‘I’ve never heard anything so angry and feminine’: Jennie Beth’s Honest Playlist | music

The first song I fell in love with
I had a wonderful piano teacher who played me a lot of jazz records that I would learn and sing along to. Chet Baker was charismatic, good-looking and elegant. Even though I have a really soft, mellow voice, I’ll give My Funny Valentine my best shot.

The song to which I inexplicably know all the words
“Dollar Days” by David Bowie, because I recently had to perform it at the British Library for the 10th anniversary of his last album, “Black Star.”

Best song to play at a party
I don’t know anyone who can resist dancing to Contortion by Sextile. They’re really good friends of mine, and I collaborated with them on their last record. I think they are one of the best electronic punk bands out there.

The song I can no longer listen to
I’ve been a fan of Fontaines DC since the beginning, and loved A Hero’s Death before it was released. It was one of my father’s favorite songs. He’s been in a coma for a while and I was playing him this song, just try to bring him back. Even thinking about it makes me emotional, so I don’t think I can listen to it again.

The song I secretly love, but tell everyone I hate
I used to love Kanye West’s Black Skinhead, but now I find it unbearable, and I can’t condone his political opinions and statements, so I can’t publicly say I like this song anymore.

The song that changed my life
I hadn’t heard “Deceptacon” by Le Tigre when it was released in 1999, but I was at a friend’s house while he was away, going through all his records, playing them randomly. It shook me to the core and I think I played it 100 times on repeat, dancing, completely excited. I’ve never heard anything so angry and feminine.

The song that wakes me up in the morning
Heaven Hell Anywhere Else from Canadian band Chastity’s 2018 debut album, Death Lust, doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s post-hardcore, talking about isolation, anger and youth.

The song that makes me cry
Non Voglio Mai Vedere Il Sole Tramontare, with vocals by Caroline Polaszek, from the contemporary opera Last Days by Oliver Leith about the last days of Kurt Cobain, because it has so much emotion.

Best song for sex
Pure Love is from the score for the 2024 film Queer — one of the sexiest films I’ve seen recently — by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, though that’s probably what you should play after sex, not during.

The song I would want played at my funeral
Eden from the album Spirit of Eden produced by Talk Talk, which I think is a masterpiece from start to finish, has a spiritual side to it that I find very soothing.

Jenny’s new album You’re heartbroken, youout now. Tours the UK from March 17.