L.A.-based rocker Beck Black began her illustrious musical journey by writing a waltz inspired by a sailor character when she was acting in a short film.
“The song I penned, ‘I’m Just a Sailor,’ became the theme,” Black says. “I didn’t know I was a songwriter until that moment, rather a poet. After the film, as an actor with a Bachelor’s degree in cinematic production concentrated in screenwriting, inspiration flowed through me to create other character-oriented songs: ‘Billy the Kid,’ ‘Feathers of a Phoenix,’ and the ‘Mermaid Song’ (sequel to ‘I’m Just a Sailor’).” The melody and lyrics emerged from the depths of my imagination via the magical piano keys as a story telling device.”
Black’s latest release is the “Puppet Show” single, featured on her Hollywood Blvd album.
Having directed her video, written her songs, and played multiple instruments throughout her career, Black has a strong understanding of what it means to be a DIY musician.
“DIY personally draws upon the painstaking process to create art with a minimal budget,” she says. “Time is of the essence to remain current and time is something that slips away quickly as a DIY artist that does almost everything on their own. It really takes a team to accomplish visceral imagery and sonic recordings. Orson Welles once stated ‘The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.’ ‘Do it yourself’ is synonymous with thinking outside of the proverbial box and relying on creativity for the answers.
“It is a daunting task to be an independent artist but the love/passion/ is there and that’s what keeps pushing me forward along this arduous adventure called being a DIY artist/musician.”
Black will next release the single “Airplane Mode,” with a video to follow. Despite the challenges that face DIY musicians, she’s here for the long haul.
For more information, visit beckblack.com.
