Bethany Cosentino
Cosentino in 2016
Background information
Born (1986-11-03) November 3, 1986
Los Angeles, California
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Vocals
LabelsConcord
Member ofBest Coast
Formerly ofPocahaunted
Websitebethanycosentino.com

Bethany Sharayah Cosentino (born November 3, 1986, in Los Angeles) is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known as one half of the indie rock duo Best Coast alongside Bobb Bruno. Cosentino also cofounded the hypnagogic pop band Pocahaunted in 2006, before leaving in 2010. She released her solo debut album, Natural Disaster, in 2023.

Biography

Early life and Pocahaunted

Bethany Sharayah Cosentino[1] was born on November 3, 1986,[2][3] in Los Angeles, California.[4] Her middle name was taken from the song of the same name by Amy Grant.[1] She is of half-Italian descent.[5] Her father was a musician who toured with bands including War and Ambrosia, and her mother was an actor in commercials.[6] Her father was also the worship leader at their church, and Cosentino started singing with the church's choir.[6] Seeing her mother's commercial work inspired her to do the same as a child actor.[6]

When asked about what music spoke to her in her youth, Cosentino mentioned Linda Ronstadt, Rilo Kiley, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, Gwen Stefani, and No Doubt.[5] At seventeen, she started posting original noise music to MySpace under the name Bethany Sharayah.[2][7][8] That music got significant attention online, with major record labels trying to sign her which she rejected.[6][8] She left high school early after passing the California High School Proficiency Exam[6][9] and attended a community college.[6]

In 2006, Cosentino and Amanda Brown cofounded Pocahaunted, a hypnagogic pop duo, in Los Angeles.[10] The two issued over 25 releases in three years,[10] and supported Sonic Youth for a concert in Berkeley, California, in 2007.[7] In 2010, Cosentino left Pocahaunted and moved to New York to study creative writing at The New School.[10][6] While in New York, she worked an internship for the music publication The Fader.[6]

Best Coast

Solo

On October 7, 2014, Weezer released their ninth studio album, Everything Will Be Alright in the End.[11] Cosentino featured on the album in a duet with Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo on the song "Go Away".[12] On July 24, 2015, the band released a music video for "Go Away", directed by Brendan Walter and Greg Yagolnitzer, in which Cuomo plays a man trying to win back the affection of his ex-girlfriend played by Cosentino.[13]

On November 3, 2017, Billboard published an op-ed written by Cosentino about sexual assault in the entertainment industry,[14][15] just a month after film producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual assault in an article in the New York Times,[16] launching the MeToo movement of sex crime and sexual harassment victims publicizing their experiences.[17] In the piece, Cosentino called Weinstein "The Man With Power Who Abuses It", and discussed how men like that are "in colleges, at Halloween parties, at car washes, in grocery stores — they're everywhere."[15] She described her own experiences with sexual assault, both from a family member as a child and from a man she employed as an adult.[15] She concluded the piece by saying "If 2016 was the year we elected a grabber-in-chief" – a reference to the allegations against then-President of the United States Donald Trump – "consider 2017 the year of male consequence."[15] The piece also made reference to allegations against fellow indie rock musician Matt Mondanile.[15] Cosentino had previously appeared on The Daily Show in 2016 to discuss sexual assault in the music industry after Dirty Projectors' Amber Coffman and other women publicly accused publicist Heathcliff Berru of sexual misconduct, which Cosentino had responded to supportively.[18]

On May 14, 2018, Cosentino released a single, "Jerry (Maybe We Should Get Married)" which was a collaboration with songwriter Nick Lutsko and parody Twitter account @Seinfeld2000.[19] The song, released by the company Super Deluxe, features Cosentino singing from the perspective of Seinfeld character Elaine Benes.[19]

