Beth Macari
Interview conducted on March 22, 2021
By Dan Locke
Beth Macari is a sassy and soulful singer & songwriter from Newcastle Upon Tyne.
What is your upbringing?
I was born and raised in Newcastle in the North of England, and I started singing from a young age. I’ve always been into soul music from the beginning.
How did you discover music?
My Mother always played music in the house, like Alanis Morissette, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and I just wanted to sing like them. I was in awe of the voices.
How did you start to write music?
The first song I ever remember writing was a pop ballad, I must have been 7/8 years old. I was at my Aunties house. I thought it was great until I realized I’d pinched the melody from a Celine Dion song! The lyrics were all my own though.
Describe your music.
Soulful and sexy. I write quite honest songs.
What was your first performance like?
I can’t even remember my first gig! It was probably at a local pub singing along to backing tracks on my iPod.
What makes a good songwriter?
Someone who can create songs that people can connect to on a deeper level.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
My first original release was “Heartstrings”, a few years ago now!
Tell me about your first single “Heartstrings” from 2014?
I and my drummer wrote it very quickly on Christmas Eve! We sat down with an acoustic guitar and pretty much wrote the whole thing in ten minutes. It’s about loving someone so much you’d do anything for them.
What is the process of writing your music?
For me, the lyrics and melody tend to come hand in hand, then I take that to my band and we jam it out.
How was it to open up the Hardwick Live Festival with Kaiser Chiefs and Melanie C?
It was great fun; I can’t wait to get back on some festival stages in the future!
Tell me about your new single “Gotta Get Back” which was your first single which you fully recorded, mixed and produced yourself?
Yes, me and my drummer Phil The Beat put the track together. It kind of happened out of necessity due to the coronavirus lockdown, but it’s been a great experience working totally on our own. We even shot the music video ourselves on my phone!
How was it to shoot the video on your phone? And what type of phone did you shot it on?
It was actually such a fun day. We shot it in my Mother’s house and tried to be as creative as we could! It was shot on an iPhone 11.
What are your feelings about streaming music?
It’s a great tool for independent artists, but the industry needs to work it out better.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Digital is great because it’s so convenient, however, there is something about vinyl that makes you feel more connected to the music.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Eva Cassidy, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. I won a talent competition at school singing this song, it always reminds me of the nerves and adrenaline before performing.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
It may have killed live music for now, but it will come back stronger than ever.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Writing music and accepting bad hair.
Back in 2018 you released the album Clone. Now because of the virus and everyone being locked down. Many people are getting calls from unknown numbers. And if you call the numbers back it usually someone who has cloned someone else phone number. How many of these calls do you get daily?
Someone rang me this morning asking for Kenneth! There’s a lot of dodgy people on the end of the phone these days.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
It’s been a struggle, but I’ve been out walking when I can and getting my steps in on my FitBit.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I’ve started watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer again. I was obsessed with it as a kid.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
The internet is such powerful tool now, live streaming and selling merch online has been a massive help over the past year
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
It is, and it’s not ideal for smaller artists. I guess it shows how tough the industry is when people have to charge for these things as they can’t make the income elsewhere.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Sure, I’d love to have Aretha singing in my front room.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” Do you think this will save music venues?
I really hope live music gets back on its feet and it needs all the help it can get because we all need it.
Did you know that the Grammys MusicCares can help artist? The MusiCares COVID-19 Relief has helped thousands of music industry artists and professionals during these difficult days. This is the most recipients helped, for any single event, in MusiCares’ history. The need remains great, and these unique times remain critical for music people. It has taken a community uplifting one another to get through this pandemic, and MusiCares has pulled together a list of additional organizations and resources to further support you. https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/relief-resources. Have you applied for it yet?
No, but there are some great causes in the UK helping out musicians that have suffered over the past year.
In the past if a musician stops doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
A weather presenter. I used to go to a local museum which had a green screen and pretend to do the weather!
What is your happy place?
Being on stage, definitely. Second to that, being in bed!
A lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial. The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning. Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs? Another factor is mortality.
If Universal are reading this, I’m all ears!
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
I have been using TikTok lately, sharing my talent of doing accents. Check it out, my Russian is pretty good!
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thanks for the chat! My new single “Gotta Get Back” is out on April 13th, which FYI is also my birthday 😉
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