There must be something in the air at this time of year, because we’re being inundated with break-up songs at the moment, each of them taking a different approach to the uncertain process that nearly all of us go through at one time or another. One artist taking a decidedly unconventional view is Beth McCarthy, the London-based musician whose platonic and civil choice to end a relationship made her realise how all the bitter, melancholic or victorious break-up songs didn’t always reflect the reality.
Here the British songwriter shares some thoughts behind her new single ‘No Hard Feelings’:
“Everyone has a song that got them through their worst break-up, usually one about how much the person hurt them or being ‘better off’ without them but my most painful break-up was completely civil and I never felt like there was a song for that. I didn’t hate the person, I still had love for them, we just weren’t right for each other and despite there being no hard feelings between us, the feelings were still really hard to deal with.”
As such, ‘No Hard Feelings’ is an outwardly positive pop track. McCarthy’s glossy pop voice flutters over a cutesy array of electronica, ramping up the activity for the vibrant pop hook of a chorus. It’s a super track for dancing around in your room, reflecting on the good times you had with an ex.
You can also bop along to ‘No Hard Feelings’ in our Shades of Pop playlist.
Where to find Beth McCarthy:
UNRECORDED 