Photo Credit: Grant Cooper

Beth Baines – Five Questions With

Jenna Melanson·November 27, 2023

Beth Baines Takes Inspiration from Gardening on Dreamy New Single “Nepeta”

Beth Baines is an emerging singer-songwriter based in Toronto. She has previously written and recorded material with the band Dream Whip and released music under the name Brushsigns. Beth has performed with acts like Sheer Mag, Shannon & the Clams, and La Luz.

Thematically, Beth’s new single, “Nepeta,” is about the material and immaterial possessions we carry with us to navigate periods of isolation. These can manifest as physical objects like a Nepeta cutting we plant in a garden, memories of friends, or a song we listen to on repeat to hold onto a certain feeling.

Imagine if Mitski was inspired by Felt and Cocteau Twins. This is what “Nepeta” sounds like.

First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?

Hi, I’m Beth, a singer-songwriter living in Toronto. Originally from Calgary, where I played in the band Dream Whip.

Tell us a bit about your most recent release.

“Nepeta” was recorded and co-produced by my friend Justin Ladd. We’ve always bonded over 80s ambient pop like the Flaming Tunes and Felt, so this was our attempt to make a song like that. Thematically, “Nepeta” is about the things we carry with us to navigate periods of isolation, material or immaterial like a Nepeta cutting we plant in a garden, memories of friends, or a song we listen to on repeat to hold onto a certain feeling. I hope “Nepeta” can serve as that for someone.

Do you have any upcoming shows you’d like to tell us about?

I’m currently focusing on recording, so stay tuned for future updates!

If given the chance, which Canadian artist would you love to work with in the future?

I can’t just name one. For contemporary artists, I love Fiver, Woolworm, and Nap Eyes. I have a soft spot for ’70s power pop, so the Diodes come to mind as well. Love Simply Saucer and Chilliwack too. For years my go-to karaoke song was “Fly at Night”. So, honestly, probably Chilliwack, lol.