Tag: Betty Who

e.l.f. Cosmetics Uplifts Emerging Artists With a New Soundtrack to Your Beauty Routine

When it comes to self-expression, music and makeup are powerful tools that often go hand in hand. That’s why Spotify is excited to spotlight a new project from e.l.f. Cosmetics: Get Ready With Music, The Album. The cosmetics brand worked with a diverse group of artists to create 16 original tracks for its very own album, celebrating beauty, belonging, and expression.

A creative twist on the popular “get ready with me” social media trend, the album showcases both up-and-coming talent and more established artists, including Betty Who, Charlotte Rose Benjamin, Mariangela, Meduulla, Alana, Black Gatsby, Jenita, Dianna Lopez, Zoe Ko, Olivia Reyes, Tasty Lopez, and Cakes da Killa.

Infused with the creative energy and spirit of these artists, the songs encourage fans to embrace their individuality. By highlighting these rising stars, Spotify and e.l.f. aim to foster a sense of community and belonging among our listeners, bridging the worlds of music and beauty. And with e.l.f. Cosmetics leveraging our ad platform, the brand not only expands its reach but also connects more authentically with music fans.

To celebrate the launch, For the Record caught up with Patrick O’Keefe, Chief Integrated Marketing Officer at e.l.f. Cosmetics, and pop trailblazer Betty Who, whose track “Wings” is all about self-love. We chatted about the project: how it came to be, what it represents, and the artistry that ties it all together. 

Patrick, what inspired e.l.f. to create this album?

Patrick: We were inspired by the countless “get ready with me” beauty videos that have flooded our social media feeds. Our community loves to listen to music while they get ready, so we wanted to create an album that would be the perfect soundtrack for their beauty routines. Then we did some more digging and found out that 92% of women say listening to music while getting ready boosts their mood, so we knew we were onto something good!

We have a history of merging beauty and music, including our chart-topping single with Manuel Turizo, “ojos. labios. cara.” and our previous holiday album, e.l.f. The Hauls. Our new entertainment arm, e.l.f. made, allows us to fully immerse ourselves in this creative project and take on entertainment with more vigor. The album is a megaphone for emerging artists and gives them a platform to step into their whole selves and share their magic.

How did you land on the featured artists?

Patrick: We wanted to create an album that reflected our unique global community, so we tapped into a group of artists that represents the diversity of our e.l.f. beauty enthusiasts. We included global artists like Betty, as well as local talent like Olivia Reyes, who was a contestant on The Voice and is one of our employees at e.l.f.!

We first heard Olivia sing last year at a company off-site and all the stars aligned. We knew there was so much power in her voice, and we had to share it with our community. By featuring artists from different backgrounds and experiences, we’re continuing to celebrate inclusivity and champion every eye, lip, and face.

Betty, what was it like to work on this project?

Betty: It’s been such a pleasure to work with e.l.f. throughout this process. I love being in the studio and being on set, so this collaboration has given me such a fun opportunity to combine those two passions. I think I have a lot of crossover with e.l.f. in the kind of art I want to make. Their message of inclusivity and accessibility really speaks to me.

Betty Who

Tell us about “Wings,” your song on the album.

Betty: The second I heard “Wings,” I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I think of music as a mantra sometimes—the songs we listen to are spells that we’re casting, if you want to get *witchy* with it. So this is the perfect song to inspire confidence and self-love, even on days when those feelings feel far away.

Music and makeup are forms of self-expression. Why do you think they’re both so special and important to promote?

Patrick: Music and makeup can have a profound impact on how we feel about ourselves. We’re merging these worlds because they can help us connect with others, express our individuality, and feel more confident. Ultimately, we can help our community unlock their full potential and feel empowered to be themselves.

Betty: The possibilities of self-expression through makeup are endless. Makeup is such a beautiful and fun way to try new things and decide who we are on a day-to-day basis. Some days I’m subtle, some days I’m an over-the-top diva! Having the ability to choose who I want to be on any given day is so freeing.

What’s your “get ready with me” anthem?

Betty: Well, we’ve obviously made the perfect playlist for getting ready with this album. And something about my song “Wings” makes me feel like all my best friends are standing in the mirror next to me while I get ready, gassing me up.

Patrick: One of the things I love about this album is that there are anthems for every mood. Depending on how I’m feeling, I might choose a different song to help set my intentions for my day ahead. It’s hard to choose a favorite because they’re all in heavy rotation as I’m getting ready in the morning, in the car to work, and when I need that extra boost on the weekends.

Describe e.l.f.’s album in three words.

Betty: FULL. OF. BOPS!

Patrick: Inclusive. Magnetic. And e.l.f.ing empowering!

Stream Get Ready With Music, The Album on Spotify.

Get in the Holiday Spirit with Dolly Parton, Jose Mari Chan, Black Pumas, and More

In a year that’s brought unprecedented challenges, Spotify data suggests that listeners may be seeking comfort from holiday music earlier than usual in 2020. While festive playlists usually snowball in December, we’re seeing our most popular holiday playlist, Christmas Hits, streamed at a higher rate in September and October compared to previous years. Many think it’s never too early to crank yuletide tunes, and it shows: Listeners have already streamed more than 6.5 billion minutes of Christmas tracks this year.

In this episode of our podcast, Spotify: For the Record, we look at which songs are making it to the top of our listeners’ Christmas lists. One favorite is “Last Christmas,” which was originally released in 1984 by Wham! To date, there are about 1,200 covers of the hit on Spotify.

In addition to digging into the data, we also get in the spirit by chatting with some iconic artists about their holiday hits, including Dolly Parton, who recently released her first Christmas album in 30 years. In the episode, the country legend joins us to talk about the inspiration behind A Holly Dolly Christmas and what it was like to duet with Michael Bublé in the song “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas.”

Aside from Parton, we also chat with beloved Filipino artist Jose Mari Chan. Known as “The Father of Christmas Music” in the Philippines, Chan shares the inspiration behind his iconic holiday tunes, which have been a staple of festive celebration in the country for the last three decades.

 

This episode is no longer available as of November 2021, however you can get more great stories and news delivered audibly by following our podcasts, Spotify: For the Record, Spotify: Mic Check, and Spotify: Discover This.