Bec Sandridge, Photograph by Giulia Giannini McGauran
Bec Sandridge has always worn her influences on her sleeve.
Sandridge’s 2022 EP, Lost Dog, took cues from the likes of Troye Sivan, Daft Punk and Shania Twain. On her new single, “Always A Fan,” Sandridge dips back into her pop-punk past, albeit with a dab of AutoTune and the help of some arena rock production.
“It’s bratty and bold and a slight nod to my musical beginnings,” Sandridge told Check Check.
But the title of Sandridge’s new single isn’t a reference to the music she adores. Rather, it’s a nod to the songwriter’s openness to transformational experiences.
“I’m always a fan of something that can change you,” Sandridge sings in the first chorus. It’s a song about learning from past mistakes and refusing to be defined by the expectations of others.
We spoke to Bec Sandridge about the new single – her first in nearly three years – and the things she’s always a fan of.
Bec Sandridge - "Always A Fan"
Check Check: Why did you choose “Always A Fan” as your first single since Lost Dog? Does it represent a new direction or feel like a good indicator of what’s to come?
Bec Sandridge: “Always A Fan” has always been my cheeky favourite. It’s bratty and bold and a slight nod to my musical beginnings – big Blink-182 energy. Sonically, it feels like a bit of a jump from where I’ve been. Still theatrical and guitar-driven, but a bit more unhinged and confessional.
It hints at the themes of identity-shifting, performance and longing that run through the rest of the record. That being said, the new direction is quite diverse.
What did you learn about yourself through writing this song?
Writing this track made me realise how much of myself I’ve compartmentalised over the years, especially as a queer person growing up in religious spaces. I’ve often made jokes to deflect or tried to shape-shift into something more palatable. This song was a bit of a reckoning with that. It made me want to reclaim the punchlines and turn them into something a bit more holistic and proud. And slightly unhinged.
What are some things you’re always a fan of?
Shoulder pads, fuzz pedals, navy, homemade gnocchi, having a crush, Vanderpump Rules, and rehearsing difficult conversations in the shower.
Bec Sandridge (supporting The Preatures)
Thu 5 Jun – Highfield, Caringbah NSW
Fri 13 Jun – UOW Unibar, Wollongong NSW
Sat 14 Jun – UC Hub, Canberra ACT
Tickets here
