Believe Me Now? is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Becky Hill, released on 31 May 2024 through Polydor Records and Eko Records.[1] It features collaborations with Self Esteem, Sonny Fodera, Lewis Thompson, Rileasa, and Chase & Status.[2]
| Believe Me Now? | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 31 May 2024 | |||
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| Length | 44:45 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer |
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| Becky Hill chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Believe Me Now? | ||||
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Background
editSpeaking with Ali Shutler for NME magazine about the process of the album, Hill stated:[3]
"I didn't want people asking, 'Who the fuck is Becky Hill?' but I've become this person that knows exactly who she is. I don't need to downplay myself or my abilities because I finally believe in myself. You can hear that on this record."[3]
She also confirmed that artists and producers such as Parisi, Mark Ralph, Toddla T, Maur, Solardo, MJ Cole, Jax Jones, Franky Wah, Lewis Thompson, Sonny Fodera and Chase & Status would be featured on the album.[3]
Release and promotion
editBelieve Me Now? was released through Eko and Polydor Records on 31 May 2024. It will be available on streaming, digital download, CD, and various vinyl LP variants.[4]
Singles
editThe album's lead single "Side Effects", a Lewis Thompson-assisted track was released on 12 May 2023.[5] The track peaked at number 35 on UK chart and 12 on UK Dance chart respectively.
The second single "Disconnect", a collaboration with an English electronic music duo Chase & Status was released on 14 July 2023.[6] The song peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Hill's sixth and Chase & Status' fifth top-10 single respectively.
"Never Be Alone" was released as the album's third single on 19 January 2024. The song peaked at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Hill's 19th and Fodera's second top-40 single, respectively.[7][8]
"Outside of Love" was released as the album's fourth single on 28 March 2024.[9] with an accompanying music video being released at the same day. The track peaked at number 54 on UK Singles Chart.
On 1 May 2024, "Right Here" was released as the fifth single from the album.[10]
On 24 May 2024, Hill released the song "True Colours" with British singer-songwriter Self Esteem as the sixth single from the album.[11]
"Multiply" was released on 31 May 2024 as the album's seventh single.[12][13] A "rave edit" of the song was released on 5 July 2024, followed by a CamrinWatsin remix the following week.
Live performances
editHill performed "Disconnect" alongside Chase & Status at the Brit Awards 2024 ceremony on 2 March. She included "Disconnect", "Never Be Alone", "Outside of Love", "Right Here", and "True Colours" as part of her setlist during BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend at Stockwood Park in Luton on 24 May.
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Arts Desk |   [14] |
| Buzz Magazine | [15] |
| iNews | [16] |
| Riff Magazine | 8/10[17] |
Ed Power for iNews called the record a heartfelt and courageous album, stating that with her second studio album Hill is "a force to be reckoned with in her own right", and named the tracks "True Colours" and "Lonely Again" as the album highlights.[16] Mike DeWald for Riff Magazine praised Becky Hill's "immense" growth as an artist and vocalist, declaring that with her second album Believe Me Now? Hill "finds her voice and carves out her own space in the pop landscape", as well calling Hill a "pop vocal powerhouse with plenty on her mind".[17] He went further saying that Hill's provides "a high-flying record that achieves both singalongs and memorable dance floor bangers" and praised the solid songwriting.[17]
Joe Muggs for The Arts Desk praised Believe Me Now? for making Hill stand-out from her contemporaries musicians in the dance pop scene, showcasing a "distinct musical identity" which is back-up with "sheer force of personality".[14] Muggs concluded his review saying that this is an album that "powers along on adrenaline and palpable, lived emotion". and named Hill "the real deal".[14]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "True Colours" (featuring Self Esteem) | Mark Ralph | 3:51 | |
| 2. | "Darkest Hour" |
| 3:17 | |
| 3. | "Outside of Love" |
| 2:55 | |
| 4. | "Never Be Alone" (featuring Sonny Fodera) |
| 3:09 | |
| 5. | "Multiply" |
|
| 2:28 |
| 6. | "Swim" |
|
| 3:32 |
| 7. | "Man of My Dreams" |
| 2:58 | |
| 8. | "Linger" |
|
| 2:56 |
| 9. | "Lonely Again" |
|
| 3:50 |
| 10. | "Side Effects" (with Lewis Thompson) |
| 2:33 | |
| 11. | "Back Around" |
|
| 2:36 |
| 12. | "Keep Holding On" |
| 2:13 | |
| 13. | "One Track Mind" (featuring Rileasa) |
|
| 2:44 |
