Rebecca Levy
Interview conducted on March 11, 2021
By Dan Locke
For the class of 2009, Pop music meant something quite different as Indie artists dominated the charts, it was in this time where artists like Kate Nash, Lily Allen and Regina Spektor prospered and created a new type of Indie music.
The spoken word style verse and vocal chorus of their music made the stories they had to tell extremely easy to understand and gave us a chorus full of joy to sing out loud in the car. Rebecca is a spiritual successor to those pioneers and gives us a 2020 taste of how this genre has flourished.
Using humour, tongue-in-cheek lyrics and self-deprecating anecdotes, Rebecca Levy has proven her popularity, reaching a million Spotify streams not long after her debut release. However, keen to pass the Bechdel test this time, Rebecca’s latest release ’This Song Is Not About Boys’ combines this style with a 00s Pop/Punk splash, having a jab at the fact that this so far nameless female-led Indie sub-genre usually tells stories of love and loss, effectively deconstructing expectations and all the while still managing to be a party anthem with impressive vocals.
The chanting backing vocals remind us of yet another girl power era when Avril Lavigne was
out stealing boyfriends and Gwen Stefani was reminding us how to spell bananas, it is a pop
trope that proves popular time and time again.
What is your upbringing?
I grew up in a creative home about an hour south of London, with an old upright piano which I used to insist on performing ‘songs’ on, long before I knew what a song was. There was lots of time for creating stories and songs and dance performances etc. forcing my parents and anyone unfortunate enough to step into the house to sit down and watch. It was usually improvised and went on for a minimum of four hours. You’re welcome.
How did you discover music?
My Grandma used to try and teach us piano and My Grandpa, Harmonica. They used to play classical music in the car and we’d honestly sing along like it was ABBA playing at 4 am at G-A-Y late.
And then when I was 8, I insisted on being bought a flute, because my three friends all played and my favourite teacher gave them some chalk pastels as a well done for playing in a concert, and I was outrageously jealous because I REALLY wanted some chalk pastels.
I never got any…
How did you start to write music?
A very happy accident when I had a very confusing and complicated heartbreak, and, in true musical theatre style, the only way I could understand and unpack all those feelings was to put it into lyrics and music. I needed to organize my thoughts and songwriting was just pure therapy. I never intend anybody to hear anything I write, it’s genuinely just for me.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
It was a loan from my Cousin when i was about 14, a sunburst acoustic, probably worth around £60, and I called him Paolo and put pink and blue nail varnish on him whilst I learned the chords to Girls aloud and Razorlight from UltimateGuitar.com – I adored that.
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make, model and what is her name?
I have a few, but I’ll always write on my gal Billie (named after Billy Joel), a Jumbo Alvarez Electro Acoustic Cutaway. Described as ‘Big, Blonde, and Beautiful’, She’s got a really bassy and rich sound and I love her for live gigs cause she packs a punch.
How did your band form?
Anyone that’s played in my band have all been wonderful actor-musicians that I met doing shows, it’s really important to me that everyone on stage is charismatic and fun, as most of my shows involve comedic interludes and playing games with my band!
Describe your music.
Fun, Storytelling, it’s been described to me once as ‘Heartbreak Petty Catchy Pop’ and I adore that description.
What was your first performance like?
It was bizarre. It was the day after my birthday (I was incredibly hungover) at my Friends single launch at Above the Arts Theatre in the West End.
Any nerves I had disappeared immediately when the audience laughed at my first joke. Obviously, the gig was at the expense of my Ex… who, due to mutual friends, showed up to the gig, late, with his new girlfriend… I closed with my song ‘2/10 Would Not Recommend’ which contains the words ‘disappointing sex’ and you could hear all his friends go ‘oooohhhhhhhh’. He was surprisingly supportive to be fair to him.
What makes a good songwriter?
A music fan! I think you need to listen to a lot of good and varied music, in order to write a lot of good and varied music.
I also think music theory is underrated in importance! Having good music theory massively increases your instrument as a writer and allows you to have access to all the tools you might need in order to effectively convey the feeling you want. Sounds boring, but it’s everything.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Ha, well, it remained nameless for a long long long time, it’s a piano ballad about mental health filled with weather metaphors, so we all just referred to it as ‘The Weatherman’s a c***’. But when recording for my Second Album I decided it probably needed a proper name… It’s called ‘The Forecast’ and it’ll be out later this year!
