Bec Sandridge

by Alex Teitz

              Bec Sandridge has made statements as much as songs with her singles “I’ll Never Want A BF” and “You’re a Fucking Joke.” She has come a long way from her beginnings in the band Mad Polly. She has been releasing EP’s the past few years with the latest being In the Fog in 2016. She is now at work on a full length album. FEMMUSIC was honored to do an e-mail interview with her to speak about everything from government funding to the postal survey. 

 

FEMMUSIC: Can you describe your songwriting technique? How has it changed over time?

BS: I like to write on things I don’t know much about most of the time. Guitar is my main instrument and i feel like sometimes i just write what I know when I’m on it so i like dabbling on a piano or using musical typing on Garage Band. I guess for me the main thing I’ve noticed that’s changed is my ability to produce and arrange instruments in my demo-ing. It’s great but also a pain because I now just sit and obsess over sounds and slowly, slowly lose my mind…

FEMMUSIC: What was the biggest challenge of making In the Fog?

BS: I think being between Australia and Scotland was the biggest challenge. I decided last minute that High Tide needed to be on the EP… Thematically and sonically it just felt right. So I came home and recorded it and kind of just tacked it in the middle…

FEMMUSIC: Congratulations on the AMP Australia grant to fund the full length album. What challenges are you facing making a full length vs another EP?

BS: Thank you! I can’t believe it. I cried on the tram when i got the phone call… It’s definitely hard to not put too much pressure on yourself. So I’m just trying to switch my serious/perfectionist brain off and switch into have fun/create like a kid mode.

FEMMUSIC: How have you changed since Mad Polly? What do you know now that you wish you’d learned earlier in your career?

BS: I just wish I had guts when i was in Mad Polly. I didn’t sing until I was 22 so it took me a while to be fearless or confident in making mistakes and writing bad songs. It’s cool to not have everyone like what you do. Gross things are the best.

FEMMUSIC: How has reaction changed to you’re latest single “I’ll Never Want a BF”  changed from before the postal survey and after? What is your view of the postal survey? What issue needs to be addressed next?

BS: I’m not sure if there’s been a reaction change or not, it’s kind of hard to gauge but I think the reaction has been supportive overall? My Dad voted yes which is really cool and means so much to me… I think there’s so much further to go but the yes vote overall is amazing! It’s all about slow but proactive change. Keep the conversations happening amongst your family and friends. I think it all comes back to empathetic language from all sides…

FEMMUSIC: What song (not your own) has had the biggest impact on you and why?

BS: Big one! Hmmm… I love the song “They Weren’t There” by Missy Higgins – it was the first song to make me cry. But, i must admit I don’t really listen to it anymore. So let’s run with “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac. I think it’s the best break up song of all time. There’s a video of Lyndsey and Stevie yelling it at each other and it’s just so raw and feels so vicious and real. I want to always attempt to do that live. 

FEMMUSIC: As a woman in the music industry have you been discriminated against?

BS: 100%

FEMMUSIC: Whom would you most like to tour with, or collaborate with? Why?

BS: Feist. I think she’s one of the best song writers of our time. She just does whatever she wants which has my immediate respect, forever.

FEMMUSIC: What one thing would you like to change about the music industry?

BS: All venues to be safe and inclusive spaces would be great. Everyone should have a good time at shows.