Hailing from the outer suburbs of Naarm/Melbourne, self-described emo-folk artist Bec Sykes has been steadily crafting a discography of lo-fi indie gems, from 2020’s breakout Edithvale to 2021’s Getaway and 2022’s At Least. Each release has sharpened her ability to deliver immediately endearing tunes, building quiet anticipation for a full-length project that could expand on her distinct, evocative sound.
With the release of the full length album Pepperpot Magic out now, Sykes delivers just that: an 11-track journey that not only deepens her indie-folk repertoire but establishes a debut as atmospheric and raw as it is polished.
Teaming up with producer Robert Muiños, Sykes brings a collection that meets—and in some ways exceeds—the expectations set by her earlier work. The album kicks off with “Marlene,” where booming drums and a lush, emotive piano lay down a foundation that feels cinematic and personal. Lines like, “You can have my number, but I won’t take the call; I’ll dip my toe in just a little, flirt with fire as it dwindles,” give the track a moody vibe, capturing a mix of vulnerability and edge. “Last To Know” follows with similar restraint, driven by soft, sentimental drums and piano that serve as a duet partner to Sykes’s whispery vocals. This interplay creates a delicate balance, with the piano’s warmth a great counterpart to her vocals.
“I Know What You Like” disrupts the softness, introducing an almost gothic bite that shifts the album’s tone. Here, the bassy, mood-driven piano feels alive, almost menacing, as Sykes’s vocals take on a darker hue. The result is a folk interpretation of 2000s alt sounds, with Sykes channelling something raw and refreshing. By contrast, “Do You Dream in Colour” returns with a stripped-back ballad with some of the album’s strongest lyrical moments, with instrumentation that lets her voice and the natural timbre of the instruments dance together, making the track feel strikingly intimate and analogue.
Mid-album highlights like “Six” and “Joan of Arc” bring a cinematic quality almost lifted from a cowboy opera, mixing spacious guitars with heavy, atmospheric drums. “Sculpture” with its tender piano undercurrent, echoes the delicate sensibilities across the release while also adding a new layer to Sykes’s storytelling skill. This is furthered by album stand outs “Joshua” and “Caroline”, the underlined examples of Syke’s balance of honesty with sardonic and nuanced playfulness. The latter explores the jealousy towards affection shown to another by someone who once treated you poorly, and it’s a great examples of Sykes ability with the pen.
The album closer, “Paint The House Grey” explores the dance between the pull of creative ambition and the desire for comfort and connection. The tension between stable domestic life and the unrelenting urge to create poses a question: can an artist balance the creative impulse without sacrificing stability or contentment? While the song doesn’t deliver a definitive answer, it’s a fitting closer and one that wraps up a satisfying journey.
Pepperpot Magic is stunning in its cohesion, and hits its genre target square in the bullseye. With that success however, the songs remain almost universally restrained, maintaining a steady, contemplative pace from track one to eleven. This artistic choice suits Sykes’s vocal style, which is made for the crooning, introspective, self described emo-folk. However, there’s a lingering sense that a greater variety in tempo or energy might lend the album more dynamism. Her style is masterfully suited for intimate storytelling, and there is a fair argument for less is more, though a little exploration and experimentation would have been a nice addition.
With that said, Sykes’s voice, undoubtedly her most powerful instrument, commands attention without demanding it. Her vocal range and control lend each track a soft trademark texture, that’s lived-in, accessible and familiar. The piano, too, deserves mention as the album’s “second voice”—not merely an accompaniment but a genuine duet partner, bringing a warmth that feels essential to Pepperpot Magic‘s soundscape. The commitment to real, organic instrumentation is refreshing, and it adds a timeless quality to Sykes’s debut that feels as though it could have been plucked from a 50 year old vinyl.
With Pepperpot Magic, Bec Sykes has delivered a release that’s thoughtful and assured, vulnerable and intimate. The album invites you to sit with it, to uncover reflections within its stories, and to feel the quiet thrill of discovering a new voice—one that’s as memorable as it is moving. What it might lack in bombast and energy, it makes up for in moments of introspection, making it an album to savor slowly. If you’re willing to journey through each track, Pepperpot Magic proves richly rewarding, offering standout moments like “Joshua,” “Caroline,” and personal favorite “Crow Song.” Sykes’s debut feels like the first chapter of a promising story, one that leaves you eager to hear where her path takes her next.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Pepperpot Magic is out now. Listen to it HERE.
Bec Sykes Tour Dates
Sat 23 Nov – The Grace Darling – Naarm/Melbourne supporting El Tee
Mon 9 Dec – Social Sanctuary @ Northcote Social Club – Naarm/Melbourne w/ Elaura & Pia and Anna Schneider (WA)