Last year you released your debut album “How to Keep Your Girlfriend 101”. Tell me the story behind the album?
Boy meets girl,
Boy lies to girl about his intentions, and the whereabouts of his current girlfriend
Boy involves girl in unwitting affair and breaks many hearts.
… Boy Continues traumatising and using girl for 7 more songs.
In my live shows I go into excruciating detail, It’s an 8-track chronology of year of my life in the worst excuse for a ‘relationship’ anyone ever encountered. Lots of moments to make the audience laugh out loud, and an equal amount to make them go “*gasp* noooooo! omg”. The perfect revenge I’d say 😉
What is your favorite track on your album?
The audience’s favourite is ‘Tell Your Girlfriend’ cause they can sing along full blast. It’s quite therapeutic I’m told, if you’ve ever been messed about.
BUT, my personal favourite is ‘Corrupted’. I think lyrically it’s more advanced and intricate, and I love the melody. When doing it live, I always start with a Film-noire style Private Eye Monologue to lighten the mood. It’s sexy, fun, and the most satisfying to sing.
Tell me about your latest song “This Song is Not About Boys”?
This one does what it says on the tin. When I realized I had failed the Bechdel test SPETACTULARLY in my first album, making me a guilty feminist, I realized something had to be done about it.
I was over the last relationship, and had unpicked everything, so suddenly felt like I didn’t have anything to write about?! So, I wrote all that down, how it feels to have only written about boys and wanting to not let them monopolies your creativity but struggling to break out of the only type of writing you’ve known!
It’s Avril Lavigne/P! nk inspired as an homage to 00’s girl pop/rock, but with signature Rebecca Levy conversational vibes and shouty kids chorus backing vocals.
Why did you pick Sophie Mallender to help direct the video?
Sophie is a filmmaker with limitless creative vision, I play her my songs and we close our eyes and at the end just shout ridiculous and completely out-of-budget ideas at each other, it’s chaotic madness but one of my favourite ways to brainstorm.
How do you stay healthy while performing?
I went to Drama School for Musical Theatre, so we were well-practiced in 12-hour days of singing and dancing, 6 days a week, without falling ill.
Water is the one! Drink your 8 glasses a day and then drink 16 more. and never skip a warm-up, your voice will thank you for it.
What are your feelings about streaming music?
For me, it has been an BLESSING. Spotify algorithms and editorial playlisting have meant that my music has been heard and streamed by far more people than it ever would have reached before. All over the world, and my biggest listening base is in America. Obviously, revenue per stream is much lower than a bought track, but the reach is amazing and it gives the potential for more business growth and income.
I stream to find new music all the time, and if I like something, I’ll buy it to support the artist. I’ve found some of my favourite bands by streaming and Spotify Radio and I never would’ve bought their music without it.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, [ or (in North American usage) pound sign. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag. Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
Ha! I love this question! As a little Music Theory nerd back at school, I would definitely get frustrated and pedantically correct my classmates in music when they referred to it as a hashtag. ‘It’s actually a sharp’, accompanied by an eye roll. But being a Millennial AND a Musician I feel that hashtags and sharps are equally as important to my soul, and therefore I will remain neutral in this debate.
Digital vs. vinyl?
To listen to? Vinyl if I can get my hands on it! I struggle with focus and the act of putting on a record and watching it play through makes me far more able to pay attention to everything happening in the track, I love it.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Billy Joel – ‘You may be right’. The melody and groove are everything, and the devil-may-care attitude to life is my ideal way of living, if the world allowed it currently.
At the beginning of the lockdown why did you record Van Morrison “Brown Eyed Girl”?
It’s one of my Mum’s favourite songs, she’s my biggest fan and the most supportive person I could ask for. Part of this includes her pestering for recordings of me. For her birthday a few years ago, I recorded an acoustic cover of Brown Eyed Girl and she loved it. Since then, it’s become a staple of my setlist and always gets the pub-goers singing/shouting along.
I had so many exciting things lined up for 2020, it felt like I was finally getting somewhere, and very suddenly it felt like it was ripped from me, as it was for everybody. I was sort of in shock and although I had nothing to practice for anymore, I found myself recording and posting a cover a day, to give myself some structure and a goal. This was one for Mother’s Day.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music?
