Words by Liam Stretch and Java Katzur.

A Christchurch-based artist who keeps going from strength to strength, is Sumner local, BEXY. You may recognise the name from when we had a conversation with the young singer in Issue Two: Thrill Seekers. Since then, BEXY has developed as a musician and has just released her fourth single, Stay the Night. We delve into this and also discuss her growth since the last time we spoke.

For BEXY, her latest single was based on an actual event, which happened just before she went into a studio session with producers Jesse Brown and Zac Emerson. It was fresh on her mind, so naturally, the song came together quickly. "I walked in, and they had already created an amazing guitar base and back-up vocals. I instantly loved it and asked if I could jump on the mic, and the song just came straight out. It was a very weird experience. And then we just sat in the studio for hours listening to it on repeat, "she says.

But for BEXY this song means more than what we might think. "In time the song gained more meaning to me. "Can I stay the night?" really means "can I be in a relationship with you?"

Still from “Stay The Night” music video by Richard Gibson.

"I do think a lot of people have physical intimacy in relationships thinking that it will turn into emotional intimacy, which is most likely not the case. I wanted to play on that illusion. In 2020, love is just more complicated; people have more baggage, more hurt, more options, and so I wanted to portray this through the music video." The music was released on May 3; filmed around the Sumner and Lyttelton areas, with moody lighting that reminds us all-too-well of a night out. BEXY worked with director Richard Gibson, creative director Blue Hamel as well as her mum Lynette Shingleton to produce the music video for Stay the Night.

"We started by brainstorming ideas together. It helped that my team were just lovely supportive, talented, passionate people wanting to get creative. There were so many different parts of the creative process that I loved. The storytelling, picking the aesthetic and finding locations and props and outfits, and I loved acting in front of the camera too."

In the lead up to releasing the fourth single in her repertoire, BEXY has been on a journey of musical discovery. She is always learning and creating and has found this has developed over this past year. "During this year, I've grown a lot, and my sound is definitely expanding as I gain more knowledge and confidence as an artist and a person."

This growth has expressed itself in her taking a more serious approach to the production side. "I've loved every part of the process. [I've been] just enjoying making what I like and taking risks."

"It's about being the best version you can be, being as authentic as possible, and then diving headfirst into it. I like to be an extreme version of my authenticity."

Excited for the future and what's to come and she is "enjoying every step, every season, soaking it all up.", She says that her next releases are slighting changing with an expansion of her sound. "My next release is very much 100 per cent me and I'm super excited about it. Something about it feels very special."

While enjoying the feeling of a new music release, the singer, like many of us, is social distancing and in isolation with her family and she has relished the benefits that come with such a circumstance. "It's been lovely. We've all gotten closer, which has been beautiful.

As a young person who is continually pushing and challenging herself, we at Yo, Vocal know that great things are on the horizon for this BEXY. While this lockdown continues, wrap your wee ears around Stay the Night. See the music video below.

Follow BEXYS journey here

A year of discovery for BEXY