{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Beth Hirsch | image = | image_size = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1967|10|18}} | birth_place = | origin = Tampa, Florida, United States | genre = Pop | occupation = | instrument = | years_active = 1998–present | label = | website = {{Official URL}} }} '''Beth Hirsch''' (born October 18, 1967) is a singer-songwriter from Tampa, Florida. Hirsch is best known for her collaboration with Air on their album ''Moon Safari''. Her first solo album, ''Early Days'', was released in 2000, followed by ''Titles & Idols'' in 2001. After a series of collaborations with artists including Pale 3, Jakatta, and D*Note, Hirsch released her third solo album ''Wholehearted'', in 2007, and her fourth solo album, ''L.I.F.E.'', on October 26, 2020. Her EP ''After L.I.F.E.'' was released on December 13, 2021.
==Early life== Beth Susan Hirsch<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hirsch |first1=Beth |title=bhirschinsta |url=https://www.instagram.com/bhirschinsta/?hl=en |website=Instagram}}</ref> was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Her mother, Gail Hirsch, was a first grade teacher, and her father, Lester "Les" Hirsch Jr., was a stockbroker and former chairman of the Tampa Sports Authority.<ref name="segalfuneralhome.com">{{cite web | url=https://www.segalfuneralhome.com/obituaries/gail-hirsch | title=Gail Hirsch Obituary 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2008/11/14/civic-activist-honored-father/ | title=Civic Activist, Honored Father }}</ref>
As a child and adolescent, she displayed an affinity for acting and performing, which she honed through local theater productions.<ref name="Wilson">Wilson, Mackenzie "[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/beth-hirsch-mn0000759044/biography Beth Hirsch Biography]", AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2016</ref> After graduating high school, she moved to Boston to pursue a B.F.A. in acting and theater at the Boston University College of Fine Arts.<ref name="Beth Hirsch Linkedin">"[https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-hirsch-a8aa366 Beth Hirsch Linkedin page]", LinkedIn. Retrieved September 10, 2023</ref> After college, Hirsch worked for a Shakespearean Workshop in London. She then lived in New York City for two years to pursue theater work.<ref name="Coley">Coley, Bella (2011) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20160818134954/https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-feb-beth-hirsch-sultry-floridian-vocalist-plays-globally Beth Hirsch. Sultry, Floridian Vocalist Plays Globally]", ''Metro Jacksonville'', February 24, 2011. Archived August 18, 2016</ref>
==Career== In November 1991, Hirsch moved to Paris to work as an au pair, where she became involved in the local bohemian artist community.<ref name="Wilson"/> It was in Paris where she discovered her own singing talent.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hirsch |first1=Beth |title=My Story |url=https://www.bethhirsch.com/my-story |website=bethhirsch.com |access-date=10 September 2023}}</ref> She began her solo recording career with the EP ''Miner's Son'', released in 1998.<ref name="Wilson" /><ref name="Coley"/> The EP was heard by Hirsch's neighbor, Nicolas Godin, and his musical partner in Air, Jean-Benoît Dunckel, with whom she collaborated on their ''Moon Safari'' album, co-writing and providing vocals on "All I Need" and "You Make It Easy".<ref name="Wilson" /><ref>Simpson, Dave (2016) "[https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/may/31/how-we-made-moon-safari-air-jean-benoit-dunckel-nicolas-godin-interview How we made Air's Moon Safari]", ''The Guardian'', May 31, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016</ref> She toured with Air throughout Europe and the US before settling in London.<ref name="Wilson" /> Her second EP, ''P-Town Rubies'', was released in 1999 on British independent label Dorado, which was followed by a UK tour with Terry Callier.<ref name="Wilson" /><ref>Pride, Dominic (1999) "[https://books.google.com/books?id=jggEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Beth+Hirsch%22&pg=PA9 Hirsch Offers Solo 'Rubies' on Dorado]", ''Billboard'', July 10, 1999. Retrieved August 7, 2016</ref> Her collaboration with Wasis Diop, "Everything (Is Never Quite Enough)", from his 1998 ''Toxu'' album, appeared on the soundtrack of the remade ''The Thomas Crown Affair''.<ref name="Wilson" />
Hirsch's debut solo album, ''Early Days'', was released in August 2000, with "Life Is Mine" taken from it as a single.<ref>Paoletta, Michael (2000) "[https://books.google.com/books?id=fxEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Beth+Hirsch%22&pg=PA34 The Dance Trax Hot Plate]", ''Billboard'', September 16, 2000. Retrieved August 7, 2016</ref> The album received a three-star review from Allmusic.
Her second album, Ken Downie and Custom Blue-produced ''Titles & Idols'', was released in 2001 to generally positive reviews."[http://www.allmusic.com/album/titles-idols-mw0000658472 ''Titles & Idols'' Review]", AllMusic.<ref>Dickison, Stephanie (2001) "[http://www.popmatters.com/review/hirschbeth-titles/ Beth Hirsch ''Titles & Idols'']", PopMatters, October 14, 2001. Retrieved August 7, 2016</ref><ref>"Beth Hirsch - ''Titles & Idols''", ''Uncut'', December 2001, p. 102</ref><ref>"Beth Hirsch ''Titles & Idols''", ''Q'', November 2001, p. 122</ref> Her third album, the self-released ''Wholehearted'' (2007), received a four-star review from AllMusic.<ref>Henderson, Alex "[http://www.allmusic.com/album/wholehearted-mw0001533626 ''Wholehearted'' Review]", AllMusic.</ref>
Her fourth album, ''L.I.F.E. (Love Is For Everyone)'' was released in 2020 by Last Man Music.