I mean, I hope not! So, yes, it’s depleted my gig income to a nice round zero over the past year, but live music is unstoppable.
Remember in Bomont, when they tried to stop people from dancing, look how that turned out. (Yes, that was a Footloose reference, don’t @ me). Music is such an important part of the human experience and it affects everybody, not just musicians.
Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
In an attempt to be optimistic, I hope only in the way that it sparks motivation and passion, and we’ll remember not to take touring and gigging for granted, even when we’re hungover and tired and not feeling it. It can’t be worse than not being allowed to sing.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I’ve been learning drums (well, hitting circles loudly and aggressively in order to get my anger out), but mostly lots of wine, heartbreak and writing. I’ve had zoom auditions for shows and musicals that didn’t ever get to happen. Also, I’ve redecorated my flat about 38 times so that’s nice x
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I sort of fell into home recording and arranging stuff for pals! I work with producers for my tracks, so it’s been fun trying it out for myself and making full band versions of songs using just three guitars, lots of harmonies, and an electric drum kit. It’s by no means professional but it brings me joy and is helping me become a better musician.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
I hate to say it but Social Media! Yes, it’s the devil in some ways, but I’ve had some wonderful connections with people, and by posting content and engaging with comments and messages, I’ve definitely expanded my audience.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
HA yeah sure, sign me up!
One of the first things you did at the beginning of your career was musical theatre, which included Say My Name! The Unauthorized Breaking Bad Parody Musical. What was that about?
I’m still very much a Musical Theatre actor! and I love it. It gets a bad rap but I’ve not met a single person who doesn’t smile when watching Mamma Mia. and If you say you don’t, you’re lying 😉
Say My Name was SO much fun, I played Jesse Pinkman and we covered the whole of the Breaking Bad storyline in 2 hours. It’s ridiculous, hilarious, and musically incredible. It was an actor-musician production so I played Bass, Guitar, Saxophone, and Jazz Flute. you can listen to the Official Cast Recording on Spotify. I don’t often do this, but I 10/10 recommend.
How was it to be Belle and “Belle and Dance Captain”?
SO FUN. In this version of Beauty and the Beast, Belle was an electric guitar shredding, high-octane powerhouse, and she was a joy to play.
What is your happy place?
Acoustic guitar, empty house, and sun through the window!
writing, singing covers, singing my own stuff.
A lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sell your back catalog if someone like Universal is willing to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
I think selling my back catalog would totally depend on how old/poor/bored I am! I feel like whilst I’ve still got an empire to build, I’ll probably hold on to those rights 😉 but who knows where life will take us. I mostly try not to think any further than 1 year in the future, I’ve got no idea where I’ll be in a year! How boring if I did?
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on Monday (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds.
The figure, announced by Spotify’s co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.
But still back at the beginning of the year Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. What do you think what that could mean to independent artist?
It must have been devastating. Both financially and emotionally. But Music is so personal, I always think putting a song out is like baring your heart to the world, leaving it open for potential pain. It doesn’t have to just be someone’s income and business for this to have been upsetting.
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
I’m all for TikTok! A lot of my audience are young and much more accessible via TikTok and Instagram than Facebook. I think it’s a great way of sharing content and supporting artists and creatives. It’s also hilarious, I can often be found scrolling an hour after I said I’d do something.
The British government, buoyed by early good news on a brisk roll-out of vaccinations in the UK, set out a roadmap that, as things stand, would see the re-opening of large music events in the UK, with no audience limit, on June 21. Live Nation and its subsidiary, Festival Republic, didn’t hang about after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made this announcement on Monday (February 22).
The companies quickly announced that their Reading & Leeds festival – an annual fest taking place across two locations in the UK with a combined capacity of around 180,000 – would be going ahead between August 27and 29 this year, and that tickets were on sale.
With this announcement Live Nation UK is thinking that live concert start happening this summer would you be up to playing live shows again and under want precautions would you like to have in place?
Oh of course. If there’s a stage, I’m on it.
If I have to quarantine for 2 weeks before and after, if I have to have 2374687 covid tests stuck up my nose, whatever the guidelines are, I’m up for it.
Just don’t breathe on me and get too close to me backstage, although that’s a rule regardless to be fair.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Listen to something new every day!
Most streaming platforms have a ‘recommended’ algorithm, so go and discover more music. It’s the best feeling. Also drink water
