Beths choose direct route to Boston concerts.

A typewriter received as a gift for her birthday sparked a new writing process for Liz Stokes, the lead singer and songwriter of the Beths. Despite the band’s continuous rise and upcoming shows at the Royale on December 1 and 2, Stokes found herself struggling to write after releasing their third album, “Expert in a Dying Field,” in 2022. The old typewriter served as a new tool for Stokes to overcome writer’s block and reignite her creativity.

Faced with a creative block, Stokes committed to writing ten pages a day for six weeks as a writing exercise. When stuck, she would resort to describing places or memories, which ultimately led to the creation of the song “Mosquitos” on their latest album, “Straight Line Was A Lie.” This unique approach not only unlocked new songs but also inspired new musical styles and elements that differentiate the latest album from their previous work.

While in Los Angeles working on demos for new tracks, Stokes revisited the pile of pages she had written, drawing inspiration for lyrics and ideas. The ballad-heavy “Straight Line Was A Lie” delves deeper into topics such as her relationship with her mother, showcasing a more tender and nuanced side of the band’s sound. However, as Stokes finalized the album’s tracklist, doubts arose about the departure from their usual sound.

Feeling that the album needed a unifying element, Stokes wrote the title track, “Straight Line Was A Lie,” in its entirety on a city bus. This impromptu creation encapsulated the essence of the Beths’ sound with a catchy hook and clever lyrics about life’s cyclical nature. The songwriting process for this track underscored the band’s resilience and ability to craft compelling music that resonates with listeners.

Overall, the Beths’ journey in creating “Straight Line Was A Lie” showcases their evolution as a band and their willingness to explore new creative avenues. By embracing a new writing process and experimenting with different musical elements, Stokes and her bandmates have crafted an album that stays true to their roots while pushing artistic boundaries. This newfound approach demonstrates that there are multiple ways to write a compelling song, and the Beths have mastered the art of utilizing different methods to create memorable music.