{"id":1037,"date":"2023-05-23T19:11:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-23T19:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agoria.ca\/thebsideblog\/?p=1037"},"modified":"2023-08-30T19:21:03","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T19:21:03","slug":"bend-it-like-beckett-defying-genres-and-genders-with-torontos-alt-pop-poster-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agoria.ca\/thebsideblog\/index.php\/2023\/05\/23\/bend-it-like-beckett-defying-genres-and-genders-with-torontos-alt-pop-poster-child\/","title":{"rendered":"Bend it like Beckett: Defying genres and genders with Toronto\u2019s alt-pop poster child"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is the dawn of Emma Beckett-, where real stardom needs no other label.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pop music. To some, it\u2019s the hits on radio\u2019s Top 40 rotation. It\u2019s generations of heartthrob supergroups plastered all over the bedroom walls of countless young girls. For cynics, it\u2019s a necessary evil, that nonetheless keeps the business of music alive. It\u2019s the inescapably memorable songs that stick, and just won\u2019t ever go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To Toronto’s very own upcoming alternative-popstar, Emma Beckett, pop music is simply a method of creating songs that are accessible to a vast audience. However, good <\/em>pop music is able to break the rules of convention, and blurs the boundaries of genre by allowing itself to take influence from an eclectic mix of musical styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a Saturday night in late-February when I finally get the chance to sit down and chat with Beckett before their headlining set at the Horseshoe Tavern. With the authority of being the lead act, Beckett selected a theme for the night: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, their favourite late-90\u2019s TV show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although seemingly soft-spoken and down-to-earth for an artist on such a perpetual rise to fame, Beckett possesses a keen wit, thoughtful intellect and remarkable self-awareness. Their presence is unexpectedly captivating, and undeniably fascinating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On stage, Beckett maintains a blend of moody romanticism and exuberant quirks that\u2019s like Fiona Apple meets Elton John.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically, Beckett attributes their glittering stage presence to another kindred queer popstar; Harry Styles, as a solo artist, exhibits the flamboyant androgyny, brooding sex appeal and alt-pop sensibility that manifests in Beckett\u2019s live act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Emma
If Emma Beckett\u2019s music were the embodiment of a person, they\u2019d describe it as a moody, overachieving teenager with too much responsibility, too many interests and hobbies, and an overwhelming desire to make something of themselves. (Janine Van Oostrom\/@janine.v.photography)<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The four-band lineup, which Beckett handpicked, were all meticulously chosen as entirely queer\/femme-inclusive. In an industry that tends to push these kinds of acts aside, it\u2019s a bold move on Beckett\u2019s part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the last band on the bill, if I have a say, I’m gonna push for a lineup that isn\u2019t all men. Cause I mean, somebody has to. As soon as I have any ounce of power to lift up artists who may not otherwise be selected, I try to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As someone who self-identifies as queer and non-binary, Beckett knows firsthand how difficult it can be to stand out as an artist when you don\u2019t necessarily fit the predetermined image of on-stage talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor my first headline show last year, I only booked femme and non-binary artists on the bill. It was such a nice environment where we were all so supportive of each other-, it really felt like we were all friends,\u201d says Beckett. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince then, I’ve played with lots of talented bands in a couple different cities now, but so many of the bills just had men across the board. When every member of every band is a man, you really notice the difference in dynamic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith a lot of bookers, I’ll automatically be grouped into certain genres with acts that may not really match my music. They\u2019re like, \u2018but you\u2019re women! You must all sound the same\u2019-, sticking with a preconceived notion of how we\u2019re gonna sound.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Emma
Emma Beckett and their band await backstage at the Horseshoe Tavern for their turn to perform-, closing out the show. (Janine Van Oostrom\/@janine.v.photography)<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Growing up in suburban Mississauga Ont., Beckett’s impressive musical abilities were fostered by their musically adept family. Their primary \u2018instrument,\u2019 so to speak, is their voice; a talent that Beckett was able to develop while singing in church choirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beckett\u2019s songs are driven by prominent melodies-, all of which are remarkably finger-picked around the blues scale on both electric and acoustic guitar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of genre, it\u2019s difficult to pinpoint which brand Beckett\u2019s music falls under. Despite pop music generally being used to reference vocal divas, and rock music\u2019s heavy association with the male ego, Beckett falls somewhere on a spectrum between these two extremes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that if my songs were to be sung by a male voice, people would automatically say it\u2019s rock music-, but because it\u2019s me and not a man singing the same words, for some reason people are more likely to say, \u2018oh, that\u2019s pop.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Emma
