U.K songwriter beabadoobee was one of the first artists to invite us into their bedroom during COVID lockdowns, but over the weekend, we finally got some face-to-face time with the Alt rocker before her highly-anticipated Coachella 2022 performance.
LISTEN NOW: beabadoobee chats with Megan Holiday
This is beabadoobee's first-ever Coachella appearance, and besides taking in the dazzling atmosphere the festival creates each year, she's also been impressed by another part of the experience: "The heat is ridiculous... I'm not used to this f***ing heat," Bea tells Audacy host Megan Holiday while catching up backstage on Sunday. Although the Philippine-born singer grew up in the U.K., quite a different climate from the California desert, she points out, it's quite different from the Filipino heat as well. "This is really hot for me," she says with a laugh.
Before taking the stage in the Gobi Tent on Sunday, Bea tells us the inspiration behind her latest indulgent single, "Talk," was a realization that "life is too short and sometimes you just need to have fun on a Tuesday and not really care" -- kind of like that blistering California sun overhead she's been dealing with. Sonically, Bea credits the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' demo of "Maps" as her main reference. "As soon as I heard that, I was like, 'I need to make a song like this,'" she laughs.
Another of Bea's sonic muses, besides Surf Curse whose set interrupted her thoughts briefly, would be The Cardigans, as fans may be able to hear in her 90's Alternative sound. "They've remained a solid reference... and inspiration. Especially the lead singer, Nina [Persson]," she says.
Finally, looking ahead to her upcoming set, Bea's excitement to perform at Coachella this year comes with a side of nerves, simply because she knows people at her headlining shows are there just for her. That confidence fades for her a bit in a festival setting because artists are also trying to win over new fans in the crowd. "I'm gonna try my best to not think, but there's an inevitability that I will think too much."
Don't miss Megan's full chat with beabadoobee above and keep an eye out for her new album, Beatopia, arriving on July 15. While you're here, browse even more of Audacy's backstage interviews and coverage from Coachella 2022.
Listen to your favorite music on Audacy's all-new Alt Now, Alt New Arrivals, Women Of Alt, New Wave Mix Tape, '90s and Chill, IndustriALT, and ALT Roots stations -- plus check out our talent-hosted Kevan Kenney's Music Discovery, Megan Holiday's My So Called '90s Playlist, and Scott Lowe on the Go's Post Modern Music Box!
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