Introducing…. Beth Blade and The Beautiful Disasters

Cardiff’s own Beth Blade and The Beautiful Disasters have carved a name for themselves as a rock ’n’ roll force of nature. With powerhouse vocals, melodic hooks, and a spirit that’s equal parts grit and heart, the band are gearing up for their new record and a run of live dates. We caught up with frontwoman Beth Blade to talk about their latest singles, the stories behind the music, and what’s next for the band.

CLICK ROLL BOOM: To newcomers, how would you describe the band’s sound and character?
Beth Blade: Brass knuckles under a velvet glove! Hard Rock with a melodic sensibility. As far as character, we pride ourselves on being authentic and real but don’t take ourselves too seriously. We rock hard but also have soft hearts and we love to laugh and entertain.

CRB: We are loving “Never Let Go” and “You Only Love Me When You’re Drunk” at Click Roll Boom HQ. What inspired these tracks?
BB: These two tracks were very much centred in our love of the retro, vintage, original roots of rock and roll. “Never Let Go” is very much a summer driving song. Thin Lizzy meets Stereophonics vibes with a scream along chorus. Whereas “You Only Love Me When You’re Drunk” has a bit of a 60’s kick with more of a bluesy and soulful vocal approach. We definitely wanted to focus on melody and getting them stuck in people’s heads. The hook is always king!

CRB: What was the recording process like?
BB: It was very intense. We did half of the record in the middle of a baking desert in Spain and the other half in a very rainy South Wales. We were on the clock with limited time. It was very cathartic for me finally bringing the songs that were living inside my head to life and the feeling of when they start to come together and sounding like you envisioned is like nothing else. It’s like magic, creating something from thin air.

CRB: What inspired the artwork?
BB: The cover for “Never Let Go” was very much the road trip vibes and was taken in the Spanish desert where the recording studio is. There was a lot of wildlife out there and a tiny white church. I wanted to look like I was hitching a ride to a gig. “You Only Love Me When You’re Drunk” aesthetically was inspired by the 60’s and the monochrome trends of the time. The video also had a strong Reservoir Dogs influence which probably doesn’t make any sense to anyone but me! Now if we’re talking about the album cover art, well, that’s still a surprise….

CRB: How does your latest work differ, musically, from your earlier efforts, Show Me Your Teeth and Mythos, Confession, Tragedies and Love?
BB: In all honestly, it’s more mature, more honest, more authentic and less concerned with what is expected of us. It’s us just doing what we feel and what excites us musically. We had no rules or confines for this one, but the song writing is tighter, the vocals are some of the most technically difficult and heartfelt I’ve ever sung, and the boys’ performances knock it out of the park.

CRB: Can you tell us what’s changed the most for you, personally, in the last three years?
BB: Change can be painful but productive when I eventually come round to the idea. I’ve had to survive and suffer, lose people, keep going no matter the weight of my problems but I’ve also loved and sang and laughed until I couldn’t breathe and tried to do good in the world. I’ve been focusing on healing old wounds and tried to stop punishing myself for things I can’t change. I’ve also decided that I want to continue to be empathetic and soft hearted even if it hurts because I’m not going to let other people’s actions make me less kind or change who I am. I’m going to keep being myself even if other people have tried to take that hopefulness away from me. I like myself now more than I ever have and for someone who is highly self-critical that’s progress. Oh, and I’m getting much better at asking for help. Another thing I’ve always found quite difficult.

CRB: Tell us a little bit about what’s next for the band. Where can we catch you live?
BB: The record comes out on the 12th of September which you can pre-order now and we’ll be heading straight out to play it on the road. We’re hitting Blackpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Buckley, Lancaster, Wolverhampton and London, you can get the album and tour tickets at https://linktr.ee/BBATBDOfficial.