Fake It Flowers is the debut studio album by Bea Kristi, a Filipino-born British singer better known under the moniker “beabadoobee”. Twenty years old and fresh-faced in the industry, Kristi pulls personal inspiration from her childhood exposure to 90s and 2000s movies, as well as routine consumption of alternative artists like The Cranberries and Pavement, and creates her own pop-punk melodies to document what it’s like to be young and in love―every good, bad, and ugly moment.
With the occasional hint of grunge and folksy influences, Fake It Flowers is distinct in both aesthetic and sound; the nostalgia of teenage cinema seeps into each song’s groundwork, creating an atmosphere of childhood crushes and high school heartbreak in a soundtrack fit for a romantic comedy set in the early 2000s. Kristi’s vocal talent is able to accommodate every dip and peak of the track list, from the quiet and shy acoustics to the scorned, raging guitar riffs.
Imagining movie-like scenarios while this album plays out in the background might be the easiest thing you could do. Having taught herself to play the violin and guitar in her youth, Kristi employs both vibes into the quiet-loud instrumentals of Fake It Flowers to broaden her already dynamic repertoire. “Care”, the lead single off of the album, is straight out of a lighthearted yet grungy film ending. Freaky Friday-esque, the soft chime of Kristi’s voice is followed by brightly colored punk elements, and a sudden urge to head bang blooms. “Worth it” holds a similar makeup, the repetitive chorus catching onto anything that comes close and easily becoming an essential track to blast while driving around town with friends. No emotion is left unturned, however, proven by the wailing heartbreak that is “Charlie Brown”―razor sharp guitar riffs accompany the raw emotional state of someone post-breakup, and the newfound intensity is both compelling and appreciated.
Inspiring in its own way, Fake It Flowers highlights the heart and its shattered state, as well as the healing process that comes after. With rose-colored motifs and a cinematic universe of her own, Bea Kristi continues to blossom as a singer, songwriter, and composer, and gives listeners a soundtrack to their own introspective movie.
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