Beth McCarthy (singer)

Beth McCarthy
McCarthy in 2014
McCarthy in 2014
Background information
Born
Bethany May McCarthy

(1997-06-23) 23 June 1997
York, England
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2010–present
Labels
Websitebethmccarthymusic.com

Bethany May McCarthy (born 23 June 1997) is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and presenter. After self-releasing an EP, at age 16, she[a] competed in the third series of The Voice UK (2014). She has since gained prominence as a solo artist.

Early life

McCarthy was born in York and grew up in the suburb of Rawcliffe. She is the daughter of a dentist and a hygienist. McCarthy attended the Mount School. She studied music at the local Access to Music college in The Groves.[1]

Career

Music

At age 13, McCarthy began busking in St Helen's Square. She self-released her first single "Hero" in 2012 followed by her debut EP Northern Light in 2013.[2]

In 2014 at age 16, McCarthy competed in the third series of The Voice UK, auditioning with an acoustic cover of LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" to a yes from Ricky Wilson. McCarthy was eliminated in the knockouts.[3] That year, she performed at Live at Leeds.

McCarthy contributed a "Streets of London" cover to the 100 Streets (2016) film soundtrack. She performed at the Tramlines Festival. Her January 2017 single "Pretty Lies" reached #2 on the iTunes singer-songwriter chart,[4] She also released a charity single "Lemonade" as well as "Mr & Mrs Brown".[5] She embarked on a headline tour called the Outline Tour.[6]

In 2018, McCarthy released the singles "Shame", "Crazy for You"[7] and "Wildfire" ahead of her 2019 EP Self Portrait.[8]

McCarthy began making reworkings of songs. She posted a TikTok in 2020 reworking Will Joseph Cook's "Be Around Me", which became a single "Omg Did She Call Him Baby?". She gained further viral prominence with the 2021 single "She Gets the Flowers".[9][10] This was followed by the singles "If You Loved Me Right",[11] "Friendship Bracelet" in 2021[12] and "No Hard Feelings" in 2022.[13] She performed at Liverpool Sound City and the Great Escape Festival.[14]

In 2023, McCarthy supported Emlyn's No One Came to Grieve Tour and Ellie Dixon's In Case of Emergency Tour[14] and returned to the Great Escape Festival.[15] She released the singles "What Do You Call It?", "She's Pretty" and the titular track ahead of her 2024 third EP IDK How to Talk to Girls.[16] Another single was "Good Bi". She embarked on a headline IDK How to Talk to Girls Tour[17] supported by Catty, Nxdia, Go-Jo and Carla Wehbe. In addition, McCarthy supported Caity Baser's Still Learning Tour and performed at Live at Leeds, Radio 1's Big Weekend,[18] Mighty Hoopla, Rock for People, Pinkpop Festival, Kendal Calling and FM4 Frequency Festival.[14]

MCarthy's fourth EP Hot and Stupid followed the next year in 2025.[19] Singles from the release were "All My Friends Are Hot" and the titular track. Other singles she released were "Treat Me Like a Rockstar", "What If I Never Make It?", "Drama at the Disco", "Exes in Bedsheets" and "How Am I Supposed to Love Myself?".[20] McCarthy performed at Glastonbury Festival[21] and Boardmasters Festival[22] and embarked on a headline Hot & Stupid Tour supported by Aleksiah and Catty.[23][24] McCarthy also supported G Flip on tour.[25]

She is attached to perform at the 2026 Reading and Leeds Festivals.[26]

Presenting

From 2018 to 2021, McCarthy was a Monday evening and later Thursday night presenter on BBC Radio York.[27]

Artistry

Through her father, McCarthy grew up listening to AC/DC, Meat Loaf, Deep Purple and Queen.[28] Her initial sound was country folk influenced pop before moving towards a more electronic/synth and then pop rock sound. McCarthy's early influences included Max Milner, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, Damien Rice,[29] The Script, Gabrielle Aplin and Taylor Swift.[2] In 2024, McCarthy mentioned Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch, P!nk and Carly Rae Jepsen as influences.[16]

Personal life

McCarthy is bisexual.[30]

Discography

EPs

  • Northern Light (2013)
  • Self Portrait (2019)
  • IDK How to Talk to Girls (2024)
  • Hot and Stupid (2025)

