Elisabeth Beckwitt is bringing something completely new to the music industry. Over the past few years, we have noticed a rise in mental health awareness. More and more people are choosing to prioritize their mental well being which we find to be extremely commendable and important. Elisabeth Beckwitt has personally struggled with her own battles with depression and addiction. For her, she has always felt that it was important for her to be honest and open about her personal struggles so that she can encourage others to reach out and seek the help they may need. Elisabeth Beckwitt is a powerful vocalist and artist who pairs her clear, powerful voice with an unapologetically supportive attitude towards her tribe and weaves them together into relatable stories with encapsulating melodies that build an intimate connection with her audience.
Elisabeth Beckwitt released a spectacular debut EP titled “Gray Again” in 2018 where she confronted her demons face on, with the sole intent of creating a safe zone and comfortability aspect for everyone who relates. The unique part of Elisabeth Beckwitt’s artistry is the way she authentically story tells. Her latest ep, “Indigo” depicts the life she would find on the other end of her recovery. You can Catch the single “Free Fall” on Nashville's local independent radio station Lightning 100, and stream “Indigo” through Spotify’s “Out Now” Pride Playlist. And when this pansexual queen and driving force in the music game isn’t hosting her monthly showcases, she’s playing locally in Nashville, and touring regionally to promote her upcoming releases, including the dark angry pop singles “Lovely” and “Think You Are”. We can't wait to see what's next for Elisabeth Beckwitt in 2020!
Listen to Elisabeth Beckwitt's music here.
Welcome to BuzzMusic Elisabeth Beckwitt! Your journey and story are amazing! What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned as an artist and in what ways has this benefited you musically?
Thank you for having me! I've learned that vulnerability is a strength. I've personally experienced so much pain in my life, and by sharing my story through music I've been able to connect to so many wonderful humans who have felt just as alone. I love being able to take darker moments and write them into my songs; there's a sense of empowerment that comes with putting the heavier parts of life into music. The production style of my music has definitely changed and grown since I first started releasing, and I think a huge part of that has been embracing my power as a woman and celebrating my vulnerability.
What are some obstacles you may have stumbled upon during the creative process of your album, “Gray Again”? Was it challenging battling most of your life struggles during the songwriting aspect of it?
The "Gray Again" EP was all about the darker sides of my recovery, and feeling stuck in life. Most songwriters know how hard it is to write when you feel stuck; sometimes no amount of freewriting or adventuring can get you out of it. Not knowing why makes it all the more difficult. The songs on that record were definitely some of the hardest to write; I had to sit with the final track, "Static," for over a year until I felt like it was "enough." The music industry is constantly making us prove our worth, and that record was really a test for me that ended up propelling me through some of the darkest times.
Which song off “Gray Again” would you consider to be the most emotionally moving for you as an artist and why?
The title track "Gray Again" was definitely a powerful song to write and bring to fruition. I've suffered from depression and anxiety my whole life, and I think the most important thing we can do is keep working towards the best version of ourselves. Whether that's with medication, spiritual practices, religion, hobbies, love, art, work, dogs, etc...Something I tried for a long time was pharmaceutical medications (SSRIs). When these kinds of drugs work, it's magic. We don't tend to talk about it when they don't work and you're stuck in an endless spiral of horrible side effects and a crushing sense of apathy. "Gray Again" is about my personal struggles with apathy, and it was so meaningful to have my partner, Jason "Django" Chambliss, write a beautiful and heartbreaking spoken word poem for the extended album edition. I've talked to so many people who connect to this song and it really means the world to me.
Talk to us about your recent album “Indigo”. What were some major differences between this project and your album prior “Gray Again”
After sharing the darker side of my recovery on "Gray Again," I wanted the "Indigo" EP to feel a little more free-spirited, almost like a celebration of the progress I’d made so far. A life where we embrace our inner strength and allow ourselves to move past whatever baggage is keeping us from moving forward in both our relationships with others and with ourselves. The music reflects that in such an authentic way; my producer Jason Threm of TME did a brilliant job with every single track. This is the first record I've done that doesn't have a piano ballad, which I think is a testament to the celebratory nature. I also co-wrote more of the songs on "Indigo" than on "Gray Again," including the title track with two of my best friends in Nashville, Ian DePriest, and Steffi Jeraldo. I love the safety of writing with friends, it's so much easier to access vulnerability. Catch the LGBTQIA+ anthem "Free Fall" on rotation at Nashville's independent radio station Lightning 100, watch the female empowerment music video for "Goddess," and stream "Indigo" on Spotify's official Out Now pride playlist.
Which song off “Indigo” would you consider to be the most memorable for you in your own artistic view and why?
"Goddess," my female empowerment anthem. I originally wrote this for a friend of mine, then it became a love letter to myself, and then it transforms into something beautiful for every single Goddess in the world. You are so much stronger than you think you are. You deserve love; whether it comes from a supportive partner or, more importantly, from yourself. There is no one way to be a woman and femininity can mean anything! Writing this song is one of the things that lead me to start Sad Girl Music; a music promotion and production company. Through our events, we've built a community that is dedicated to celebrating the vulnerability and power of womxn and encouraging mental health awareness. We try to create a safe space to practice empathy and spread love. We now have 9 Spotify playlists, regular articles about social justice, a website with local artist spotlight and a local events calendar, as well as a new writers round in downtown Nashville! We have featured over 60 Goddesses and I am so proud.
Talk to us about these upcoming singles of yours, “Lovely” and “Think You Are”. What can we expect in the arrangement and lyricism in both of these songs? What are some of the differences between both records?
"Lovely," "Think You Are," and "Fake It" is the three singles off my upcoming EP, "Other Side Of Sober" which will be releasing on January 10th, 2020! This project is about what life looks like on the other side; all the anger, confusion, pain, grief, relief, joy, transition, waves, maintenance, and processing that goes into recovery. The more music I release, the deeper I delve into the Pop scene. My debut album was recorded with a full band in a Nashville studio, and the 3 EPs I’ve made since then have been getting less and less analog. This project also marks the third EP that I have made with Jason Threm of TME, and he steps it up a level every time. The production for these songs was heavily inspired by the dark pop movement that has been gaining speed in the past year, specifically Billie Eilish. My angry anthem "Lovely" oozes with power and is a representation of the entire women’s movement. So often women are talked about with adjectives like ‘pretty’ and ‘lovely’ instead of ‘brilliant’ and ‘powerful.’ It’s hard to feel like the movement is moving forward when someone is giving you two sides of themselves; telling you they support you while making you feel small. "Think You Are" speaks to a phenomenon that I think people aren’t really aware of because we don’t talk about it a lot: the idea of grieving the negative things in your life. Missing your addiction, mental health problems, self-harm, eating disorders, whatever you're recovering from is normal; it's all about managing those moments and treating yourself with kindness. This song — this whole next EP, really — is another step in grieving my addiction: a love letter to me before recovery.