MP3 Betika - Halflove

Death-pop, played with zeal and vigour by the musical wing of a sinister youth-movement.

14 MP3 Songs
POP: British Pop, FOLK: Modern Folk



Details:
From an interview we did with the BBC...

Who's in the band?

Carolyn - Singing and Woodwinds
Dave - Singing and Guitar
Chris - Guitar and Glockenspiel
Richard - Drums and Percussion
Imogen - Bass Guitar and singing
Lexi - Keyboards and Percussion
Martin - Trumpet, Melodica, Percussion, Trombone and singing
Gary - Moog, Guitar and singing

On "Halflove" we are also joined by a bunch of our friends who came to a percussion party at our house where we overdubbed a whole lot of shakin' on a lot of the songs. And we enlisted the help of a violinist and cellist from the world-reknowned Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Where are you from?

The band's geographical centre lies somewhere in Bournemouth, slap-bang in the middle of England's south coast.

Describe your music.

Death-pop, played with zeal and vigour by the musical wing of a sinister youth-movement. Elements of pop, folk, motown, country, bossa nova, krautrock, surf music, afro-beat, house, skiffle and twee-core combined with cryptic lyrics to make music that is simultaeously ecstatic and inconsolable.

When did the band form?

I'm not sure that it has properly formed yet, it's been a vaguely-defined amorphous blob of a thing since 1999, people have been coming and going all the while. The current line-up has been together since early 2005, and thus far the chemistry seems to be working very well. We don't have any string players so far...

How did the band get it's name?

It's just a noise. We thought that if we used an abstract word we'd never have any problems with other bands choosing the same name. As it turns out, there's a singer from Cameroon called Betika. She releases records in France. Apparently it's pronounced differently though - we're 'Beh-tick-a', she's 'B'teeka'.. Perhaps we're destined to meet one day on a far-away festival stage...

What are your musical influences?

Sleep deprivation; alcohol; a tiny glimmer of hope that will not be extinguished. The enduring and deep-rooted love we have for one another.

What is your most memorable gig?

The most recent one. My long-term memory is not what it used to be. I like the ones where the audience throws it's inhibitions to the wind and dances and joins in playing percussion. 'Inclusivity' is a watchword of the modern day Betika. Hence our ever expanding line-up.

What's your favourite song to play live?

I love them all equally, with the even-handedness a father should have in dealings with his children.

Interesting band facts.

Richard used to be friends with Rick Astley. Apparently he's quite good on the drums. Carolyn has a tennis racquet signed by Terry Nutkins. 'Betika' is a popular name for dogs in Romania.

Vital Statistics!
Betika are:

57 male
43 female
14 gay (maybe more but we havenât found out for definite yet)
28 Welsh
43 living in a commune
50 having sex with each other
28 late
12.5 an expectant father
on average about 5'7"