Halifax indie-rock artist BETHANY embraces darkness and vulnerability on her haunting new single “Witches,” featuring Loel Campbell of Wintersleep.
Halifax indie-rock artist BETHANY continues to carve out a distinctive space with music that is equal parts haunting, vulnerable, and powerful. Her latest single, “Witches,” finds Bethany Fulde exploring themes of inner duality through brooding soundscapes, raw vocals, and an unforgettable performance featuring drummer Loel Campbell of Wintersleep and bassist Tori Cameron. We caught up with Bethany to talk about the inspiration behind the song, collaborating with some of Atlantic Canada’s finest musicians, and the creative evolution of the BETHANY project.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m Bethany Fulde, a Halifax-based front-woman & indie-rock songwriter who’s been performing & releasing music for a little over a decade under a few different monikers. I love curating shows, seeing new bands, and playing lots of music. The last couple of years I’ve been with my band BETHANY; we’ve released two EP’s, a full-length, and now our new single “Witches”. In the past year we’ve played some great gigs including Halifax Jazz Festival & Shivering Songs (Fredericton).
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
I wrote the song “Witches” about a decade ago, and performed it with one of my old bands. It’s always been this heavy, dark, brooding song with a lot of power behind it. We never got it into studio, but I knew it was in song-hibernation.
Fast-forward a few years and I played it live with my current band (BETHANY), with great audience response. In November, 2025 I brought it to Loel Campbell who had recently opened his new studio EUREKA! Audio in Guysborough County, NS. He had mixed our last record (Handwritten Notes – 2024), and I had a feeling he’d be into Witches – a rocker of a song. He brought major magic to the track in both his drumming & Mixing. I play guitar & organ, and Tori Cameron (Contrived) is on bass.
Walk us through your creative progress when creating music.
Generally the process goes: sit with my instrument (piano or guitar), start fiddling around till I hear a rhythm/chord progression/melody that somehow happens between my head and fingers at the same time. Melodies start to form. Phonetics. Once words start rolling, themes and experiences come through, stories start to unwind, I kind of riff off ideas as they appear.. it’s all very ethereal for me.
Now that the music is out, what does the ‘road ahead’ look like? Beyond tours and videos, what’s one ‘bucket list’ goal you hope to achieve with this release?
This song is darker than most others I’ve released. It is heavy & gritty, and I wanted to show that side of me and my music. I wanted to work with Loel & Tori to help capture that. Every time I get to work with high caliber musicians, I feel like a bucket list item is checked off for me. Of course recognition is a great motivator, but for me it’s been about playing great shows & having musicians I respect believe in me & play music with me.
Every artist has a ‘lightbulb moment’ where things just clicked. Looking back, what’s the one performance or milestone that made you realize, ‘Okay, this is what I was meant to do’?
There have been a few stand-out moments in my life where someone has said, “You’re meant to do this!” Or “You have stand-out stage presence” or something along those lines and sometimes I think…ya! I am! I do! I believe in myself! Let’s do this! I’ve been writing poems & songs since I was very young, and started singing on stage even before that. It’s always been a part of who I am.
But with the high cost of living and everything going on the the world, I have lots of moments of questioning why I’m spending so much money & emotional labour on releasing music. So my question to myself hasn’t been “Is this what I’m meant to do?” but “HOW am I going to do this?!”. But you know, I’ve learned a few things: I’m resilient. I’m going to make it work. And there’s no way for me to quit because I’m a songwriter. That’s just who I am. Therefore it’s who I’m meant to be & what I’m meant to do.
We love championing Canadian talent. If you were curated a ‘Must-Listen’ playlist of emerging artists right now, who is the first person you’d add?
Okay, the FIRST person I would add is Nova Scotian Laura Gallant who has been performing under “Arbuta”. She’s an incredible guitarist, singer, songwriter, all around musician – her big moment is definitely coming! My fave songs by her are “Like The Moon” & ” Summer Lens”.
I love emerging artists so I also have to give a few more East Coast Shout-Outs:
Postfun
Jon Samuel
ADINA
Sorrey
There’s nothing like the energy of a live room. Where can fans catch you on stage next, and for someone seeing you for the first time, what should they expect from a BETHANY live experience?”
Performing live is my favourite part of playing music, so when I’m on stage I sing my heart out and try to give the show my all. I don’t know if I ever stop moving. Our full band is myself on my Fender Jaguar, along with drums, bass, and soaring saxophone & trombone which are run through effect pedals. Its beautiful and huge. Our next big show is on Saturday, October 3rd at The Seahorse as part of Halifax Urban Folk Festival.