The Beths

The Beths know the futility of straight lines. That existential wobble anchors the New Zealand indie heroes’ fourth album Straight Line Was A Lie, their first for ANTI-. The record leans into the idea that growth isn’t linear; that even after transformative shifts, life can feel stubbornly unchanged. “Linear progression is an illusion,” says lead singer and songwriter Elizabeth Stokes. “What life really is is maintenance. And finding meaning in the maintenance.”

The journey from their celebrated 2022 LP Expert In A Dying Field which topped year-end lists and amassed millions of streams to Straight Line Was A Lie was similarly non-linear. Writing in Los Angeles, Stokes struggled to finish songs for the first time, adjusting to life on an SSRI that steadied her instincts while shifting her creative impulses. To break the block, Stokes and longtime bandmate Jonathan Pearce reimagined their process: reading craft books, immersing themselves in LA’s creative landscape, and having Stokes type ten stream of consciousness pages each morning on a Remington typewriter. The practice cracked open a new vulnerability.

Formed by Stokes, Pearce, and bassist Benjamin Sinclair, later joined by drummer Tristan Deck, The Beths have become one of indie rock’s most acclaimed and beloved bands. Their 2018 debut Future Me Hates Me earned global attention for its melodic power-pop and razor-sharp lyricism, leading to extensive touring and festival appearances at Coachella, Primavera, Bonnaroo, and Newport Folk Festival. They’ve supported the Pixies, The Breeders, and Death Cab for Cutie, while winning praise from Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The Beths have played over 70 shows globally in 2025.

Across Straight Line Was A Lie, The Beths deliver their most emotionally incisive work yet – a hook-stacked, deeply human exploration of disappointment, resilience, and the looping, imperfect paths we walk through life.

Photo Credit: Frances Carter