Bec Sandridge Is No Fucking Joke

By Samuel Leighton-Dore

Even if you’ve never heard of Bec Sandridge, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard her music.

After all, her songs have already provided the foot-tapping feel-good soundtracks to a number of television commercials. Oh, and she won last year’s Triple J Unearthed competition to play a set at Yours & Owls festival. She’s also a huge supporter of marriage equality, lending her track Stones to the super-sweet short film below:

So yeah, Sandridge has been gracing the local music scene for years – touring both nationally and overseas, while busking regularly around her local stomping ground. However, the release of her latest single, You’re A Fucking Joke, marks an exciting turning point for the musician.

So we caught up to chat with her about it!

So you’ve been on my personal radar for fucking years now. I still remember listening to your sweet-as-sugar “Red Jumper” on a friend’s computer and being all “I need to know her”. How has your approach to music evolved since then?

I think at heart, my songs are still driven by the same somewhat nostalgic-and-caught-in-limbo song-writer, but I have most certainly listened to a lot more artists (both live and through headphones), read a whole heap of interesting books/poetry and met some really interesting and mean and trendy people since then… These things have definitely helped me to develop and explore writing both sonically and lyrically. I guess I’ve tried to be a bit of a sponge since Red Jumper. Not only did I learn that I could write with other things (other than an acoustic guitar), a large part of me shifted as an artist, when i started to define myself as a singer and also a full-time musician. Confidence and certainty that i wanted to do this ‘music thing’ professionally forced me to explore ways to be commanding on-stage and in my recordings.

You’ve traveled a lot over the past few years and the maturing of your sound totally reflects that. Would you mind telling us one memorable story from your time on the road? 

There was this one time where I played a show in Berlin and it was in an old, trendy abandoned office space and at one of the highest points in the city. There was also a ‘Bec Sandwich’ sandwich table which ruled pretty hard.

Your new track You’re A Fucking Joke is super amazing, but also super different to lots of your previous material. Did the progression from folk to anthemic synth feel natural to you?

I’ve always wanted wanted to write sad but boogie-able songs. So it feels quite natural. The only difference is, I get a little more sweaty at shows.

I’d say your songs have become more lyrically strong and assertive. Would you agree? And if so, is that simply a reflection of growing older, or are you at a different place emotionally?

I would definitely agree. There was a time where i tried to be quite metaphorical and flowery. I guess it was a sort of blanket to hide behind so no-one knew what my songs were about. Also, i was and will continue to be a huge poetry nerd, so that kind of leaked out in some songs. But mostly, I think it’s a reflection on me being in a different place emotionally. Being an anxious person, the only way i sometimes feel sane is when i claim ownership of a thought or a feeling, so i wanted my new material to do that – to take control, be strong, assertive and specific. I feel sometimes the best songs are the conversational and direct ones. So yeah, I’m definitely trying to do that more… I want people to feel like they’re sitting in on a wee awkward date or awful break-up or hearing something that I’m scared to speak aloud.

In a shifting music landscape of commercial gimmicks and fast-tracked, reality-TV-fueled career brevity, you’ve played it remarkably slow-and-steady with regular gigs, busking and a stream of solid releases. What’s your idea of success?

It has felt quite slow, but not too slow! I’ve wanted to make sure i have the right people around me and the right support. I think it’s quite easy to burn out in creative industries, so I’ve never been in too big a rush to get all of my songs out there at once. I feel i still have a whole spread of things to write about. Success in terms of music would be connecting with people through writing and performing in a transparent way. Also, reaching a point where i don’t have to play really shitty RSL clubs to pay rent…

Where do you see yourself at thirty?

Hopefully owning a really cute bulldog and naming her Margaret.

And finally, tell us where we can go to see you live in action?

I’m supporting Abbe May in July ’round the Nation, also a special something, somethingz might be coming up August

FRI JUL 1 – NEWTOWN SOCIAL CUB – SYDNEY *w AM

SAT JUL 2 – BLACK BEAR LODGE – BRISBANE *w AM

FRI JUL 8 – NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB – MELBOURNE *w AM

FRI JUL 15 – MOJO’S BAR – FREMANTLE*w AM

SAT JUL 16 – MOJO’S BAR – FREMANTLE*w AM