Looking at Bettina BCB’s childhood, she makes it clear that there is “no nepotism involved”. In an industry that's built on existing connections, Bettina’s story relies on self-belief and determination. She’s spent time perfecting her sound, making something different to the rest of the industry. “My family wasn't musical, so it was a shock when I became so interested in music. I was involved in multiple bands growing up; any genre (of music) I was probably involved (in). I was just finding my own way in music as it's something I’d always wanted to do”. Having been a graduate of Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music Production (LAAMP) and mentored by Producer Stargate in Los Angeles, all led to her music career today. Reflecting on her journey as an artist so far, she believes she has grown a lot from her debut single ‘Want Me Bad’: “By defining my drill pop sound, it felt uniquely me: it was something different”. This July, Bettina was at Bedford River Festival with BBC Introducing performing her new single ‘Primark’. She added: “Whatever my latest project is, it's usually my favourite song. Especially as I'm doing a bunch of press for it (‘Primark’) at the moment, I'm always talking about it!”.
Discussing the track, she describes it as a “baddie on a budget anthem”. Her lyricism is confident and punchy; she sings “I’m in Primark looking like fine art”. The lyrics turn high street fashion into a celebration of confidence, implying you can look and feel good without materialistic items. “I want listeners to feel as if they are that girl or boy; it's a feel-good track, and I want people to feel hyped listening to it”. She took influence from artists like “Central Cee, FLO and Doja Cat” when writing the track. Discussing what it's like in the studio, Bettina replied: “I mainly rely on vibes in the studio that day. I’m always open to others' ideas and influences.” She made it clear that FLO are her favourite artists: “I would love to collaborate with FLO, they are my current obsession and I would love to remix them on their new album ‘Therapy At The Club’”.
Speaking about the challenges she faced with the track, Bettina said: “It was my first time properly rapping (with ‘Primark’) which was challenging to begin with, but we got there in the end”. The rapping aspects differ from her previous tracks ‘Yours’ and ‘Want Me Bad’, which contain smooth pop melodies. However, talking from experience as an independent artist, she said: “As an independent artist, people struggle to keep going if they're not seeing results, which results in people not prioritising their creative side”. As an independent artist, it requires a lot of mental strength to keep going and prioritise your creative side. While negativity can have an impact, it requires resilience to push through.
When asked what to expect for the future, a huge smile spread across Bettina BCB’s face; “I have a few more songs to come out this year and my first big project ‘Silk Sheets & Read Receipts’ is due to be released next year!”.
Bettina BCB is here to stay. Her upbeat, tongue-in-cheek lyricism and drill pop sound allow her to stand out, making her a rising star to keep an eye on.
Lottie Webber
Image: Isak Belmarez
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