On March 25, 2020, Cosentino debuted her weekly radio show Bethline, livestreamed on Best Coast's YouTube channel.[20] The first episode's featured guest was Mannequin Pussy's Marisa Dabice.[20] Subsequent guests of the show included Sleigh Bells's Alexis Krauss,[21] Paramore's Hayley Williams,[21] Vanessa Carlton,[21][22] Soccer Mommy,[22] and Fred Savage.[22] As of May 2020, the show was on hiatus.[22]

On February 11, 2021, Spotify launched the show Bandsplain with theme music composed by Cosentino and Jennifer Clavin of Bleached.[23] On August 20, Third Eye Blind released "Again", a single from their album Our Bande Apart, which featured Cosentino.[24]

On July 26, 2022, Cosentino sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Dodger Stadium to open a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals.[25]

On May 3, 2023, the same day as announcing Best Coast's hiatus, Cosentino announced her debut solo album, Natural Disaster.[26] The album was primarily produced by Butch Walker and recorded in his Nashville studio;[27] Walker was chosen for his background in alternative country and Americana.[28] The album was released by Concord Records on July 28, 2023.[27] Turning away from Best Coast's sound, Cosentino instead made a pop rock, folk rock, and Americana record influenced by Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, and Jewel.[26] The album received a generally favorable response from critics.[29]

Personal life

Cosentino started dating Nathan Williams, the founder and lead vocalist of Wavves, when both were 17 years old.[1] The two first met at a party in San Diego.[1] They later broke up, leading to Cosentino's decision to get sober in 2017.[30]

On June 23, 2023, Cosentino's boyfriend proposed to her in a parking lot of the Americana at Brand shopping mall in Glendale, California.[31][32] As of 2023, Cosentino lives in Glendale in a house built in the 1930s.[5]

Cosentino had an orange Maine Coon cat named Snacks whom she adopted from her neighbors.[33] Snacks appeared on the covers of Best Coast's debut album Crazy for You and Wavves's King of the Beach,[33] featured in a PETA advertisement with Cosentino,[34] and had a dedicated Twitter account.[33] He was referred to as both the band's "official mascot" and "third member".[35] Snacks died on February 9, 2022, at 14.[35] Cosentino also had another cat, a domestic shorthair named Chloe.[36]

Cosentino got her first tattoo, the words "all you need is love" and a small heart on her wrist, at 16.[37] Other tattoos include the words "Trust no one" on one finger, and "Let it go" on another on the opposite hand.[4]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Release Album
2018 "Jerry (Maybe We Should Get Married)"[19] Non-album single
2023 "It's Fine"[27] Natural Disaster
"Easy"[38]
"For a Moment"[39]
"Natural Disaster"[40]

Guest appearances

Year Release Band Album
2014 "Go Away"[12] Weezer Everything Will Be Alright in the End
2021 "Again"[24] Third Eye Blind Our Bande Apart