| 14. | "Disconnect" (with Chase & Status) |
|
| 2:44 |
| 15. | "Right Here" |
|
| 2:59 |
| Total length: | 44:45 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Indestructible" (with Andy C) |
|
| 2:41 |
| Total length: | 47:26 | |||
Note
Personnel
editMusicians
- Becky Hill – lead vocals (all tracks), background vocals (track 10)
- Mark Ralph – programming, synthesizer (tracks 1–9)
- Jack Patterson – programming, synthesizer (track 1)
- Self Esteem – vocals (track 1)
- Scott Lowe – bass (track 2)
- The Heritage Orchestra[note 1] – strings (tracks 3, 7)
- Giampaolo Parisi – bass, drums, percussion, sound effects (track 3)
- Marco Parisi – keyboards, piano, synthesizer (track 3)
- Sonny Fodera – keyboards (track 4)
- Neave Applebaum – bass, drums, keyboards (track 5)
- MJ Cole – piano (track 7)
- MNEK – background vocals (track 10)
- John Smith – bass, electric guitar (track 10)
- Lewis Thompson – keyboards, programming, synthesizer (tracks 10, 11); drum programming (10), bass (11)
- Adrian Mcleod – piano, synth bass, synth pads (track 12)
- Toddla T – drum programming, programming (track 12)
- Deli OneFourz – additional vocals (track 12)
- Rileasa – vocals (track 13)
- Kieran Mcintosh – keyboards (track 14)
Technical
- Matt Colton – mastering (tracks 1–9, 11–13)
- Kevin Grainger – mastering, mixing (track 10)
- Chase & Status – mastering, mixing, engineering (track 14, 15)
- Mark Ralph – mixing (tracks 1–9, 11–13)
- Josh Green – engineering (tracks 1–9, 11–13)
- Gemma Chester – engineering assistance (tracks 1–9, 11–13)
- Chris Wheeler – string arrangement (tracks 3, 7)
- Clementine Douglas – vocal arrangement (track 11)
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[18] | 177 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA)[19] | 54 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[20] | 29 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[21] | 7 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[22] | 3 |
| UK Dance Albums (OCC)[23] | 1 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 31 May 2024 |
|
[4] |
Notes
edit- ^ The Heritage Orchestra consists of cellists Jonny Byers, Nerys Richards, and Tim Lowe; violists Meghan Cassidy, Rachel Robson, and Sarah Chapman; and violinists Charis Jenson, Ciaran McCabe, Emma Parker, Martyn Jackson, Michael Jones, Millie Ashton, Nicky Sweeney, Paddy Roberts, and Žanete Uskane.
References
edit- ^ "Becky Hill Album Believe Me Now? May 31st". The Garnette Report. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Believe Me Now? CD". Becky Hill. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Shutler, Ali (30 January 2024). "Becky Hill tells us about new album Believe Me Now?: "I'm not the underdog anymore"". NME. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ a b Johnson, Christopher (2 February 2024). "Becky Hill reveals all the details of her new album: Believe Me Now?". WECB. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Sky Magliola, Anna (12 May 2023). "Becky Hill releases her first solo single in more than a year 'Side Effects' 🙌". Hits Radio. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ Okechukwu, Nmesoma (19 July 2023). "Becky Hill x Chase & Status – Disconnect". Euphoria. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ "NEVER BE ALONE". Official Charts. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Brandle, Lars (24 January 2024). "Sonny Fodera Set For U.K. Top 40 With 'Never Be Alone'". The Music Network. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Wilkes, Emma (30 March 2024). "Listen to Becky Hill's "big, anthemic" new single 'Outside Of Love'". NME. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "Becky Hill Shares New Track 'Right Here' From Upcoming Album". Broadway World. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Becky Hill collaborates with Self Esteem on "True Colours"". The Line of Best Fit. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "New Music Friday Released 31 May 2024". Official Charts. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Becky Hill Releases New 'Believe Me Now?' Album, "Multiply" Single". DJ Life Mag. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "Album: Becky Hill – Believe Me Now?". The Arts Desk. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Buzzanca, Gosia (2 June 2024). "Becky Hill returns with an empowering pop saga of modern womanhood". Buzz Magazine. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b Power, Ed (31 May 2024). "Becky Hill's Believe Me Now is a force to be reckoned with". i. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Album Review: Becky Hill sets herself apart on 'Believe Me Now?'". Riff Magazine. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Becky Hill – Believe Me Now?" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 7 June 2024". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 June 2024.