Betty Who

Betty Who
Who performing at Capital Pride in Washington D.C.
Background information
Birth name Jessica Anne Newham
Born (1991-10-05) 5 October 1991
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboard
  • guitar
  • cello
Years active 2010–present
Labels

RCA (Former)

Kobalt (Current)
Website www.bettywhomusic.com

Jessica Anne Newham (born 5 October 1991), better known by her stage name Betty Who, is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician based in the US. She was signed to RCA Records.[1] She is best known for her 2016 single, "I Love You Always Forever" which peaked inside the top ten in Australia. Her second album, The Valley, was released on 24 March 2017.

Early life

Jessica Anne Newham was born in Sydney, Australia, where she lived until her mid-teens.[1] Trained since the age of four as a cellist, she moved to the United States in 2007 to attend Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.

Newham is also self-taught on piano and guitar, and wrote her first songs at age 14, and began performing as a singer-songwriter two years later.[2] Her stage name comes from the title of a song she composed at age 16 about unrequited love.[3]

After school at Ascham in Sydney and Frensham in the Southern Highlands, NSW, Newham attended Berklee College of Music in Boston.[2] During her first semester, she met producer Peter Thomas who was also attending Berklee. Thomas suggested pairing Newham's songwriting with a more dreamy, anthemic production style. The two began writing new material together and developed Newham's sound over the next two years.[1]

Career

2010–2013: Career beginnings, "Somebody Loves You" and The Movement

As Betty Who, Newham's debut single "Somebody Loves You" was initially released independently as a free download, and was premiered by pop music blogger and at-the-time official Grammy blogger Arjan Writes on 30 November 2012.[4] Co-written by Newham and Thomas, and produced by Thomas, the song garnered immediate praise, spreading quickly online and being featured by other well-known outlets including Socialite Life,[5] Pop on And On,[6] and Popservations.[7] A music video, directed by Evan Savitt, was released on 22 January 2013, and an official remix by acclaimed indie pop producer FM Attack was released on 11 March 2013.[8]

Newham's debut EP, The Movement, was released on 17 April 2013.[9] An independent, free-download release initially, the EP's huge success online helped lead to a large amount of major label interest, before she ultimately signed with RCA Records.[10] It premiered on Billboard on 9 April 2013, one week prior to its official release date. [11]

On 11 September 2013, Spencer Stout uploaded a YouTube video[12] of him proposing to his boyfriend Dustin in a flash mob dance routine at a Salt Lake City, Utah Home Depot. The video, which featured "Somebody Loves You" became a viral hit online. The attention of the video coupled with the track's official iTunes release, led to the song debuting at number 44 on the overall iTunes Charts, as well as debuting as the number 4 most viral song on Spotify.[13]

Who signed to RCA Records on 15 September 2013.[14]

2014–2017: RCA record deal, Slow Dancing, Take Me When You Go and The Valley

On 8 March 2014, "Somebody Loves You" reached number one on Billboard's Dance/Club Play Songs chart.[15]

Who released her second EP, Slow Dancing, in April 2014, which made it to number one on the iTunes pop music charts. The first single from that EP, titled "Heartbreak Dream", was released on iTunes and Google Play on 18 February 2014.[16] The song is used over the end credits of the 2015 film Pitch Perfect 2.

Who has praised Katy Perry, Robyn and Miley Cyrus as influences. She told Variance Magazine in 2014 that they "make pop that's generational. They're making the pop music of our generation that's going to stick around. People are going to look back and be like, 'Oh my God, it's Robyn's Body Talk album. That's one of the best pop albums of the last 10 years.'"[17] Who supported Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue on part of the Australia leg of The Prismatic World Tour and Kiss Me Once Tour respectively. In 2014, Who made her American television debut when she performed "Somebody Loves You" on Watch What Happens: Live.[18]

In late August 2014, Who made the announcement that her full-length debut album, Take Me When You Go, will be released on 7 October 2014. She also released the track list with the announcement. Thirteen songs, four of them being taken from her previous EPs, appeared on the album. From the album, the track, "All of You", was her second number one on the US Dance chart, peaking at number one on 21 February 2015.[19]

On 3 June 2016, Who released a cover of Donna Lewis' "I Love You Always Forever". It became her third number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, and proved to be her breakthrough hit in Australia, reaching number 6 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

On 24 March 2017, Who's second album, The Valley was released.

