On Friday (April 26), U.K. singer-songwriter released her sophomore EP, Loveworm. A follow-up to 2018’s Patched Up, the new project finds the 18-year-old wunderkind (born Bea Kristi) wading through seven confessional tracks with her signature languid vocals, pointed songwriting chops and jangly, grunge-inspired sound.
Featuring plenty of fuzzed-out guitar and dreamy production, each lyric on the EP reads like a diary entry of perfectly-captured teenage angst, from the cinematic longing of “1999” to the willfully dishonest “You Lie All The Time.”
To celebrate the EP’s release -- her second in under six months -- Beabadoobee broke down the inspiration and inside story behind each song on Loveworm, exclusively with Billboard.
“Disappear”
This is actually about how someone I know felt. It’s the sad reality of how love can consume someone so much and all of a sudden disappear. You could be so invested in someone and just like that you could look at them and what you used to feel towards them just isn’t there anymore. I wanted to write a song that belonged in Eternal Sunshine (the film) and I thought 'Disappear' could be a contender (emphasis on could). Also, when I made the chord progression, I was real happy because it kinda reminded me of Radiohead. My boyfriend and best friend are filming a music video for this song, it’s very eternal sunshine inspired. It’s gonna be so sick they are insanely talented.
“1999”
Probably one of the most personal songs on this EP. This song is pretty much about the frustration you feel when you need to let someone go, but you can’t because you’re still deeply in love with them. It’s getting tired of all the same old shit, but it hurts to even think about ending what you have. It’s like you’re stuck in between or trapped…and it sucks! I wanted this song in particular to sound like a movie soundtrack from the cellos to the synths. Pete (the producer of this EP) really brought that idea to life. He is amazing.
“Apple Cider”
I wanted this song to represent the innocence of love, how a tiny crush can leave someone in denial and a little confused. I wanted a guitar sound that reminded me of Sonic Youth because they’re a band I listen to when I’m in a good mood, and that’s exactly when I wanted people to listen to the song - when they’re happy and just wanna dance. Also, I wanted the melody of the song to remind me of Pavement, another one of my favourite bands. My best friend Eliana helped shout at the end of the track, we get pretty crazy together.
“Ceilings”
This song is about appreciating everything around you, people, nature, your family. I wanted to remind people to never take things for granted. I guess it’s a reminder to always love. The chord progression is inspired by this artist I love called Angelo de Augustine. The song was literally called ‘Peng Minor Chord’ because of that one sick chord I found. I also low key wanted it sound like it could be part of the Coralline soundtrack. I fucking love that movie.
“Angel”
Heavily inspired my 90s grunge, I listened to a lot of that when I was 14 and I got back into it. Dinosaur Jr, the Smashing Pumpkins are very big inspirations for this song. The context of the song is pretty deep. It’s about finding love in other things that aren’t necessarily good for you. The repetitive riff that comes in for every chorus was done to make people feel like they were trapped in a loop or some type of sick cycle. Very similar to how it would feel being addicted to something unhealthy to help fulfil them in some way.
“You Lie All The Time”
Originally the song was super slow, but Pete made a really good decision to speed it up, and after that I really wanted the song to sound like it belonged in a 90s/2000s chick flick. It’s funny and it’s honest. It’s basically about how someone can just lie all the time and you could still be completely obsessed with them.
“Soren”
I think this one pretty much speaks for itself. I’m #swooned.
Loveworm is out now via Dirty Hit. Steam the EP in full below.