English singer-songwriter Becky Hill released her sophomore album Believe Me Now? on May 31st, 2024. Hill might be best known for her participation on the talent show ‘The Voice UK’ in 2012, where she made it to the semi-finals, or her smash hit ‘Remember’ with David Guetta.
Hill’s sophomore album contains 15 songs with ‘Side Effects’ as the first single, released in May 2023. This song features Lewis Thompson, with whom she also worked together in the past for the song ‘Remember’. The song shows the best of both artists: Hill’s strong vocals and Thompson’s particular production style. It’s a song about a painful breakup. But the infectious beat would state otherwise. The album’s second single is ‘Disconnect’, which features the dance duo Chase&Status. The song delves into the theme of isolation whereby her voice stands out from the intense drum and bass production.
‘Never Be Alone’ was released as the third single. Sonny Fodera features in this song about supporting each other. This song has a very bright and vibrant production, making it stand out from the others. ‘Outside of Love’ shows a more introspective opinion on love and relationships. With an orchestra featuring this song, it presents a more in-depth and special sound with the blending of classical instruments and dance music. The lyrics of the song ‘Right Here’ talk about being present in the moment with a loved one. Her vocals in this song are outstanding once again and show a sense of urgency and sincerity to the song. The sixth and last single Hill released for this album is ‘True Colours’ with British singer-songwriter Self Esteem. This song might be the most personal song on the album as she sings about experiences with sexual assault. Hill’s vocals are emotional and strong and accompanied by a sombre and uplifting melody. This song is also the opening song of the album and sets the tone for the other songs.
‘Man of My Dreams’ also includes the classical orchestra where Hill sings about longing and idealising love. This is a very versatile song, both in lyrics and production. “You drew a heart in the sand, and you got down on one knee. You took my left hand saying, ‘Will you marry me?’”
‘Darkest Hour’ and ‘Lonely Again’ are two songs about isolation and loneliness within relationships. ‘Multiply’, on the other hand, talks about the transformative power of a deep romantic bond. The lyrics are quite direct and capture the highs of love without ignoring the intensity of love that always comes with it. ‘Swim’ is another song that is very personal as well as universally relatable. She delves deeper into the troubles of emotional distance in relationships and how to navigate these troubles alone. “You used to answer straight away now you just let it ring. You used to wipe my tears away now all I do is swim.”
‘Keep Holding On’ is one of the last songs of the album and presents a hopeful note of perseverance and resilience. The upbeat tempo and positive lyrics provide closure for this album while encouraging the audience to stay strong and hold on.
To conclude Hill’s sophomore album, lyrics-wise, this album is more vulnerable than her previous album as she delves deeper into painful and traumatic experiences, but also her strength to overcome all this and move forward in life. It showcases Hill’s talent as both a vocalist and songwriter. Musically wise, Hill draws from a variety of sub-genres of electronic dance music (EDM), including house and drum and bass. This presents a dynamic and immersive listening experience. Instrumentation-wise, a variety of instruments has been used on this album, including synthesizers, bass, and strings, as well as The Heritage Orchestra which offers an even more unique combination with EDM, and thus also a more unique listening experience. This album thus presents Hill’s continued evolution as an artist. She effortlessly blends emotionally charged lyrics with the pulsating rhythms of dance music. The album confirms her unique music identity as a solo artist and her place in the dance music world. Each track on this album offers a mix of personal storytelling and contagious beats. This album deals with themes of love, trauma, and self-discovery. Hill’s ability to convey these raw emotions through dance music makes this album a standout and pillar in her discography. She steps forward as a leading dance music artist, and not just another feature on a dance song. We believe her now to be an excellent dance music singer and songwriter and hope to hear more music from her in the future!
Written by: Maud Hoebers
Edited by: Ilse Muis
