Be-ah…Be-ba…Beabadoobee! Beabadoobee can definitely be a difficult name to pronounce the first time around, but that adds to the playfulness and creativity of her name. Recently, Beabadoobee has had a steep rise in popularity. But how did she get so popular all of a sudden?
Born Beatrice Kristi Laus in 2000 in the Philippines, Beabadoobee grew up in a household that appreciated music. Her father loved classic rock and folk music, which exposed her to a diverse range of sounds. Her father also introduced her to artists like The Beatles and Oasis, shaping her musical preferences.
Laus attended a Catholic all-girls school in London, but was expelled at 17-years-old for failing grades and “misfit behavior.” In an attempt to comfort her, her father bought her a second-hand six-string guitar, and she began teaching herself how to play using YouTube videos. She also started songwriting as a form of self-expression during times of isolation and struggles with mental health. As an Asian in a predominantly white community, Beabadoobee felt like an “alien” and faced racism. Writing songs became an outlet for her emotions and a way to cope with these experiences.
She uploaded videos of herself playing on YouTube mainly for her friends, and in 2017, she first went viral. “Coffee” immediately became a massive hit, and three years later, it gained even more popularity on TikTok after being sampled by Canadian rapper Powfu. The dreamy and nostalgic sound of “Coffee,” along with her unique vocals, lead to an increasing fanbase.
“I love Beabadoobee! She mixes rock background with calm, indie vocals to make both upbeat and soothing music. My favorite song from her is “Talk” from my favorite album Beatopia,” Beabadoobee lover, senior William Pan said.
As her popularity grew, Beabadoobee landed a record deal with Dirty Hit, the flagship label of successful artists like The 1975 (“About You”) and Rina Sawayama (“This Hell”). She debuted in 2018 with Patched Up.
“Beabadoobee has an ethereal voice that always draws me into her music, and each song she writes is captivating in its own unique way. As I listen to more of her albums, I fall in love with everything from her versatile vocals to her raw, honest lyrics, ” another Beabadoobee fanatic, sophomore Tiffany Hou said.
In 2020, her single “Care” from the album Fake it Flowers, featuring heavy instrumentals and passion, marked a significant turning point in her music career. The album received critical acclaim and solidified her position in the indie music industry.
Experimenting with new sounds and styles, Beabadoobee launched her sophomore album, Beatopia, in 2022. With a mix of contemporary and guitar pop, Beatopia was a huge success with songs such as “the perfect pair” reaching over 283 million plays, and “Sunny day” reaching over 46 thousand plays on Spotify.
“Bea does an amazing job of capturing the bittersweet aspects of love and romance, especially in songs like “the perfect pair!” Beatopia as a whole is an incredible album, with every track beautifully written, and I don’t think I could ever get tired of her music!” Hou said.
Beabadoobee scored her first top 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart with her most recent album, This is How Tomorrow Moves, debuting at No. 6 on the Aug. 24-dated chart, with nearly 9,000 copies sold in the U.S. during the week of Aug. 15.
From her past and to her bright future, Beabadoobee’s story is encouraging. She expected nothing from posting videos of herself playing guitar but became one of the most listened-to artists. Beabadoobee is scheduled to perform at the Vinyl Music Hall on April 19, and on April 21 in Houston, she will open for Taylor Swift. Beabadoobee is truly on her way up to success!