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Diehl, Matt (January 21, 2011). "On eve of co-headlining tour, a double interview with Wavves' Nathan Williams and Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino (Part One)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Collar, Matt. "Bethany Cosentino Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Happy Birthday Bethany Cosentino (Best Coast)". Magnet. November 3, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Petrusich, Amanda (July 31, 2023). "Bethany Cosentino's Songs of Self-Actualization". The New Yorker. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Garvey, Meaghan (August 4, 2023). "You Can't Millennial-Shame Bethany Cosentino". The Cut. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Brodsky, Rachel (July 27, 2023). "We've Got a File on You: Bethany Cosentino". Stereogum. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Lester, Paul (November 26, 2009). "Best Coast (No 677)". The Guardian. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Best Coast's "silent partner" speaks up". The Columbian. August 8, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  9. ↑ Cosentino, Bethany [@bethany_cosentino] (September 22, 2022). "i took the CHSPE (a california specific version of the GED) and got my high school diploma that way". Retrieved July 31, 2023 – via Instagram.
  10. 1 2 3 Jarnow, Jesse. "Pocahaunted Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Everything Will Be Alright in the End by Weezer Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Pareles, Jon (October 7, 2014). "New Albums from Weezer, Sam Amidon and Rich Gang". nytimes. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  13. ↑ DeVille, Chris (July 24, 2015). "Weezer – "Go Away" (Feat. Bethany Cosentino)". Stereogum. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  14. ↑ Yoo, Noah (November 3, 2017). "Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino Pens Op-Ed on Sexual Assault, Addresses Own Experience". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Cosentino, Bethany (November 3, 2017). "Op-Ed: Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino on Explosion of Sexual Assault Allegations in Hollywood: "Consider 2017 the Year of Male Consequence"". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  16. ↑ Kantor, Jodi; Twohey, Megan (October 5, 2017). "Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  17. ↑ Sayej, Nadja (December 1, 2017). "Alyssa Milano on the #MeToo movement: "We're not going to stand for it any more"". The Guardian. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  18. ↑ Ivie, Devon (May 5, 2016). "Bethany Cosentino on Sexism in the Music Industry: "There's a Lot of People in the Industry That Do Shady Things"". Vulture. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  19. 1 2 3 Yoo, Noah (May 14, 2018). "Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino Sings as Seinfeld's Elaine in New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  20. 1 2 O'Connor Marottaon, Michael (March 25, 2020). "This Stream Is Tonight: Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino launches Bethline". Vanyaland. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  21. 1 2 3 Neale, Matthew (May 6, 2020). "Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino: "I questioned whether I would ever be able to make music again"". NME. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Hatfield, Amanda (May 15, 2020). "Best Coast share Scooby-Doo theme ++ Bethany tells us what she's listening to in quarantine". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  23. ↑ Aswad, Jem (February 11, 2021). "Spotify Launches Bandsplain Show, About Cult Artists and Why People Love Them". Variety. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  24. 1 2 Chesler, Josh (August 20, 2021). "Third Eye Blind Release New Song, "Again", Featuring Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast". Spin. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  25. ↑ Arcand, Rob (July 27, 2022). "Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino Sings the National Anthem at a Dodgers Game". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  26. 1 2 Campbell, Erica (July 19, 2023). "Bethany Cosentino – Natural Disaster review: a fearless, fragile debut". NME. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  27. 1 2 3 Kelly, Tyler Damara (May 3, 2023). "Bethany Cosentino confirms Best Coast is on indefinite hiatus". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  28. ↑ Greenblatt, Leah (July 10, 2023). "Bethany Cosentino's Hard Reset". Vulture. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Natural Disaster by Bethany Cosentino Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  30. ↑ Baxter, Lauren (February 20, 2020). ""Bethany You Have to Change": What Led to Best Coast's New Album". The Music. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  31. ↑ Daly, Rhian (July 25, 2023). "Bethany Cosentino on breaking free of Best Coast's boxes: "I'm just gonna say what I want to say"". NME. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  32. ↑ Cosentino, Bethany [@BethanyCoast] (June 23, 2023). "the best guy in the world asked me to marry him at the best mall in the world 🥹💍 #genxfiance" (Tweet). Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Twitter.
  33. 1 2 3 Dodero, Camille (September 29, 2010). "2010: The Year of Indie Pets". The Village Voice. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  34. ↑ Stutz, Colin (September 17, 2014). "Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino and Snacks the Cat Cuddle Up for PETA Ad". Spin. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  35. 1 2 Corcoran, Nina (February 9, 2022). "Snacks, Bethany Cosentino's Pet Cat and Best Coast Album Cover Star, Has Died". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  36. ↑ "A chat with Best Coast's crazy cat lady, Bethany Cosentino". San Francisco Examiner. February 24, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  37. ↑ Droke, Carolyn (July 26, 2023). "Indie Mixtape 20: Bethany Cosentino is Intentional and Reflective on Her Solo Debut, Natural Disaster". Uproxx. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  38. ↑ DeVille, Chris (June 16, 2023). "Bethany Cosentino – "Easy"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  39. ↑ Brodsky, Rachel (July 6, 2023). "Bethany Cosentino – "For a Moment"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  40. ↑ Breihan, Tom (July 25, 2023). "Bethany Cosentino – "Natural Disaster"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
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