2018-present: Independent

On 19 January 2018, Who released "Ignore Me" which is Who's first single as an independent artist, after parting in 2017 with RCA Records.[20][21] On 16 February 2018, the singer released a cover of Kylie Minogue's "Come Into My World" for Made in Australia compilation by Amazon Music.[22] In 2018, Who released a remixed version of Widelife's "All Things (Just Keep Getting Better)" to be used as the theme song for season two of the Netflix reboot, Queer Eye.[23][24] A music video was released featuring the cast of Queer Eye and Who.[25][26][27]

Personal life

In 2014, Who began dating photographer Zak Cassar, son of director and producer Jon Cassar. The couple announced their engagement on November 21, 2017.[28]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[29]		 US
[30]		 US
Sales
[31]
Take Me When You Go —[A]6868
The Valley[32]
  • Released: 24 March 2017
  • Label: RCA
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
 5810534
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Notes

  • A. ^ Take Me When You Go did not chart in the top 100 of the Australian albums chart, but reached number 4 on the Hitseekers albums chart.

Extended plays

Title Details
The Movement
  • Released: 16 April 2013 (independent)[33]
  • Re-released: 17 September 2013 (RCA)[34]
  • Label: RCA Records / Sony Music Entertainment
  • Format: Digital download
Slow Dancing
  • Released: 8 April 2014[35]
  • Label: RCA Records / Sony Music Entertainment
  • Format: Digital download
Betty Pt. 1
  • Released: 15 June 2018
  • Label:
  • Format: Digital download

Compilations

Title Details
Worlds Apart
  • Released: 23 June 2014 (United Kingdom)[36]
  • Label: RCA Records / Sony Music Entertainment
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Singles as lead artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
AUS
[37]		 NZ
[38]		 US
Dance
[39]
"Somebody Loves You"[40] 2012 ——1 Take Me When You Go
"Heartbreak Dream"[41] 2014 ———
"All of You"[42] 2015 ——1
"I Love You Always Forever"[43] 2016 6331 The Valley
"Human Touch"[45] ———
"Some Kinda Wonderful" 2017 ———
"If You're Hearing This"[46]
(Hook N Sling, James Parson and Betty Who) 		——— TBA
"Ignore Me" 2018 ——— Betty Pt. 1
"Look Back" ———
"Taste"[47] ———
"All Things (Just Keep Getting Better)" —— — data-sort-value="" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; font-size: smaller; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | non-album single
"—" denotes a single that failed to chart.
Singles as lead artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Heaven"
(Troye Sivan featuring Betty Who)		 2016 Blue Neighbourhood
"Rocket Girl"
(Lemaitre featuring Betty Who) 		2018 TBA

Album appearances

Title Year Album Other artist(s)
"Heartbreak Dream" 2015 Pitch Perfect 2 (Special edition)[48] N/A
"Higher" 2018 Future Don Diablo
"The Other Side" Sierra Burgess Is a Loser N/A

Remixes

Title Year Artist
"Neon Lights" 2013 Demi Lovato

Awards

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2014 NewNowNext Awards Best New Musician Herself Won

Tours

Headlining

Co-headlining

  • Kiesza – Sound of a Woman Tour (2015)

