BEECH LOVE is a nineteen-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer from San Francisco, CA. Starting at just nine years old, Beech began his journey as a DJ and electronic music producer. Nearly a decade later, Beech decided to pick up the mic and make his voice the forefront of his music. Inspired by bands such as The Killers, The Black Keys, and Thirty Seconds To Mars, Beech Love combines his love for 2000’s alternative music with his extensive production background. With the release of his latest single, “Fire & Smoke,” Beech intends to shake up the modern alternative space and bring a fierce energy never seen before.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey BEECH LOVE, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
When I was born, I only had about half of my hearing, so growing up, I discovered a lot of music through touch. When I was a baby, my grandfather had a tall wood speaker, and I would sit with him with my hand on the woofer while he introduced me to bands such as The Grateful Dead. Once I grew older and gained the rest of my hearing, I began curating an extensive collection of Alternative/Rock music on my iPod. Many of the bands on there became my inspiration once I started creating music, but I always credit the time with my grandfather for establishing my love for music.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I would most like to collaborate with The Black Keys or Jack White. I think all of them bring such "raw" energy to their music, and it would be a dream come true to be a part of their process.
Your latest song is 'Fire & Smoke'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
Fire & Smoke is a big step for me and marks a new era for my brand and music. When I began releasing music as "BEECH LOVE" in April of last year, the intention was to be a Dance/Pop project. At the time, I was fresh out of production school and had only been singing for about two months. Before I started singing, I had been a DJ and electronic music producer for nine years, so continuing to make dance music seemed like the right move. After graduating, I had one song called "Stay" (which had been my final project) and decided I would release the song under a new brand and kinda "figure it out" as I went. Following the release of "Stay," I continued to put out music every few weeks as I developed my voice. However, it wasn't until "Fire & Smoke" came along that I felt I had finally discovered my sound. Making this record was special because the process felt "true" through all the stages. In the months leading up to it, I had been frustrated at the music I had because I didn't feel it was me. I was very proud of the work, but something in me said I wasn't letting go enough. So when it came to recording "Fire & Smoke," I channeled all of that energy which allowed the record to come together fairly quickly. Everything from the production to the delivery just felt so right.
What are you focussing on right now?
At the moment, I am working on my next few singles that I hope to release this Summer. Since releasing "Fire & Smoke," I have been developing my sound extensively, which seems to be heading in a more "Alt-Rock" direction. Growing up listening to The Black Keys and The White Stripes, I am very inspired by the rawness they bring to their music. I have always felt both bands have been able to balance the heavy energy with the right amount of emotion. I feel the Alternative space now is dominated by pop-punk groups, and I intend to bring a fresh energy that combines gritty alternative sounds with modern production.
What are you most proud of?
Currently, I am most proud of how much my voice has developed. When I was a baby, I was born with a cleft lip meaning my lip was open on both sides. Even though the doctors fixed it, having the cleft lip greatly affected my speech growing up. I was ashamed of my voice and never considered singing. It wasn't until the end of my time at production school that I started experimenting with my voice once the curriculum forced me to. Since then, I have spent the last year ruthlessly developing my voice, sometimes even training eight hours a day. For me, singing doesn't just give me the ability to create but allows me to remain confident in my body. Singing has been such a freeing experience that I never want to give up. I won't lie, learning to sing has been one of the toughest processes I have ever endured, but I never want to return to the boy who was ashamed of his own voice.
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?
The biggest challenge of being an artist is being content with your work. As an artist, you constantly chase your "next love," which is a heavy burden for some people. The neverending hunger to create a fresh sound drives us, but it can also make it difficult to look back at your past work. This constant need to evolve can make new songs feel like they are not enough and even make you regret releasing some of your previous songs. Always viewing your art through your own lens makes it easy to focus on the flaws and overlook how extraordinary something can be.
How do you structure your day?
As an independent artist, I have quite a few things I have to juggle. Along with doing all of the production, mixing, and mastering for my music, I also handle everything from publishing to branding to marketing. Because of this, my day-to-day often changes based on what I have going on. I look at it as putting on different caps. One day I am a marketer trying to get my music out there, and the next, I am in the studio making music all day. The responsibilities of a musician have grown in 2023, so I have found it pertinent to maintain a fluid schedule.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
Handling all aspects of my music and brand takes up most of my time. However, I love to travel and watch movies whenever I can. I am going to the Beachlife Music Festival next weekend to see one of my favorite bands, The Black Keys, which should be fun. I have been working nonstop on new music over the last few months so the vacation will be a nice break.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
Haha! I do not sing in the shower, unfortunately. To be honest, I am fairly quiet when I am not making music.
What are your plans for the future?
At the moment, I plan to continue building my brand and create the best music I possibly can. I am thankfully in a position in my life where I get to pursue this full-time, so I spend every day developing my skills and growing the brand.