York singer hits number two in the iTunes chart – only held off the top spot by Ed Sheeran

To say York musician Beth McCarthy’s new song has been well received is something of an understatement.

Released earlier this month Pretty Lies reached number two on the iTunes singer-songwriter charts – only kept off the top spot by a certain Mr Edward Christopher Sheeran.

“I didn’t expect it to even get into the charts, never mind reach number 2 in the singer-songwriter chart, underneath Ed Sheeran, may I add,” Beth told YorkMix.

“Honestly, I’m completely shocked and humbled by how many people have supported this new single and have been completely overwhelmed by the reaction to it. It’s been the absolute best start to the year I could’ve imagined and hopefully has set the bar for the rest of 2017.”

Beth became a well-known presence on the national music scene after appearing on TV series The Voice when she was just 16 years old.

Red carpet treatment

Late last year, now aged 20, she was back making big headlines after her cover of Streets Of London was selected as the official song for major movie 100 Streets, starring Idris Elba.

“I was truly over the moon,” Beth said. “A song associated with a film is a pretty big deal and I was just honoured to have been given that opportunity.

“I knew the possibility was on the cards for well over a year before it all got announced. It was so hard not to tell everyone, but at the same time I didn’t want to jinx it!

“I’ve come to learn that you can never be 100% sure of something until it actually happens, and there was so much back and forth with this film that I really didn’t know what was going on at times!

“But it all came off in the end and I really couldn’t be happier with the response.”

The Yorkshire lass got to walk the red carpet for the premiere of the film in London and even crossed paths with the man himself, Idris Elba.

“In the approximate 45 seconds that I got to chat to him before he got whisked away, he was lovely,” she says, laughing.

“Seriously, though, he truly seems like a really down to earth, genuine guy and I feel lucky that I got to meet him. I don’t suppose he’s too bad looking, either…”

Natural habitat

The music video for Pretty Lies was shot in and around York by city videographer Andy Little.

“York has always been my home so it only seemed right to film the video for my first single here. Andy and I both decided we wanted the music video to be as natural as possible, so where better than my ‘natural habitat’?

“Also, York is stunning. I don’t think you could find a better backdrop for the cost of a bus fare.”

World domination

Just like all her songs, Beth wrote Pretty Lies from her own personal experience. One of her favourite things about music is the emotion behind it and she finds it easier to wrote something ‘real and honest’ if she has been through it.

“Pretty Lies was written from my heart! It’s about the feeling of being with someone who you know is too good to be true and doesn’t love you the way you love them, but you play ignorant because it hurts less to pretend everything’s OK than face up to the reality.”

After The Voice, a major movie soundtrack and reaching number two in the iTunes charts, the Beth success express shows no sign of slowing.

She told us:

So do we, Beth. So do we.