The Beths Essentials
Playlist - 16 Songs
Not only did Elizabeth Stokes christen her Auckland indie-rock quartet after her own first name, but the singer/guitarist infuses her lively songwriting with bittersweet life experience. Stokes details a painful feedback loop of anxiety and regret on “Future Me Hates Me,” the title track of The Beths’ 2018 debut album. Despite its title, the song is downright effervescent, complete with jangly guitars and staggered vocal harmonies that nod back to classic power pop.
Similar feats of diaristic openness drive 2022’s “Expert in a Dying Field” and 2025’s “Straight Line Was a Lie”—each also the title track for its respective album. Stokes may proclaim “I don’t know if I can go ’round again” on the latter, but one gets the sense that she’ll find the resilience to keep pushing forward. After all, tough times have inspired some of her very best (and most relatable) tunes.
The Beths Essentials
The Beths Essentials
Not only did Elizabeth Stokes christen her Auckland indie-rock quartet after her own first name, but the singer/guitarist infuses her lively songwriting with bittersweet life experience. Stokes details a painful feedback loop of anxiety and regret on “Future Me Hates Me,” the title track of The Beths’ 2018 debut album. Despite its title, the song is downright effervescent, complete with jangly guitars and staggered vocal harmonies that nod back to classic power pop.
Similar feats of diaristic openness drive 2022’s “Expert in a Dying Field” and 2025’s “Straight Line Was a Lie”—each also the title track for its respective album. Stokes may proclaim “I don’t know if I can go ’round again” on the latter, but one gets the sense that she’ll find the resilience to keep pushing forward. After all, tough times have inspired some of her very best (and most relatable) tunes.
