The acclaimed New Zealand indie rock band performs “Metal,” “Straight Line Was a Lie,” and more during a live session and interview with Mookie!
A Special Session with The Beths
Los Angeles got a taste of New Zealand indie brilliance when The Beths stopped by The SoCal Sound studios for an exclusive live session hosted by Mookie. The band celebrated the release of their new album Straight Line Was a Lie with full band live performances of selections from the album, including “Metal,” “Straight Line Was a Lie,” and “Take”, while sharing stories about their creative process, touring life, and their love for authentic Mexican food in L.A.
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The performance begins with a high-energy live version of “Metal”, which The SoCal Sound has been playing the album version on-air for a number of weeks now. Between interview segments, you can watch performances of “Straight Line Was a Lie” and “Take”
From Auckland to L.A. and Beyond
The Beths formed over ten years ago, and originally begun as a hobby project among working musicians in Auckland. Through this, they have built an international following, much in part due to their witty songwriting, tight arrangements, and much from their relentless touring.
Lead singer Elizabeth goes on to explain that the adapting to the internet and streaming has helped “a tiny country in the middle of nowhere being the way that your music can get disseminated to whatever your niche is kind of globally, it's, the, I guess the, the face of what that looks like has changed since we started”.
This session was filmed the day after the band performed a unique live show at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, in which marionette puppets accompanied their set – a real one-of-a-kind performance that really captures the special unique voice of Los Angeles!
Behind Straight Line Was a Lie
The conversation turned to the bands new album Straight Line Was a Lie. Elizabeth explains “Straight line was a lie is it's yeah, it's kind of like almost like a thesis statement of the album” and goes on further “it was kind of a rolley couple of years… trying to figure stuff out physically and mentally… trying to find a succinct way to put the concept of that, all the different ways that you kind of go up and down and backwards.” The concept of finding maintenance rather than constant progression.
They also discussed working with director Frances Carter on the “No Joy” music video, describing the childlike, arts-and-crafts concept that contrasted with the song’s tone — a creative approach that’s become a hallmark of The Beths’ visual storytelling
What’s Next for The Beths
The Beths are currently on tour in Spain and Portugual, but they will be BACK in the US and in Los Angeles, at the Wiltern with Bret McKenzie (SOCAL SOUND SESSION COMING SOON!) in Los Angeles on Nov 7. More info can be found at this link: https://www.thebeths.com/
Straight Line Was a Lie is available now on Anti- Records
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· Filmed & Edited & Photographed by Matt Blake
· Audio by Tristan Dolce
· Host: Marc “Mookie” Kaczor
· The SoCal Sound is member-supported public radio.
