While Beabadoobee has spent most of this year playing huge sold out stadiums supporting Taylor Swift on her record-breaking Eras tour, it’s intimate performances that push her outside her comfort zone. I meet 23-year-old Bea Kristi after she’s just stepped off stage in front of 40 people.
‘That was way more daunting than performing in front of crowds and crowds of people,’ she says of the one off show at Manchester’s independent venue, Canvas. ‘Being at home writing music – over festivals, tours, anything – that’s my comfort zone.’
Adding to the pressure was the presence of a legend. Producer and Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers sat beside her on stage. The two musicians have been brought together by Clarks’ For their World Ahead campaign. A pillar of the footwear scene and a pioneer of subculture, the brand consistently nurtures authenticity in its products, as well as the people it collaborates with. The World Ahead campaign is a celebration of the expression of the individual, which perfectly aligns with Kristi and Rodgers, two figures who steadfastly campaign for a brighter future through their music and messaging.
Despite her trepidation, Kristi is excited to be on stage again. Coming off the back of the summer of gigs – from Beyoncé’s Renaissance to Love on Tour with Harry Styles, she says she can feel the audience’s palpable love for live music right now. ‘People love going to shows, and I can’t deny how much I love seeing bands play,’ she says. ‘But there is not enough conversation around the sacrifice artists have to go through. After COVID, there was a rush to get musicians out there, and so many people were touring at the same time. That relentlessness and competition does affect mental health. I adore playing live music, but touring is intense. I think it’s important for us to understand the demand musicians have to fulfil.’
Filipino born and London raised, Kristi emerged into the music mainstream during lockdown. As Beabadoobee, she soundtracked millions of people’s quarantines, and today, has 15.7m monthly listeners on Spotify with her track death bed (coffee for your head) having over a billion plays. The tender and intimate nature of her songwriting quickly garnered the musician legions of fans, as translating unfiltered emotion into music became Kristi ‘s USP.
Kristi attended an all girls school in a predominantly white area of London, and growing up as a woman of colour, unapologetic, iconic female fronted bands – The Cranberries, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Cardigans and Amy Winehouse to name a few – helped Kristi navigate her sense of difference.
Her latest single The Way Things Go was released just days before our meeting, inspired by a recent break up. ‘I feel so excited but also so nervous when releasing new music. The latter comes from not knowing whether people will like it or not, you don’t know the reception. But, that’s kind of the problem – I shouldn’t care about that. It’s my story. My lyrics.’
Her raw, off-the-cuff approach to music extends into her wardrobe. She says archival fashion, such as Comme des Garćons and Maison Margiela are her personal favourites and she nails the ‘mismatch’ trend; pairing heels with biker shorts and ballet flats with oversized tees. Everything about Kristi points to a DIY attitude, and it’s this self-assured legitimacy that makes her the perfect poster girl for Clarks. She gestures towards her ‘super cute’ brown croc Torhills, which she’s teamed with leg warmers. ‘I love everything Clarks stand for.’
Aside from the new album Kristi confesses her goal for the remainder of 2023 is to simply take care of herself and to keep finding joy. ‘It’s so vital to take a minute to catch your breath,’ she says. ‘Something that I work on pretty tirelessly is standing up for myself and making my own decisions. If 2023 closes out and I’ve succeeded in that, then I’ll be more than happy.’
You can shop Beabadoobee’s Clarks Torhills here.