On-stage, Emma Beckett plays guitar for the majority of their set. However, they were brought up with classical piano training, and only began writing their own songs when home alone-, after stealing their brother\u2019s ukulele. (Janine Van Oostrom\/@janine.v.photography)<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


Seeing alt-pop as an umbrella term that is able to encompass a healthy dose of queerness provides Beckett with the artistic liberty to create music that is totally unique, while still maintaining pop\u2019s universally accessible structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m used to saying my music is pop just from the way I go about writing it. I\u2019m not opposed to pop music, I don\u2019t think it’s necessarily a bad thing, but people are always way more likely to dismiss<\/em> me as pop because it\u2019s perceived as a more feminine genre.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pop music, and all the controversial opinions about it, will always begin to fade after a period of time-, but what makes it so special is its recurrent ability to self-regenerate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pop is a chameleonic genre; branding a whole new sound and taking on a different musical identity whenever it begins to wear itself out. This trait is well-suited for Beckett, whose personal music taste incorporates just about everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their primary inspirations come from various artists who can\u2019t be confined to any singular genre. Whether that\u2019s Queen, Hozier, Alannis Morrisette, Avril Lavigne, Nickelback, Taylor Swift, and notably, One Direction, Beckett\u2019s influences are themselves influenced by everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne Direction is an artist I try to emulate, which sounds weird, but it\u2019s the fact that their albums are all over the place genre-wise, and I grew up listening to that,\u201d says Beckett. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI’ve always liked that in an album, when there\u2019s obviously different influences and it\u2019s a bit all over the place-, where there\u2019s some songs that are 100 per cent pop, and some that are more folk-y, and some that are really rock.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Emma
Artists with an eclectic taste in music, like Emma Beckett, sometimes find it hard to pin down who their musical inspirations are because they source different techniques from a wide variety of genres. (Janine Van Oostrom\/@janine.v.photography)<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lyrically, Beckett\u2019s intimate relationships present themselves as an emotional soft spot for this proficient musician. Often, romantic partners are the ones we let closest to us, and Beckett finds an outlet in songwriting to reflect on these personal, poignant feelings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI mostly write about relationships to be honest-, even though it feels like something you\u2019re not supposed to say. I feel like you’re supposed to give a deeper answer for what inspires your songs, but relationships are<\/em> deep and complex, and such an important part of everyone\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wrote a song after a break up called \u2018Evil Evil<\/a>,\u2019 about accepting my role as the villain in someone\u2019s life. It looks at how I can\u2019t always do good by others, and how there\u2019s always room to be viewed as a bad person to somebody else if it means you\u2019re doing what\u2019s best for you,\u201d says Beckett.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not a silly little throwaway relationship song-, you know? There\u2019s depth and self-reflection in that, and it helped me process some difficult feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Emma
A show stealer, and a crowd pleaser-, by the end of their set, everyone at the Horseshoe Tavern is there for one person: Emma. (Janine Van Oostrom\/@janine.v.photography)<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As the drinks start pouring, the Saturday-night crowd at the Horseshoe gets rowdier with each of the three opening bands\u2019 sets. Approaching midnight, it finally comes time for Beckett\u2019s performance, and the result is sobering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The audience doubles in size when Beckett begins to sing, and in response, everyone sings along word-for-word. Their restlessness has been replaced by astonished fixation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing centre-stage with electric guitar in hand, Beckett steals the spotlight with ease. Although rarely granted permission to be as outspoken as their male counterparts, Beckett feeds into the audience at their headlining show with musical talent that demands undivided attention-, without having to ask politely.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re in Toronto, and haven\u2019t yet heard the name, \u2018Emma Beckett,\u2019 rest assured. Pretty soon, you\u2019ll recognize them as the face plastered across everyone\u2019s bedroom walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jess Bertan for The B-Side.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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