Beabadoobee (Beatrice Laus), the musician behind popular songs such as “Glue Song,”
“Coffee,” and “the perfect pair,” released her fifth studio album “This is How Tomorrow Moves” on August 9, 2024. With this record and the help of producers Rick Rubin and Jacon Bugden under English independent label Dirty Hit, Beabadoobee explores new themes unlike any other she has previously written about.
Back in 2017, Beabadoobee emerged on the indie rock scene with her breakout hit, “Coffee”. From then on, she released multiple other hit singles and two studio albums. Beabadoobee is known for her 90s alt-rock themed tunes and relatable, authentic lyrics.
Her most recent album stands out from the rest of her discography. In previous records, like “Beatopia,” Beabadoobee creates her own world filled with nostalgia and whimsy. She has moved away from world-building and has leaned more into reality, tackling hard- hitting themes that come with being an adult.
The lead single and first track “Take a Bite” is personal and confident, a tone that is carried throughout the rest of the album. Beabadoobee describes her faults and toxic qualities and how that impacts the way she connects and builds relationships with others. Her expressive lyricism is not undermined by the indie-rock production that is clearly influenced by the early 2000s pop-rock. Instead it only helps enhance her message.
This is followed by “California,” the second track featured. First previewed on Beabadoobee’s Instagram story months before the album was released, it was easily the most anticipated song by fans. Their expectations were certainly met, as “California” shines lyrically and sonically. Through the track, a strong rock sound is carried by heavy guitars, exhibiting her anger, represented lyrically as well. The song reflects on the frustration of yearning to be with someone who is emotionally unavailable. The line “call it a bluff, you’ll see it real time, wish you could see it’s been a rough ride,” perfectly captures the pain of unrequited love and the complex feelings one can be left with when experiencing emotional neglect.
One song that immediately sticks out is “Girl Song.” This somber ballad highlights Beabadoobee’s self-doubt and insecurity while in a cycle of bad days where she can not help but make mistakes. Throughout the song, Beabadoobee’s woeful lyrics are backed by piano work that is gentle and light, complimenting her soft vocals. Though seemingly simple, it is effective, emotional, and poignant, and incredibly relatable to girls everywhere who have fallen victim to beauty standards.
“A Cruel Affair,” the ninth track on the album, has a similar theme to “Girl Song” but Beabadoobee ends it on a more positive note. This song is about how Beabadoobee compares herself to other women on social media. She places these strangers, who are seemingly perfect, on a pedestal and uses them to put herself down. Though in the last verse, Beabadoobee says “she’s a catch, but so am I” showing she ultimately comes to the conclusion that other women’s beauty doesn’t take away from her own.
The album is not all self-doubt and insecurity, track 11, “Beaches,” focuses on Beabadoobee’s sense of freedom and is radiant of optimism. This song was inspired by Beabadoobee’s creative process, where she says, “don’t do it half-***ed, just go full force!” It is fun and confident, and Beabadoobee has previously stated how it is her favorite on the album, aligning with its bright, bubbly production energetic lyrics.
The album closes with “This is How It Went”, which is a reflection on a toxic relationship. The song delves into topics centered around healing, where Beabadoobee confronts her emotional baggage and rediscovers her self worth. The acoustic guitar used throughout the duration of the song creates a peaceful, calm environment, allowing Beabadoobee to shine vocally. This is the perfect close to the album, as it provides closure to every hard-hitting, difficult subject used in previous songs. The final lyric captures this perfectly, “and I’ll stick to writing my songs,” where Beabadoobee decides that she will continue down her artistic path, denying her previous mistakes the power to define her.