Pop singer/songwriter BEKA sets off the year with her sophomore EP Your Skin. The six-track body of work is a profound dive into the dynamics of identity and legacy, Coming from a multi-cultural background, BEKA sure has more than enough experience to pull from and the result is a beautiful piece that champions self-love, beauty, and confidence in oneself regardless of color and creed.
The project starts off with the title track which is an empowerment anthem for women who might be feeling jaded by the way society constraints their true feelings. The record builds slowly as BEKA reflects on the inner strength of women folk in the face of adversity and rises to a plateau as the drums, orchestral elements and layered melodic chants hit the mark. This is followed by “You Got,” an anthemic pop number that is inspired by Kamala Harris’ history-making appointment as the first female, African-American, and Asian-American, Vice President in history. BEKA delivers an aspirational-filled performance with uplifting lyrics about women's numerous beautiful features beyond the superficial.
In “Don’t Call Me A Friend," BEKA delivers an upbeat retro-tinged pop ballad that talks about having the courage to live your truth even in the face of negativity, and is inspired by BEKA’s grandparents who have fuelled much of the EP’s wider themes. In “Thorn”, she pours her heart on wax with an emotive performance about heartbreak and the conflict between love and sadness. She walks the thin line between the sublime feeling of love and the heavy pains of heartbreak.
The final two tracks of the project are moving live recordings of “Your Skin,” and “You Got,” performed at Sorting Room Studios.
Most recently, she supported BRIT Award winner Griff and electronic duo HONNE on their respective UK tours, indicating an incredibly bright future ahead of her. BEKA supported Laura Mvula at her sold-out show at London’s Islington Assembly Hall last September and headlined BBC Music Introducing Live at Omeara London in February. Last October, she performed her first headline shows in Nottingham and London respectively. This summer, she’s confirmed to appear at 1 Big Summer festival in June and Boardmasters in August and will be announcing more festival shows in the coming weeks.
Stream Your Skin here.
