Album Notes

Bek-Jean Stewart was born on a spring day in September 1971. Brought up in the scrubby plains that make up Sydney's western suburbs, she hung out with the boys and rode a BMX, terrorizing the local neighbourhood. Things went from bad to worse when her parents split. Her mother decided that the only way to keep her out of trouble was to buy her a guitar when she was 8 years old - it was really the only good thing she ever did for her. The seed was sown and Bek-Jean spent hours making up songs whilst dreaming of performing in a rock and roll band. She had finally found an outlet for her overactive mental and physical energy.

Bek-Jean was dragged through and kicked out of numerous high schools and only scraped some meagre academic qualifications yet had become streetwise and savvy. Her musical passion grew and she was soon knocking on doors searching for gigs. Busking in Central Station earned her a meagre existence but allowed her voice to be heard.

A chance encounter with Grant Shanahan (former Catherine Wheel and Honeys bassist) led her to forge a strong friendship and songwriting partnership which in turn led to the birth of Eva Trout, her first rock and roll band. The band made their first record ('Along Woodland Rides, Through Tunnels of Evergreen' - Phantom Records) and toured Australia. On the strength of the song 'Beautiful South' written by Bek-Jean, a deal was struck with American label, Trauma Records. The self titled album followed and the band toured the States during the late nineties. Thankfully, the band was dropped by Trauma Records and went on to make arguably their best record - 'Oberon' (Origin Records). For Bek-Jean, the magic of Eva Trout was dissipating and her heart wasn't fully there in the making of their last record - 'The Birds Album' (Origin Records). Bek-Jean needed time out from touring and the pressure of being the front person in the band was weighing heavily upon her. Eva Trout split amicably and they remain great friends today.

Bek-Jean needed another outlet for her creative energy and it wasn't a surprise to some when she took up the drums. In 2003 she joined her friend Perry Keyes in another rock and roll band, and filled the spot as the drummer. The weight lifted, giving her the energy to write again for her solo record. She continues to play in 'Perry Keyes and Give My Love to Rose'.

Bek-Jean's new record, 'Junior Years' (Laughing Outlaw) is a collection of songs about love and hate, two emotions she is heavily familiar with. It draws on her experiences of adolescence and adulthood and the transformation of emotions within one's head space during an epiphany of love. Bek-Jean is quoted as saying "Junior Years is songs written when I was Jesus' age, and I think anyone who lives to and beyond Jesus' age deserves a gold star and a smiley stamp on their hand."

The record was recorded up at Leisure Suit Studios in Mangrove Mountain, NSW, Australia. This is where Grant Shanahan lives and Bek-Jean and he share their studio. Bek-Jean plays most of the instruments on the record and had a very clear direction of the sounds she wanted for it. Her references were 'The Replacements', 'Neil Young' and 'Aimee Mann' to name a few. She used Matt Galvin on guitar (formerly Eva Trout) and Grant on bass and her live band now consist of the 'Eva Trout' rhythm section being Mick Carpenter (drums), Grant (bass) and Matt (guitar). Funny how life goes full circle.

Nowadays Bek-Jean cruises the inner city Sydney suburb of Newtown in "The Blood" her cherished 1966 Rover that was handed down to her from her Grandmother. The car was christened "The Blood" by Bek-Jean when she was about 6 years old not from the cars colour but from the "thermometer style" speedo. She spends her time hanging out with her dog, Biscuit and making up songs, going up to the studio and working on her next record. As she washes dishes in a local café, Bek-Jean is deep in lyric in an attempt to free her mind of her emotions. Without her songs as a release, the feelings stay in and in her words "the monsters will remain within until the day I die".