This Pop Anthem Is A Tribute To BEKA’s Grandparents And Their Unbelievable Story

‘Don’t Call Me A Friend’ proves that inspiration can be found anywhere.

POSTED BY MAGDALENA PULIT

Songs about boyfriends, girlfriends, and relationships are nice, relatable, and sometimes even moving but imagine writing a huge pop anthem, the kind that moves every cell within your body and makes you scream at the top of your lungs, about your grandparents. BEKA, a crazily talented soulful artist from Nottingham, whose debut EP ‘I’ll Be There’ has already amassed 8 million streams across streaming platforms, decided to follow this path with her newest single 'Don't Call Me A Friend'. She had the most perfect reason to do so as her grandparents’ unbelievable story of unconditional love will spark a light at the end of the darkest tunnel.

‘They met each other in the ’50s in North Yorkshire - one from the West Indies the other from York. At that time, when most people thought they shouldn’t be together, they pursued love even amidst the haters,’ shares BEKA. ‘In the midst of a bunch of negativities, my grandparents found a way to carve out a future together and choose love.’

This is not the first time when BEKA draws inspiration from her surroundings and her legacy. ‘You Got’ was written as a celebration of Kamala Harris’s historic achievement, whereas ‘Thorn’ walks the listeners through her childhood memories, immersed in sadness, heartbreak and pain. ‘Don’t Call Me A Friend’ joins the family of liberating pop anthems. All BEKA’s songs, although tackling difficult emotions, bring joy, hope, and an incredible sense of unity.

‘When writing ‘Don’t Call Me A Friend’, I was feeling done with being polite and I wanted to scream and shout and dance and let it all out. Musically I was trying to capture that moment when you close your eyes and imagine all your feelings, full color, in music video format. This song is about letting out your feelings at full volume and having the courage to live your truth even in the face of negativity. It’s about being brave enough to choose the love you deserve,’ explains BEKA.

After the release of her EP and spectacular debut London headline show last year, BEKA has so much more to come in 2022. She has just announced that she’ll be supporting HONNE on their UK tour this year and she’s confirmed to appear at festivals such as the 1 Big Summer festival in June or Boardmasters in August. We can’t wait!

To get more insight into BEKA's grandparents' story, check the lyric video to 'Don't Call Me A Friend' above.

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