Bec Sandridge may be many things, but she’s sure as hell not a fucking joke.
Sandridge, an up-and-coming local talent known for her witty and take-no-prisoners lyricism, is bringing her brand of neo-pop to 2019’s Brunswick Music Festival.
Summarising Sandridge’s music seems reductionist; it’s impossible to categorise her, which may be a category within itself. She brings a manic energy to a polished brand of pop that is reminiscent of early Robyn – an inspiration for Sandridge. Her vibrato-heavy vocals bring to mind Orzabal and Smith, while her upbeat tempo and unapologetic lyrics pay homage to the likes of Belinda Carlisle.
When it comes to creating these tracks, Sandridge has a tried and tested method of beating the inevitable writer’s block that most artists come up against at some point in their creative process.
“Some of the best advice I ever received was when someone said to me that if you can’t connect to something you’re writing, you should write down conversations you wish you’d had, or things you wish you’d said, which is probably where ‘You’re a Fucking Joke’ came from,” she laughs.
“Like, I used to write these really florally, folky songs and I was never sure what they meant, and they didn’t feel raw, in a way. But writing with these conversations in mind, it gives it that more realistic edge.”
Another well-known method to fuel creativity is shifting locations to shake up your environment, to give yourself new inspirations, to encourage observation and discomfort. It’s partially for this reason that Sandridge has moved back to her hometown, and emerging creative hub, Wollongong.
“For me, last year I felt a bit burnt out because the band and I were touring, so it’s been nice to take myself away from such a creative hub. When I’m rehearsing or meeting with my manager, I get to travel to Melbourne, which makes it like a bit of a mini-working holiday.
“There’s an evolving scene in Wollongong, which is important to me. Growing up here, there weren’t really any music venues; maybe one old man’s pub. It’s still a bit like that, but it makes things more special when you find that group of people that share the same outlook as you. There’s this universal mood here where we’re all like, ‘everything’s a bit shit but let’s give it a go.’”
Sandridge is hard at work creating new material that will eventually take shape as a full LP. With regards to the immediate future, however, Sandridge is teaming up with visual artist Ellen Porteus and fellow musician Nancie Schipper to bring the Brunswick Mechanics Institute to life for the Brunswick Music Festival on Friday March 8. Sandridge has worked with both Porteus and Schipper previously, but this show, which coincides with International Women’s Day, will break new ground for all of them as a collaborative project.
“We’ve all teamed up, and we come from different areas: Nancy’s a bit more folky than me, and Ellen’s helping us conceptualise the visuals. Ellen’s creating a 3D backdrop out of boards and projections of quotes from women we’ve found inspirational. We were hoping to make it collaborative for people coming along, too, so maybe they can project inspirational quotes and women on the stage as well.”
Having the concert coincide with IWD seems like fate, because Sandridge is not a stranger to making statements that about activism. As an openly queer and feminist artist making alternative pop in a country that has a shameful history full of discrimination and oppression of minority groups, Sandridge does not take her platform or her opportunity to openly express herself lightly.
“I think that’s why it’s important to have dates like IWD that make people stop and think. It’s great to observe the history, but we also have so far to go for women’s rights, and that extends to all women. To me, it’s a day for inclusivity and celebration, and getting everyone together for a good time.”
Bec Sandridge performs at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute for Brunswick Music Festival on International Women’s Day (Friday March 8). Head to the BMF website for tickets.
