Music / Feature
Introducing BUFFEE: The avant-pop artist on creation, collaboration and community
Born and raised in Bristol, BUFFEE is producer and vocalist Beth McDermott.
Now Manchester based but recently signed to Bristol label, Spinny Nights, the artist currently flows between both cities for shows and occasionally a Noods radio show.
Despite now being based up north, McDermott credits Bristol for being such a safe, respectful and open music community when building a career in the industry.
is needed now More than ever
“Everyone is always giving each other a leg up in the bristol music community and is willing to talk about music,” McDermott tells Bristol24/7.
“I met some people who really gave me a boost a couple years ago when I was starting out. Arthur and Harry at Illegal Data and Scott at Psychotherapy Sessions put me on at their halloween night after I had got talking to them and everyone was super supportive and it made me want to work on my set even harder.”
The 21 year old has just released her debut EP. photo: Spinny Nights
Following two self-releases in 2021 and 2022, BUFFEE has now released her debut EP, Victory, which was released on November 15 via Spinny Nights.
What was it like working with the label that has worked with the likes of Grove, Robbie & Mona and Bingo Fury?
“Arthur and Rafi are so supportive and excited about the music,” she tells us.
“I was hoping to work with them for a long time so I’m just very pleased and grateful to be doing it now. I’m excited about the stuff on their catalogue and they just know what’s up.”
Describing the five track EP as “distorted layered harmonies, triphop inspired beats, abrasive percussion, swings between hedonism, and dirgey misery”, the body of work firmly establishes the artist’s unique sound.
The trippy industrial sounds of avant-pop is BUFFEE’s trademark style, chopping up and tearing apart, experimenting with the experimental, it’s completely distinctive.
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A taste of who McDermott listened to growing up is evident in the EP.
Her haunting vocals on Creature is reminiscent of Lana Del Rey in her Born To Die era, while the glitchy electronica sounds on Victory Lap feels comparable to the golden era of EDM.
BUFFEE will be taking their music on tour later this month and in December, with performances in Leeds, London and a hometown show at Dareshack.
She will also be heading to the revamped and renamed Bristol Beacon for their free reopening party on December 2 along with an array of local artists.
“I love performing here,” McDermott says of Bristol. “People are into weird stuff for sure which works well for me.”
“Dareshack sounded pretty good when I was there before, there’s lots of room to stomp around on stage. It will be cool to see the Lantern Hall when it doesn’t look like a retro hotel lobby, although I think I’ll miss the sticky carpet.”
Main photo: Spinny Nights
Read next:
- Spinny Nights on experimentation, curation and supporting an artists vision
- J*M*A: The neurodivergent solo artist on battling the music industry
- Taking centre stage: Dom Porter on stepping out of the shadows
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