This is How Beabadoobee Moves
Emerging from the world of Beatopia, where girlhood, carefree moments, and regretful choices collide, Beabadoobee's new album delves into the accountability we must confront after making mistakes. This album represents a significant transition from girlhood to womanhood. While her previous records often focused on reacting to others' actions, almost like a blame game, this one embraces the inevitability of personal faults, acknowledging that sometimes, the responsibility lies within.
Despite its title, This Is How Tomorrow Moves is firmly rooted in the present. It suggests that without confronting the events and emotions of today, life cannot move forward into tomorrow. As Bea navigates her journey of growth and newfound self-awareness, the album reflects these changes through a rich variety of styles. It seamlessly blends her signature 90s indie influences with more experimental sounds, creating a dynamic sonic landscape. For instance, "Take a Bite" channels the gritty energy of Nirvana, while "Girl Song" introduces a softer yet powerfully honest exploration of self-image and emotional expression. This track, driven by piano and reminiscent of Elliott Smith, cuts deeply with its sincerity and visceral approach.
Rick Rubin's production work is a significant force on the album, guiding it with a stripped-back, acoustic foundation that allows Bea's songwriting and emotional depth to shine through. In tracks like "California," the frenetic energy of life on tour is palpable, eventually resolving into the gentle waltz of "Coming Home." This track, nestled in the middle of the album, acts as a moment of respite. With sparse instrumentation and a delicate vocal delivery, "Coming Home" is pure nostalgia, as Bea reflects on the simplicity of domestic life—yearning for small, intimate moments like watching a loved one wake up or completing daily routines like taking out the trash and doing the dishes.
This carefully curated mix of styles and emotions creates an album that is not only a journey through Bea's personal evolution but also a tapestry of sound that captures the complexities of growing up, facing inner turmoil, and finding peace in the mundane. Transitioning from themes of heartbreak to the discovery of new love, the album's production and arrangements evolve in harmony with these emotional shifts. Building on the groundwork laid in Beatopia's "The Perfect Pair," tracks like "Ever Seen" radiate with the potential of a love so powerful that it brings clarity to everything. The song is enriched by horns performed by CJ Camerieri, infusing it with a joyful exuberance that also shines through in "Tie My Shoes."
Another recurring theme throughout the album is the role that men play in shaping one's emotional landscape. This is explored deeply, particularly in the complexities of father figures or their absence. Tracks like "Tie My Shoes" and "The Man Who Left Too Soon" delve into how these relationships—or the lack thereof—affect one's emotional state.
The irony of looking up to something
Or even just somebody
Can't put the face onto the name
That I don't even know
The half of what you had
I had a dad that didn't know
But we both looked at the sky and thought
"At least we look at the same moon"
I wish I met the man who had left too soon
Even though Bea doesn't frequently make the chaos of her life the main focus of her songs, she acknowledges it, finding solace in familiar places. In "The Man Who Left Too Soon," she reflects on this state, describing sadness as a temporary, fleeting emotion that ultimately gives way to comfort and peace in the known and trusted. The rhythm of "A Cruel Affair," evoking the calm moments of sharing a glass of wine with a loved one after an argument, might seem like just another of the album's scattered vignettes. Yet, the distant notes of the electric guitar smile at the thought of how some things can appear so complicated. This realization aligns with the album’s title and the journey Bea has envisioned for her listeners: reflecting on the past, finding peace with it, or at least accepting it, as a pathway to understanding what the future might hold.
Photographed by Soren Harrison via VOGUE
The album's finale, "This Is How It Went," serves as an emblematic close. Here, Bea sings: "Writing ‘cause I’m healing, never writing songs to hurt." This line is both a revelation and a declaration of intent—sweet, delicate, and imbued with an enviable courage. As she closes one chapter of her life and career, it is clear that she has made peace with the past, and Tomorrow is already waiting for her.