Opening act

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Somebody To Love: Betty Who". Pollstar. 8 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Amanda Mair / Betty Who". Berklee.edu.
  3. ↑ https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/6xkv4r/betty-who
  4. ↑ Writes, Arjan (30 November 2012). "Somebody Loves You Exclusive Premiere".
  5. ↑ "Somebody Loves You Music Video". Socialite Life.
  6. ↑ "Download Betty Who's Somebody Loves You". Pop on And On.
  7. ↑ "Track of the Moment". Popservations.
  8. ↑ "Betty Who Somebody Loves You FM Attack Remix". Kick Kick Snare.
  9. ↑ Writes, Arjan (16 April 2013). "Betty Who Releases Free Debut EP The Movement".
  10. ↑ "Betty Who Signs To RCA". Billboard. 17 September 2013.
  11. ↑ "Betty Who The Movement Exclusive EP Premiere". Billboard. 9 April 2013.
  12. ↑ "Spencer's Home Depot Marriage Proposal". YouTube. 11 September 2013.
  13. ↑ "SPOTIFY'S TOP 10 MOST VIRAL TRACKS". The Big Story. 17 September 2013.
  14. ↑ Writes, Arjan (17 September 2013). "Pop Newcomer Betty Who Signs to RCA Records".
  15. ↑ "Hot Dance Club Songs – March 8, 2014". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Betty Who's "Heartbreak Dream": Listen to the New Single, Which Is Out Today". Idolator. 18 February 2014.
  17. ↑ "Betty Who: The Promising Fresh Face of Pop". Variance Magazine. 3 February 2014.
  18. ↑ Villa, Lucas (16 July 2014). "Betty Who marks TV debut with 'Somebody Loves You' on 'Seth Meyers' – AXS". AXS. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  19. ↑ "Hot Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  20. ↑ Silver, Jocelyn (19 January 2018). "Betty Who Broke Free & Found Empowerment In Rejection". Out Magazine. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  21. ↑ Bell, Keaton (19 January 2018). "Meet Betty Who, an Unconventional Pop Star With a Plan". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  22. ↑ "Come Into My World (Amazon Original)". Amazon. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  23. ↑ "Betty Who, Fab Five star in video of 'Queer Eye' theme song". Chicago Pride. 2018-06-02. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  24. ↑ Ziss, Sophy. "Can You Believe? This Video Of The 'Queer Eye' Cast Dancing To The New Theme Is SO Good". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  25. ↑ Wong, Curtis M. (2018-06-01). "Betty Who Helps 'Queer Eye' Guys Give Their Theme Song A Fancy Makeover". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  26. ↑ Moniuszko, Sara M (2018-06-01). "Let the Fab 5 and Betty Who brighten your day with a glittering 'Queer Eye' music video". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  27. ↑ "'Queer Eye' Star Antoni Cradles His Avocados in New Music Video for Show's Theme Song, Feat. Betty Who". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  28. ↑ Vacco-Bolanos, Jessica (November 22, 2017). "Betty Who Is Engaged to Photographer Zak Cassar: 'I Am the Luckiest Girl in the World'". People. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  29. ↑ Peaks in Australia:
    • Take Me When You Go: "ARIA Top 100 Albums – Week Commencing 6th September 2004" (PDF). Pandora Archive. ARIA (758). 20 October 2004. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
    • The Valley: "ARIA CHART WATCH #414". auspOp. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  30. ↑ "Artist Chart History – Betty Who- Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  31. ↑ "Betty Who - Chart history". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media.
  32. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/album/id1200717369
  33. ↑ "Betty Who the Movement". Discogs. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  34. ↑ "The Movement (EP) by Betty Who". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  35. ↑ "Slow Dancing (EP) by Betty Who". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  36. ↑ "Worlds Apart (EP) by Betty Who". iTunes Great Britain. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  37. ↑ Peak chart positions on the ARIA Charts:
    • Top 50 positions: "Discography Betty Who". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  38. ↑ "Discography Betty Who". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  39. ↑ "Betty Who Billboard Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  40. ↑ Writes, Arjan (30 November 2012). "Somebody Loves You Exclusive Premiere".
  41. ↑ "Heartbreak Dream by Betty Who". Discogs. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  42. ↑ "All of You Remixes by Betty Who". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  43. ↑ "I Love you Always Forever by Betty Who". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  44. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2017 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  45. ↑ "Betty Who Announces New Single "Human Touch"". We Got This Covered. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  46. ↑ "If You're Hearing This (single)". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  47. ↑ "Taste – Single by Betty Who on iTunes". iTunes Store (AU). Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  48. ↑ "Pitch Perfect 2 [Special Edition] – Original Soundtrack | Release Info". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
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