We recently connected with BethBanger and have shared our conversation below.
BethBanger, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
Wow, this is something that I honestly have not thought about in a long time so thinking about it at this moment is very humbling and grounding for me. So in 2019 I released an EP called Self and this was one of my first professional bodies of work as a rapper/singer. I began to pick up a small buzz from friends and associates on social media. And during this time I also began working on my next and first album, Don’t Leave me a Voicemail which was set to release in February of 2020. A close friend of my brother, ScoreSwayze, who also is a rapper and creative, had begun curating shows for local artists to showcase their talent. He decided to give me a chance and put me on the bill. This was gonna be my very first performance. When I tell you I practiced for weeks and was still nervous the day of the show! It was so bad. But when it was my turn to perform and Score called my name something in me just clicked. I was not worried about anything(other than tripping on the mic cord) and I felt unstoppable. I had everyone captivated in that 15 minute set, and as Score told me he was blown away by my comfortability for my first show. All and all it was an amazing night with my closest friends supporting me every step of the way. I think It was this show that turned a lot of naysayers into believers in me. A day or so after the show I got a Cashapp notification from Score for 25 dollars. that may not be a lot but It meant something to be able to rock a show and then get paid. and it really meant even more to be able to have someone I consider a brother to be able to share that exchange with. I’ll be forever grateful for ScoreSwayze giving me a platform to shine.
BethBanger, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
So I got into making music at first because my brother , Benjamin Banger, is a producer and creator as well. Being my older brother I kind of took after him and I really admired his creative mind, and what he was able to do with producing at such an early stage. I always had a love for singing and music but I just didn’t have the confidence to back it early on. Later on in Life I met another close friend of mine Title, who is another massively talented artist, producer, engineer, and creator alike. He really gave me the tools I needed to record my songs and helped boost my confidence. I am a rapper and a singer. So when I’m on the track I really can deliver anything I want or am feeling. I try to create a fun musical space where I express my wide range of emotions and life experiences, with the hopes that listeners will relate and rock with me when they play my tracks. I think the big thing that sets me apart from others making music in the same city, is the ability to bend my sound however I see fit. I have songs in the hip hop genre, R&B, Pop, Rock, and many more styles to come. I ‘m not the type to get stuck in a box when it comes to my sound and I am always open to trying new styles and techniques, all the while still sounding like BethBanger. I believe my voice has a wide range and I definitely use it to my advantage.
I’m most proud of my consistency in my craft. I am definitely not the same Beth I was when I started out. I am MUCH more confident and can hold it down on my own. But like any good artist I make sure I continue to grow and challenge myself so that I never get stagnant. I always have room for growth and this isn’t my final form! I want my potential supporters and followers to know that this journey called life is not easy and we can all relate in one way or another. I am about embracing the good, the bad, the ugly and the sexy in life. So if you feel that then hop in for the ride.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I feel like non-creatives, or people that just aren’t tapped into that world, don’t understand the way in which rappers, singers, and creatives choose to express themselves in their music. I know a lot of artists that say this is their outlet. This is how we communicate best, and this is how we heal. So in actuality it can be seen as a form of therapy. At times people see our craft as vulgar or over the top but in reality these are just honest life experiences for people, and you can’t ever take that away from someone. I’m a firm believer in writing about what I know and what I’ve experienced so when I write it’s almost like a page out of my diary that I’m sharing with everyone. I challenge people to be open minded and listen to the words that an artist is actually saying and make sense of that. I think a whole new perspective will open up.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part of being an artist for me is just getting to actually see my supporters in person. When I’m at a show and I see people rapping the lyrics with me as I’m performing or when I just see someone in the zone dancing and having a good time, that really is a motivator for me. I love talking and connecting with people and hearing how my music made them feel. I just did a show recently and a lady I’ve never met before came up to me and told me I made her feel sexy and confident! That made my heart explode. But I like to know that people are actually listening. It’s reassuring for me that I’m doing something right all by just being myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.liinks.co/beth.banger
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethbanger/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/bethbanger
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCaOnLdMjSO1Q2TUGb29EnyA
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bT9cCm7Q9A0rhCpdL7MOT?si=s80V6DAjTR6dxvPaN8UMtg Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/bethbanger/1327926791