Singles

  • "Hero" (2012)
  • "Left Behind" (2016)
  • "Streets of London" (2016), cover
  • "Pretty Lies" (2017)
  • "Lemonade" (2017)
  • "Mr & Mrs Brown" (2017)
  • "Shame" (2018)
  • "Crazy for You" (2018)
  • "Wildfire" (2019)
  • "Omg Did She Call Him Baby?" (2020)
  • "She Gets the Flowers" (2021)
  • "If You Loved Me Right" (2021)
  • "Friendship Bracelet" (2021)
  • "No Hard Feelings" (2022)
  • "What Do You Call It?" (2023)
  • "She's Pretty" (2023)
  • "IDK How to Talk to Girls" (2024)
  • "Good Bi" (2024)
  • "All My Friends Are Hot" (2024)
  • "Hot and Stupid" (2025)
  • "Treat Me Like a Rockstar" (2025)
  • "What If I Never Make It?" (2025)
  • "Drama at the Disco" (2025)
  • "Exes in Bedsheets" (2025)
  • "How Am I Supposed to Love Myself" (2025)
  • "Hey Handsome" (2026)

Notes

  1. ↑ McCarthy uses she/her and they/them pronouns.

References

  1. ↑ Lewis, Haydn (11 January 2014). "Singer-songwriter Beth McCarthy to appear on BBC's The Voice". The Press. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Beth McCarthy, The Duchess, York, January 24". The Press. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  3. ↑ Wightman, Catrionq (30 May 2014). "The Voice: Ricky Wilson hits the studio with Beth McCarthy". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  4. ↑ Preece, Sam (19 January 2017). "York singer hits number two in the iTunes chart – only held off the top spot by Ed Sheeran". Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  5. ↑ Liddicott, Sam (12 November 2017). "Track Review: Beth McCarthy - Mr & Mrs Brown". Music Musings & Such. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  6. ↑ Hutchinson, Charles (9 October 2017). "Beth McCarthy releases new single and announces Outline autumn tour dates". The Press. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "Interview: Beth McCarthy". Music Musings & Such. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Hutchinson, Charles (20 March 2019). "Beth McCarthy reveals all about love on debut EP Self Portrait". The Press. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Breedon, Jakk (26 March 2021). "Beth McCarthy – She Gets The Flowers". A1234. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "Watch: York songwriter Beth gets the whole world crying to her song – after viral TikTok video gets 4.6m views". York Mix. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  11. ↑ Balanescu, Miriam (24 September 2021). ""If You Loved Me Right" by Beth McCarthy". Notion. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "From upcoming EP, Beth McCarthy shares ultimate cathartic pop anthem 'Friendship Bracelet'". Purple Melon. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "Beth McCarthy Reaches Out on Heartfelt New Song 'No Hard Feelings'". Out Now. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 "Beth McCarthy Concert History". Concert Archives. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "The Great Escape, Brighton, Day # 2: Friday 12th May 2023…". Music Republic. May 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  16. 1 2 Logan, Philip (12 May 2024). "Interview: Beth McCarthy on… new music, touring & the importance of nurturing aspiring artists!". Celeb Mix. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Beth McCarthy Australia 2024 Tour". Scenestr. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  18. ↑ Rogers, Rachel (1 April 2024). "York singer-songwriter to play 'biggest tour yet' and Radio 1's Big Weekend". York Mix. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  19. ↑ Molocha, Danai (4 April 2025). "Beth McCarthy: "I feel like I was never that clean-cut pop star girl"". Ticketmaster. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  20. ↑ Hoffman, Zara (9 December 2025). "UK Artist of the Week: Beth McCarthy". The Vinyl District.
  21. ↑ "York's Beth McCarthy to play Glastonbury". BBC Radio York. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  22. ↑ Neale, Maisy (24 May 2025). "Five Acts Set To Make Waves At Boardmasters". Music is to Blame. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  23. ↑ de Graaf, Sabine (18 June 2025). "Beth McCarthy brings her catchy songs and fun personality to Amsterdam". First III No Flash. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  24. ↑ Wheeler, Billie (11 December 2025). "Beth McCarthy wowed the crowd with their biggest performance to date at O2 Forum Kentish Town". The Indie Scene. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "G Flip with Beth McCarthy at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver". Amplify Music Magazine. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  26. ↑ Dunworth, Liberty (4 June 2026). "Reading & Leeds 2026: Villanelle, December 10, Beth McCarthy lead latest line-up additions with late night entertainment announced". NME. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  27. ↑ "Beth McCarthy". BBC Radio York. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  28. ↑ Liddicott, Sam (20 October 2017). "Interview: Beth McCarthy". Music Musings & Such. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  29. ↑ "Beth McCarthy". BBC: The Voice UK. 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  30. ↑ "Singer Beth McCarthy on bisexual romance and why she'll never date a fan". PinkNews. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.