Jackie VanZelst February 11th, 2014 - 12:59 PM
Pop sensation Betty Who has announced her 1st US tour! “The Slow Dancing Tour” will kick off right here in Philly on March 22nd.
Betty Who was born Jessica Anne Newham in Sydney, Australia. Beginning at the age of 4, she was trained as a classical cellist. She eventually moved to the US, in 2007, where she attended Interlochen Center for the Arts (located in Michigan). The school boasts such notable alums as Norah Jones and Josh Groban. Newham later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. Which is where it really all began. While studying at Berklee, she was introduced to Peter Thomas, a producer who suggested that she pair her songwriting with “a more dreamy, anthemic production style.” Together, they created the Betty Who sound we’ve come to adore. (Think Robyn meets Katy Perry)
Her debut single, “Somebody Loves You” was officially released at the end of 2012 and quickly gained widespread Internet attention. You may remember the song from the YouTube video where a flash mob (of friends and family) in Home Depot helped a man propose to his boyfriend. The Movement, Who’s debut EP was initially released in April 2013 as a free download. Due to overwhelming success online, Betty Who would eventually sign to RCA Records in September 2013.
If her sound reminds you of the ’80s, that’s because it’s intentional. In explaining the vibe that she and Thomas were seeking to emulate, Who says, “We started making pop music and getting really into this ’80s vibe. Kind of a throwback sound – what we have now. It took us maybe two and a half years to figure out what we really wanted.” And it definitely works. Who’s second EP Slow Dancing will be released on April 8th. You can check out the first single from the new EP, “Heartbreak Dream,” when it drops on February 18th.
Betty Who @ Underground Arts
Saturday, March 22
Show @ 8:00 PM
21+
