DON’T LET THE UNI BREAK UNDO YOUR HEALTHY HABITS

Maintaining healthy habits can be a huge challenge at the best of times. Trying to stay fit and healthy during the uni break can be an even bigger mountain to climb. Especially when you want to just reset, relax and enjoy time with family and friends.

If looking after your mental and physical health is a huge part of your university life, maintain a routine during your well-deserved break from studies with a UK wide Better Health student membership, that way if you join now, when you’re finished for school year, you can continue to enjoy the benefits of a workout, wherever you are and whoever you’re with this summer.

A Better Health student membership gives you access to over 200 leisure centres, swimming pools and gyms across the UK, so you’ll be sure to find the activities you love without the extra cost.

Find a leisure centre near you by visiting better.org.uk/leisure-centres

Better is a registered trademark and trading name of GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), a charitable social enterprise and registered society under the Co-operative & Community Benefit & Societies Act 2014 registration no. 27793R. Registered office: Middlegate House, The Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SX. Inland Revenue Charity no. XR43398.

HEY BEA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. WE’RE EXCITED TO TALK WITH YOU AGAIN, THIS TIME AS OUR COVER STAR! CAN WE GO BACK IN TIME FOR A MOMENT... AS A SCHOOL STUDENT, YOU GOT INTO TROUBLE FOR YOUR DRAWINGS OF BEATOPIAIT’S SAD TO HEAR HOW YOUR TEACHER TREATED YOU, BUT AMAZING TO SEE HOW YOU DIDN’T GIVE UP ON YOUR IMAGINATION AND YOUR DREAMS. HOW DID YOU FEEL EMOTIONALLY WHEN YOU RELEASED THE ALBUM, ESPECIALLY AS BEATOPIA WAS LOCKED AWAY FOR SO MANY YEARS? (AND WE ASSUME YOUR TEACHER NOW KNOWS WHAT A SUPERSTAR YOU ARE!?)

It was amazing to release the album. It was like writing the ending to a story I started and had left un nished for years. A full circle going back to that moment but nally putting it all into words, sounds and visuals. It was therapeutic but more than anything it was fun! Beatopia is a special record for me, it’s the exact album I wanted to make, so I’m proud and just want people to hear it and enjoy it with me. My old teacher can hear it too, haha.

SUNNY DAY - IT’S THE PERFECT SONG TO LIFT THE MOOD AND PUT A SMILE ON ANYONE’S FACE. CAN YOU LET US KNOW, WHAT IS THE PERFECT DAY FOR YOU, TO LIFT YOUR MOOD AND MAKE YOU SMILE?

A perfect day for me would be a waking up with my boyfriend with a nice blue-sky day, we’d be travelling and doing something cute together, maybe guring out plans later in the evening with our friends. Either that or a day where I’m with family. I had some perfect days recently when travelling to Iloilo where I’m from and it was like a little paradise.

THE PERFECT PAIR IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SONGS, THE VIBE IS JUST INCREDIBLE. TRULY STUNNING. POWERFUL BUT GENTLE, CREATIVE, AND BEAUTIFULLY MATURE. HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUR MUSIC HAS DEVELOPED SINCE YOUR EARLIER BEDROOM SESSION DAYS?

Thank you! I feel like I’ve just been able to experiment more and be free to try things and go in directions where it’s new. That’s the most important thing for me. When I was starting, I did acoustic bedroom out of necessity, it was just me and my acoustic in my room. Then I was able to try new things with a full band and able to grow the sound. I’ve almost come full circle again re-falling in love with the acoustic side but now able to be more lush and grand with strings quartets or other instruments like trumpets or, like on Perfect Pair, add something like a Bossa nova beat. It’s about trying new things but still being true to you and what you like. I’m excited for people to hear where I go next. There’s lots of ideas already!

A LOT OF PEOPLE COMMENT ON YOUR MUSIC VIDEOS ABOUT HOW WELL YOU CAPTURE THE NOSTALGIC SOUND. IT MAKES MANY PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY ARE TEENAGERS AGAIN. I ALSO COULDN’T HELP BUT NOTICE THE POSTER OF TOM HANKS FROM BIG IN YOUR 2019 BEDROOM SESSION VIDEOS. WHAT ARE YOUR FONDEST MEMORIES OR THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL NOSTALGIC?

I spent some time in my old room recently, which is where I wrote all my music so far, and it’s probably the most nostalgic place ever for me. That and going back home to the Philippines where I saw family. There’s so many memories to those two places, especially now that I’m there less and less.

KNOWING THAT YOU ARE CONNECTING WITH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD MUST FEEL AMAZING. HAVE YOU FOUND THAT RELEASING MUSIC HELPS BUILD INNER CONFIDENCE WITHIN YOURSELF?

It’s something I’m still working on and always will but I’m feeling very grateful for where I am and how I’ve been able to make music my life. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and it’s a real blessing people connect with what I’m saying through my music. I’m just being honest and writing from the heart, so it’s a good feeling people resonate. My fans are the coolest and it all means so much to me.

GLUE SONG IS YOUR FIRST RELEASE SINCE YOUR ACCLAIMED ALBUM BEATOPIA WAS RELEASED LAST YEAR. CAN YOU TELL US IN YOUR OWN WORDS WHAT THIS SONG REPRESENTS?

Glue is a funny term and it’s such a great way to look at something –we use it to x things and to stick to things. This song represents being in a good spot in life. I’m happy and turned a new leaf and feeling good all round with things. This is a happy song. A true feel-good song written in that mind set.

YOU HAVE A HUGE EUROPEAN TOUR COMING UP. ARE THERE ANY STAND OUT VENUES FOR YOU AND PLACES YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO VISITING AND PERFORMING AT?

Yes, all of them. I haven’t spent enough time in Europe, and it’s my rst headlines there, so I’m very excited. I can’t wait to do Paris, Milan, and Amsterdam but there are so many great spots I’m looking forward to from Copenhagen and Munich. There will be lots of rst times for me to fall in love with and want to come back to. I hope Europe is ready for the extra special show we have set up for them!