Bec Stevens releases powerful debut album 'Big Worry'
Image: Ian Laidlaw
Australian rock singer-songwriter Bec Stevens creates music that brashly, honestly and rawly explores her life, pain, experiences, struggles and emotions. Her vulnerability makes for incredibly powerful music and after building a fan base through her live performances, her hard work and talent is being deservedly recognised with increasing crossover mainstream success, including Triple J rotation.
Today she releases her much anticipated debut album Big Worry. The album reflects her personal journey over the past few years, and features twelve tracks. Working with co-producers Jonathon Tooke (Cry Club) and Ben Stewart (Slowly Slowly), and engineers Jarred Nettle and Samuel Sproull, Stevens wrote 11 of the 12 tracks in collaboration with Tooke. Co-writing was a new experience for Stevens, but she describes it as one of the best creative decisions she has ever made.
“We spent two days a week in his studio for a whole year, tearing my songs apart, putting them together, and then tearing them apart again until we got it right,” she says. “Jono opened so many doors for me with my writing. He sat and listened to why each song was important to me, and made sure that every one hit with the impact it needed to. We sat and shed tears in silence multiple times.”
The album kicks off with the second single ‘A Stranger’. A visceral rock track, it looks at the aftermath of a relationship that has ended not in just sad heartbreak but in absolute acrimony: ‘A stranger would care more about my life,” Stevens chants.
First single and title track ‘Big Worry’, which examines the feeling of imposter syndrome and anxiety, is as powerful and thumping as ever, with thrashing guitars and Stevens’ impassioned vocal.
‘Seddon’ is an album highlight which expertly mixes light and shade with some gorgeous melodies. It looks back at a childhood friendship that progresses into a more troubled adult life. “I came and scooped you up / Cause you took too many drugs…but I love you more than I ever have before.” It leads into ‘Nightreader’, one of the quieter moments on the album with a beautiful stripped back acoustic guitar feel that breaks into a more full blooded soundscape towards the end with a hint of country, as Stevens backed by a choir repeats ‘If you can’t sleep, I’ll read you to sleep’.
Live show favourite ‘Creep’ is a darker, moodier track with Stevens’ vocals deeper in the mix and a wall of sound envelopes her. It is an appropriate feel for the song, which Stevens has said is for all the ‘trauma babies’ of the world. "If you are someone who has spent their life shapeshifting and contorting yourself to be able to simply exist, this song is for you," she says.
‘Overcast’ is a sonic outlier win the album and just mesmerising. Accompanied by just a piano and gradually swelling strings, Stevens’ voice switches from gentle and restrained to full blooded and emotive. After the power of her guitar rock songs, ‘Overcast’ is a remarkable and moving change of pace and highlights just what a versatile and talented performer Stevens is.
‘Thank God You’re Here’ returns the sound to classic, Stevens guitar rock with lyrics that tell of the frustration of being in a small town where nothing happens and you are without the one person you want to be with: “I don’t want to be here any more...you cut me keys to your house / Then you went and moved out” Penultimate track ‘You & Me’ returns the album to gentler, ballad territory with just an acoustic guitar as Stevens looks back on a cherished relationship with a person that is no longer around. “The only way to get through this / Is reminding myself that you existed / Before you didn’t.”
The album ends on the rollicking track ‘Gold Star’, with an invigorating drum beat and lyrics that look at the growing up process, and the frustration of a relationship that can never quite connect “You always sleep when I’m awake / When I finally sleep you’re always wired.” It ends on a glimpse of hope with the repeated chant “we’ll go far” and a sublime, extended instrumental closer.
Big Worry is a debut album Stevens can be proud of. It is music that is raw, challenging, honest and tells stories that draw you right into her world as well as enabling you to find your own stories in her experiences. It is inspired by Stevens exorcising her own demons, but ultimately leaves you with a sense of hope that we can all work our way through this.
“I feel like so many of my songs lead back to the same feeling: being overwhelmed,” she says. “We’re all trying so hard to do the right thing, but not always knowing what that is. We’re trying to make everyone happy, but soon realising that’s impossible. I feel my age in this album – which I always thought was scary, but it's actually really cool. I hope people find something in that."
Big Worry is out now via Damaged Record Co. You can buy and stream here.
To keep up with all things Bec Stevens you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
