We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Becktoria a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Becktoria, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
Growing up in England, my upbringing heavily involved the arts, where I studied a variety of instruments including piano, flute, violin, recorder, and drums. My classical training was the foundation for my transition into pop and jazz, where I found my voice as a singer-songwriter. I was in school choirs, gospel choirs, school plays and musical theatre. I was also cast as a lead female vocalist for my high school pop/jazz band where we would perform at different venues around the country. All of these experiences led me to create my own unique sound, blending pop-infused raspy tones with ethereal falsetto and classical vocals.
I’ve loved singing since I was young. I was told that, as a baby, I would start dancing and tapping my feet when I heard music. My passion for songwriting, however, didn’t come to fruition until I was a teenager. I started writing poems first and competed in a few poetry contests. I remember being bored in chemistry class (even though I actually really loved science), and writing a song and lyrics while daydreaming. So I guess that’s how my musical journey and training began at a young age.
While getting my Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, I auditioned in London for a Los Angeles film school, I ended up getting a scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree there, which led me to move in 2012. Professionally, I started my music career as a singer/songwriter in 2015.
Becktoria, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My journey in entertainment began at the age of 16 in England. I started modeling in fashion shows and later competed in several beauty pageants such as Miss England Surrey, Miss Monaco Grand Prix, and Miss Motors Formula-1, among others. I also had a successful acting career, appearing in major commercials, films and TV shows, but my passion was always to be a recording artist. From singing popular covers that went viral and creating my own EPs and albums, to now charting on esteemed music charts and having my songs play on the radio nationwide, it’s been a humbling and exciting process.
In 2015, I finally pursued my dream career as a singer/songwriter. I released my first remix album, “Panda Doll”. One of my cover songs, Selena Gomez’s “Hands To Myself,” became popular on Soundcloud with over 844,000 streams. Another cover song, Adele’s “Water Under The Bridge,” ended up receiving airplay on 97.1 AMP Radio. My EP “Lovers” quickly reached the top of the NACC charts. My single “Sigh” peaked at No. 1 on the Upcoming 100 charts.
In 2021, I released my EP, “Goodbye & Hello.” One of the standout tracks from the album, “I Like It Like That,” charted on the Billboard Top 40 indicator chart at No. 36, the New Music Weekly Top 40 at No. 9, the NMW Hot 100 at No. 15, and the Top 200 Mediabase chart. My collaboration song, “One Love,” was also signed to France’s major record label Because Music and the renowned publishing company Smilax Publishing in Italy. Additionally, my music has accumulated over 56 Million digital streams across various music platforms, 4.4 Million views on Youtube and over 1.2 Million streams on Soundcloud.
We recently released a new song entitled “Would” in collaboration with Hamster, whom I’ve previously worked with on the songs, “Invincible” and “Happier.” I love the ambiance and melodic richness of “Would,” as it offers a different style from my usual repertoire. Exploring and experimenting with different musical genres is definitely an artistic endeavour that brings me joy and excitement.
My upcoming solo projects include two new albums, “Raveland” and “Dreamland.” Both explore the realm of dreams and imagination, venturing into the domain of classical music while infusing it with modern electronic elements. I’m inspired to embrace the worlds of EDM and classical music together to create a new sound I’ve never done before. I also have some exciting collaborations on the horizon, including a two-part album project featuring the previously unreleased music of DMX and prominent DJs in the electronic music scene. The result is a gospel DMX album and EMX album.
I’m proud of all of my art, from writing lyrics and songs on the piano to bringing my creative vision to life in music videos. Every project has a personal meaning. I always strive to create something unique and continue to grow as an artist. From metaphorical lyrics to catchy anthems, my songwriting style has evolved throughout the years. My music videos include animated fantasies and fashion-forward spectacles, each telling a personal story. I also love infusing elements from various genres in my songs such as pop, classical, and EDM. My overall growth and accomplishments in the music industry—and my decision to pursue my passions in life—remains a source of pride.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Music has always been a part of my self-expression. My songs and lyrics are a reflection of my personal journey and most of my inspirations come from either my lucid dreams or self-discovery. Aside from these creative paths, my mission as an artist is to inspire others to find their own happiness and self-love, to express themselves in a way that makes them feel confident and authentic, and for my music to bring some joy and comfort to anyone and everyone.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
For me, it’s really important to uplift and empower aspiring musicians while fostering talent within the industry. We should celebrate each artist’s unique vision and voice without being judgmental or mean-spirited. I believe there is beauty in spreading love and kindness to others while striving to be the best versions of ourselves and embracing our individuality as humans.
I feel that there should be more resources available to all types of artists, and mentoring talent to help steer them in the right direction. I also believe that collaborating with other artists can bring forth more creativity and learning. I recently served as the leading judge on “The Singer’s Choice,” another project I was excited about. The show’s mission is to help independent artists get discovered and showcase their talent, from their vocal performance, stage performance and songwriting skills to their overall style and creativity. We hoped to encourage them to keep creating what they love, to keep sharing their art with the world and to continue growing as an artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.becktoria.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/becktoria
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifeofbecktoria
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/lifeofbecktoria
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/becktoria
- Other: – Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BA4M40uRSXzGyQz3XqtGi?si=Io5-Pe-iRYyRIcsuU0SApQ – “Goodbye & Hello” EP: smarturl.it/gnh – “Lovers” EP: smarturl.it/becktoria – “Sigh”: smarturl.it/sighs