All The Good Boys Are Gay’, I’ll never forget that!
Who was your biggest influence when pursuing this career professionally?
You know I always find myself feeling soothed when I think of Tina Turner. She faced so many challenges, roadblocks, survived dv and industry prejudices over her age, but her determination lives on in me like a spirit animal. Relentless and strong. Actually, I released a cover remix of her song ‘We Don’t Need Another Hero’ a few years back and still have a full lifesize cutout of her in my house.
What do you love the most about being an artist?
I love that I rhinestone phones and run around in latex with my dancers and that’s all very serious business. Like that’s my job!
Could you name some of your essentials for a club night?
I have my club bag ready to go with Jo Malone English pear and sweet pea fragrance for any bathroom deep and meaningfuls, a comb because the higher the hair the closer to god and sunglasses of course because when I wanna go hard on the dancefloor it’s like my invisible coat, no one can see me with my glasses on right?
What are your go-to London spots?
Well I wish I could clout drop some secret celebrity restaurant, but honestly give me a stinky 6x6m room with a mirror and a boombox and I’m happy as.
What are your hopes for the future and the future of your career?
I want to be part of a culturally significant moment with my music. When I DJ and play a song that everyone knows, a hit, I see how transformative that is on people and I want to create that. I want to create that, whether that’s for my solo project or for another artist. Anything else is cream on top.
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Words: Karolina Kramplova