Newark singer Bekka Burns releases her single So High produced in coronavirus lockdown

A singer wrote and produced a song in just one week after her plan of releasing an EP hit a bum note due to coronavirus.

Bekka Burns, a 22-year-old musician from Newark, said after realising she wouldn’t be able to release her music because of the pandemic, she went into overdrive to create something in its place.

“We had to start producing at home,” said Bekka. “I’ve enjoyed doing it and I wanted to try something different during lockdown.”

Bekka began learning piano as a young girl, having been inspired by her grandfather who used to play in a jazz band at Ronnie Scott’s famous London club.

Since then, she has been drawn to soulful, jazzy and hip-hop sounds that are reflected in her musical production.

“I listen to a lot of genres and I love the Arctic Monkeys,” she said. “But a big influence on my music is Lana Del Rey.”

Bekka’s new single, So High, which was released on Friday of last week, was engineered in her makeshift home studio, comprising of only a keyboard, laptop and microphone.

“I have been a singer nearly all my life and have been properly performing for about three years,” she said.

“I used to play piano off YouTube and started to pick it up just by listening to the song, then I would put them up on Facebook.”

She took part in the Confetti Live Tour 2019, a musical performance event partnered with Nottingham Trent University, where she studies.

The performer has also received recognition from East Midlands BBC Introducing radio show on several occasions.

Bekka said: “When I produced the song I was playing with all the different instruments and added the lyrics on, but I wanted to play around.

“I wanted loads of live instruments but it was not possible.

“It took me a week to completely finish it and I think I was in overdrive because I didn’t get to release my EP. I also didn’t have anything else to do.

“I hope this is something I can do forever. This is my favourite thing I have done so far, which is strange because it was in such weird circumstances.”

You can download So High now on all major streaming platforms.

Follow Bekka’s Instagram at @bekkaburns or check out her website at www.bekkaburns.com