WHO ARE BEACHWOOD / HOW THEY STARTED OUT?
Beachwood are a Melbourne-based electropop duo of multi-platinum producer/writer Jarrad Rogers (Charli XCX, Lana del Rey, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Icona Pop) and indie filmmaker/songwriter Angeline Armstrong. They met in 2016, when Angeline, new to the buzz of Los Angeles, found herself at Jarrad’s family Christmas party. Over lamingtons and pav, they were surprised to learn that they’d both grown up in the Western suburbs of Melbourne and had also, coincidentally, both chosen the Beachwood neighborhood in LA as their first port of call. They began writing together in Jarrad’s backyard studio, Angeline’s folk-heavy songwriting style colliding with the progressive electronic beats that Jarrad has become known for. It was two years later, at the very end of 2017, that electropop outfit BEACHWOOD was officially formed and the two began writing for the project.
SONGS THEY’VE WRITTEN AND THEIR INFLUENCES:
Beachwood have released four singles to-date. Since returned to the homeland (Australia) from their respective times in LA, the newcomers quickly found favour in both local and international markets. Their debut track, ‘Miracle’, attracted critical acclaim including several awards for their boldly artistic debut music video, winning out over Aussie legends The Veronicas, Guy Sebastian & Peking Duk at the 2019 Clipped Music Video Awards. Their second single, ‘Love Me Or Leave Me Alone’, found its way onto over 30 international New Music Friday playlists and is nearing on 1 million streams. ‘Marbles’ & ‘God Only Knows’ are the most recent ‘dual single release’ track. ‘Marbles’ features the eclectic MC Tray Haggerty from Texas, securing the duo’s trajectory of making waves across international borders. Where ‘God Only Knows’ is a bold take on the classic ‘perfectly written song’ by the Beachboys.
It’s hard to pin point a list of our influences tbh. I can say what we try and do!! We strive to make honest, lyrics that loads of people can relate to. We look to make music that makes you feel good. Helps you get through the day. We love electronic elements and using technology to create something unique. But at the same time we both love organic elements. We try and combine them as often as we can. We also try and make a bunch of the elements that create our beats ourselves. Sampling ourselves hitting things for rhythmic colour etc. Oh and there’s the vocal. That’s the most important thing. That has to be front and centre and be the best it can be. Ange does a great job at that!! I guess you could look at people like Louis The Child, Flume, Drake, The Beatles, Beachboys...something like that!
PAST/UPCOMING NEWS:
Beachwood recently played a sold out show at the Gasometer in Melbourne and are currently finishing their debut EP set for release early next year.
FUN FACTS:
Though spending most of her time growing up in Australia - Angeline is actually half-kiwi and half-filipino, and calls all three countries home!
Beyond the Beachwood act, Jarrad has collaborated around the world as a producer/writer with renowned artists such as: Ms. Lauryn Hill, Lana del Rey, Charli XCX, Montaigne, Luke Steele (Empire of the Sun), Icona Pop, Bea Miller, Andy Grammar, and Rachel Platten.
As well as being a musician, Angeline is also a filmmaker whose career was kickstarted by a mentorship with Aussie legend Baz Luhrmann and a debut short film made alongside Baz & NIDA that premiered at the Sydney Opera House while Ange was still at university!
If Jarrad wasn’t a professional musician he’d probably have a crack at being a professional athlete!! Or a baker…or maybe a swim coach. Basically he’d be lost if he wasn’t a musician!
