Reminiscing on simpler days and when the world didn’t actually feel like it was falling apart, “Be Alright” is the latest single by Lebanese Singer-Songwriter Bea Kadri and London-based freestyle rapper Isaac B.
Discovered via submithub.com
Hi Bea. When did you first start writing your music?
Hi! Thanks for having me here.
I’ve been journaling, writing songs, singing since I could speak. I still remember the break ups I never had but had a lot to say about in my songwriting as a kid lol. I also used to add melodies to my schoolwork to be able to memorize the lessons and pass.
Nah but for real, I took myself seriously as an artist when I landed an opportunity to write and record a few tracks for Universal Music UK in 2018. I released my debut single “Cloud 9” that year as well and have been working on projects ever since.
I love your single, ‘Be Alright’. Can you tell me a bit about the writing and recording process?
Rapper Isaac B & I have been friends for some time now and on my last trip to London back in August, we decided to go into the studio and see what vibes cook up. He had a couple of sick mellow beats from producer Jan Pastor that we could jump on. We wrote it with a shared feeling of the fast pace of life weighing us down, all this grind just living for the weekend and reminiscing on simpler times of our childhoods.
In the chorus we go “roll in peace yeah call it pair of dice” to highlight the nature of how we never truly know what dice life will serve us, but whatever it is, we got to roll with it peacefully and make like a paradise (“pair of dice”) in our minds, stay chill, find the balance and keep on because, really, “we gon’ be alright”, we always figure it out somehow.
This message resonates more now that we’re in a mad global pandemic. A powerful reflective pause. Maybe a way to rewire, learn to de-stress and trust.
Who would you cite as your biggest musical influence?
I grew up idolizing Destiny’s Child, The Spice Girls, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston to name a few but lately, I take in high doses of Jhene Aiko, H.E.R, Post Malone, Ariana Grande, 6lack, Drake, Kehlani, Lolo Zouai, SZA, and of course Queen Bey & Riri.
Sorry if you were expecting a one name answer type of thing, this is me restricting myself, can’t choose.
What advice would you give other artists who are trying to stay productive during this crisis?
Hmm I’d say be kind to yourself if you’re unable to be productive and remember little steps is better than none. If the big task is overwhelming, break it down into steps. That 9 out of 10 times works for me.
Sometimes it takes longer to get the creative juices flowin’. We’re all strugglin’ to cope. So take some time off from the socials, try to set a mood, light a candle, sage, whatever works for you, let a playlist you like run in the background and escape a little in your mind. There’s only so much you can draw from when in quarantine so you might need to dig deep in the memory vault and channel different types of emotions.
Also, now would be a great time to learn new tricks from YouTube tutorials and online courses.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given as a musician?
I was really struggling in believing in myself as a releasing artist, was way too worried about what people would think. I felt like I should be focusing on a more stable career and having a family of my own etc.. but I got the best advice at the time that I need to show up for my own life regardless of the noise. How I owe it to myself (to my inner child and to my future self) to tap into my potentials and be assertive and fearless like that, how it might inspire more people to pursue more of the things they love and ignite their souls. Honestly super grateful for that shift in perspective. Opinions are here to stay, we all have them, good or bad, and honestly, the worst that could happen is I fail. It’s not that scary after all.
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