THE PRETTY VILLAINS’ NEW SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO REVEAL NEW DARKER SIDE
BETH JOINS THE MAIN STAGE AT THE BIGGEST UK FESTIVAL OF THE SUMMER BEFORE CHARLI XCX AND FONTAINES DC
4 SEPTEMBER 2026 – York born singer-songwriter Beth McCarthy is unveiling a new side of herself with the arrival of her alter ego, ‘Pretty Villain.’ Following a huge summer that saw Beth take to the main stage at Reading & Leeds Festival, ‘Pretty Villain’ is the beginning of a bold new chapter. Released today, her latest single is a sharp-edged single that sees Beth embracing a darker and edgier side to her artistry alongside its official music video coming at 4pm BST today.
With punchy production and unmistakably Beth energy, the track is a thrilling step into a new era. There’s something haunting about “Pretty Villain.” Seductive, dark and with a distinctly rock-driven edge, the track pulls you in before revealing its teeth. Beth leans into a more provocative side of her sound, bringing together gritty guitars and her unmistakable vocal presence. Listen here.
“Don’t I make a pretty villain?” Beth asks in the chorus, a line that captures the tension at the heart of the track. There’s confidence in it, but also something knowingly sinister.
The accompanying music video expands on the ‘Pretty Villain’ world, matching the track’s moodiness and seductive energy with a visual that puts Beth firmly on the centre of this new chapter. The video leans into the theatricality and attitude of her latest chapter, giving fans their first real glimpse into the character behind ‘Pretty Villain.’
Beth says of the track itself: “‘Pretty Villain’ is a dark pop song about knowing that you are the villain in someone else’s story. It’s an almost psychotic ownership of being the ‘bad guy’ for someone who has hurt you but painted themselves as the victim.”
The unveiling of Beth’s new alter ego arrives off the back of a huge summer for Beth, including a main stage performance at Reading & Leeds Festival and follows a sold out show at Kentish Town Forum and a Glastonbury performance in 2025. The ‘Pretty Villain’ era ultimately introduces a side of Beth that feels bolder, more theatrical and more rock-driven than ever before.
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