Hirsch is a member of ASCAP and GEMA performance rights organizations.<ref name="Beth Hirsch">Hirsch, Beth "[https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-hirsch-a8aa366]", LinkedIn. Retrieved September 10, 2023</ref>
==Personal life== Hirsch currently lives in Portugal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Beth Hirsch |url=https://bethhirsch.bandcamp.com/album/something-to-tell-so-many-things |website=bandcamp.com |publisher=Bandcamp |access-date=10 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Voice Lessons |url=https://bethhirsch.com/voice-lessons#:~:text=in%20person%20in%20the%20Porto%20area%20of%20Portugal |website=bethhirsch.com |access-date=10 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="segalfuneralhome.com"/>
==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''Early Days'' (2000, !K7) * ''Titles & Idols'' (2001, !K7) * ''Wholehearted'' (2007, Electric Bee) * ''Love Is For Everyone L.I.F.E 2.0'' (2020, Last Man Music)
===Singles and EPs=== * "Miner's Son" (1998, Artefact) * ''P-Town Rubies EP'' (1999, Dorado) * "Life Is Mine" (2000, !K7) * "Nest Sensation" (2001, !K7) * "Indelibly You" (2008, Electric Bee) * "Something to Tell"/"So Many Things" (2010, Ho-Hum) * "Confusion" (2012, Venus Recordings) (as AlfaBeth) * "Let Him Go And Go To God" (2014, Venus Recordings) (as AlfaBeth) * "Love Is For Everyone" (2014, Self-Raising Records) * "Summer" (2015, Venus Recording) (as AlfaBeth) * "Allison Something" (2020, Last Man Music) * ''After L.I.F.E. EP'' (2021, Last Man Music)
===Collaborations=== * D*Note - ''D*Note'' (1997). * Wasis Diop - ''Toxu'' (1998). Vocals on "Everything (...Is Never Quite Enough)" * Air - ''Moon Safari'' (1998). Vocals on "All I Need" UK singles chart No.29, "You Make It Easy". * Marc Collin - ''Les Kidnappeurs'' soundtrack (1998). Vocals on "Main Theme". * Pale 3 - ''The Princess and the Warrior'' soundtrack (2000). Vocals on "The Tunnel". * Fred Avril - "That Horse Must Be Starving" (2002). Vocals on "Helium Life Boat". * Jakatta - ''Visions'' (2002). Vocals on "One Fine Day", UK singles chart No.39 (2003), "Home Away from You". * Pale 3 - ''Crash (Music from and Inspired by the Film)'' (2005). Vocals on "Arrival". * D*Note - ''Laguna'' (2006). Vocals on "Everybody Loves the Sunshine", "Wichita Lineman", "At Last I'm Free", "How Long", "Guinevere", "Edit and the Kingpin", "Then Along Came You", and "Being Alive". * Various Artists - ''Café del Mar, vol.15'' (2008). Vocals on "Under My Star", with Gelka. * Billy Rivera - "21 Grief Street" (2011). Vocals on "Cold Corner". * Rosita Kess - ''Northern Sky'' (2011). Vocals on "Northern Sky". * Karmacoda - ''Eternal'' (2011). Vocals on "Love Will Turn Your Head Around". * Solar Bears - ''Supermigration'' (2013). Vocals on "Our Future Is Underground". * Bright Light Bright Light - "Make Me Believe In Hope (Blueprints Version)" (2013). Vocals on "Grace". * The Willow - "In The Meanwhile" (2013). Vocals on "So Many Things". * Karmacoda - "Love And Fate" (2015). Vocals on "All For Love", "We Don't Have A Lot Of Time" and "Message". * Vincenzo Callea - "Protect You" (2015). Vocals. * Cross & Quinn - "Cold Sky Blue" (2016). Vocals on "Cold Sky Blue". * Sanxero - "Right Where You Are" (2016)(single). Vocals. * Sleep Party People - "Lingering" (2017). Vocals on "We Are There Together". * Lauren Canyon - "Lauren Canyon" (2017). Vocals on "Prom Queen". * Grey Tropical - "Path Of Magic" (2017)(single). Vocals. * Sanxero - "A Getaway" (2018)(single). Vocals. * Eliot - "Let The Sun Rise" (2018)(single). Vocals. * Session Victim - "Needledrop" (2020). Vocals on "Made Me Fly". * Bright Light Bright Light - "Enjoy Youth" (2024). Vocals. UK Chart No.60. * West 11 (Eleven) - Album "Atlantic Coast Highway" (2024). Vocals on all tracks.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|www.bethhirsch.com}} *[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Beth+Hirsch Discogs page] *[http://www.slatecast.com/DWQBMIFP Talent profile of Beth Hirsch on SlateCast.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007134250/http://www.slatecast.com/DWQBMIFP |date=2009-10-07 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120223094805/http://www.retrosellers.com/features240.htm March 2010 Beth Hirsch interview]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hirsch, Beth}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Tampa, Florida Category:Writers from Tampa, Florida Category:21st-century American women singers Category:21st-century American singers Category:Jewish American musicians Category:Jewish American singers Category:American expatriates in Portugal