In one year, Bessie Turner has gone from being an anonymous singer/song writer from Suffolk to the support act of none other than major pop-star Ed Sheeran. Why has she been so successful? Because she has the gift of putting down in words topics that other artists shy away from… grief, loss, desperation. These are feelings that every human can relate with and needs to hear, but feelings that most humans would rather ignore. Accompany that with smooth, jazz-infused vocals and you have a musical sensation on your hands, earning her repeated plays from all corners of the BBC and beyond.
It was at the age of 11 that she first picked up a guitar and fell in love with music – a gift from her grandfather, who had always inspired her with his love of jazz bands. In fact, she was surrounded by music on all sides: her mother was a singer, her grandmother a pianist. Writing music came naturally to her and at the age of 18 she was already performing in pubs and music venues in her home town of Eye. Not long after did she have co-writers and producers knocking at her door in desperation. In fact, her very first single ended up playing not only on her local station but went all the way to Hue Stevens national BBC Introducing Show.
3 years on and we have a debut EP and two new singles in our hands. Last year was her biggest: huge support slots, sets at every festival and even her own headline tour… not to mention contracting and surviving sepsis two times! It is these two singles, however, that mark her biggest (non-medical) achievement.
Donkey is a powerful catharsis of grief due to the loss of loved ones and confusion due to feeling directionless in life. In a time when many cynics have referred to the “death of melody”, artists like Bessie Turner provide hope for the future of music. Strong motifs are abundant in this track, not only in the vocal melodies, but in the bass lines, the backing vocals and especially the forceful twang of lead guitar which runs through the entire song. The guitar is also in constant contest with Bessie’s identical vocal melody, creating a thick texture and a severely intense atmosphere. This, along with the prominence of the single’s woozy backing vocals, encapsulates you in a sort of dream like trance… perhaps symbolic for the sadness that inspired this heavily emotional track.
Down2, on the other hand is much more up front about its themes of regret and hurt. Its sedate, bass-driven verses contrast dramatically with the desperation of the chorus, as if Bessie is imploring herself to forget the past and move on but can’t quite do it. Its early-90s-infused, grungy chords, expressive guitar solo and beautiful vocal harmonies all contribute to a sound that I cannot wait to hear more of.
Bessie Turner’s ability to turn a few diary entries into a poignant tribute to living is what sets her apart from the other artists of her generation. Her openness about her mental health, her song writing process and her personal life all make her a better musician and an exciting artist to follow. Time will only tell where her soft and emotive voice, bubbly personality and undeniable talent will take her.
'Down2' and 'Donkey' are available on all streaming platforms