Experimental pop-rock artist Bexx may be living the London life now, but she started off in our very own Nottingham, before heading to Peterborough, where she spent the majority of her life. Her connections to the city remain strong though, with her being a finalist of Future Sound of Nottingham, as well as returning to perform for the Pride celebrations two years running. We chat to her following the release of EP 'Sucker' about maturing her sound, being a queer artist, and upcoming gigs...
2023 has been a big year for Bexx, with the release of her EP, SUCKER, and most recently, her new single: Bad For Each Other. Surprisingly, the EP was ready to go in 2021, but she stepped on the brakes; “I wasn’t happy, it was finished but it didn’t feel right. The first couple of releases didn’t feel mature, so I decided to take a pause, to work out my sound and who I am, and make it all fit together on a thematic level.” She wanted to create an album that encompassed a bit of everything, so everyone could find a sound they enjoyed, whilst still maintaining her style.
By 2023 she had done just that, the final piece has elements of pop: Sucker, rock: Bad For Each Other and even some “dark British humour” with the satire song, Haha, I’m Dying Alone. On this, Bexx said, “I was unsure whether to include the song or not, I worried it may be taken the wrong way, but it was how I felt. We like to make light out of hard situations. It’s both truthful and jokey, which I think a lot of us can relate to.” She’s got a point, dating isn’t for the faint-hearted, it’s often romanticised, but if you’ve ever branched into the hell-hole of online dating, you most likely understand.
The final product is notably different to earlier work, it stands alone as an anti-love album, if that doesn’t scream 2023, I don’t know what does! Post-lockdown dating has been a minefield for most, Bexx put it perfectly, “single people are in the trenches.” There’s a mixture of typical queer love, whereby at the end of your first date, you’ve already picked out your wedding outfit, house and kids names. Or on the other end, non-committal, unconventional endeavours, desperate to not feel restrained ever again, like they did under the control of the government.
On her own dating life, she describes it as “a complete mess, it was feral, I even wrote songs for people that I’d only been on two dates with.” Bad For Each Other continues the theme, as a “heavy-handed metaphor for emotional baggage.” The music video, released earlier this month, was shot on Super 8, which meant Bexx was only able to run through and shoot the scene twice, anything else would need to be added in. The grainy, gritty aesthetics of the video give it that dreaded nostalgia one may be feeling when they make the (inevitably) bad choice to go hook up with someone they shouldn’t. Bexx omits the familiar lip syncing for acting, alongside some fun animations, “I wanted to give it the moment it deserves.”
The catchy tune wasn’t always deemed to be a single though, as other songs took priority. The lead single was pop hit Stupid, followed by I’m Disgusting, which Bexx immediately attached herself to. “It came together so easily, I had the tune for the chorus, as a musician you do a lot on instinct and I knew this would work.” From there, when she got feedback on the EP from friends, family and wider she realised how popular Bad For Each Other was. “It’s actually turned out to be my favourite track in the end!”
One thing that Bexx doesn’t shy away from is her sexuality. As a proud bisexual woman, she ensures the majority of her music is non-gendered. “It’s important to have some duality, for people to feel safe when they find me.” It could be related to anyone, which not only benefits fans, but equally Bexx herself. Although she wouldn’t spill who the individuals were, she was more than satisfied to share that they will never know it’s about them either!
As for her roots in Nottingham, by the time she came out at sixteen, she had already left, so didn’t experience life here as a queer artist. Though she was quick to sing its praises in other ways, “what I love about Notts is the people. They really embrace their local artists, it’s exceptional.” It’s definitely warming to hear a comment like that from someone living in the musical hub of London. Despite its opportunities and rising talent, she explains it does have its downfalls, due to how many people flock there. “It’s got a grassroots music scene, but no grassroots fans,” making it harder to impress people, or feel that community at times.
What’s next for Bexx then? Lucky for Notts, tonight will see her returning for Sofar Sounds. Wider than that, she has a headline gig in London on 22 November, plus a “top secret” release to look forward to on 24 November. Otherwise, she promises to be very active on socials in the upcoming months, “whilst writing more songs, and trying to fund my next demo.” Yes, she’s already got that one planned! It’s still very much at the early stages, but it will have a more serious undertone of misogyny; “it’s basically everything I’m thinking about right now, and how it feels to be a girl in this world.” Serious, yet undoubtedly important: watch this space!
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