Indie Artist Beatrix’s Vulnerable Songwriting Helps Her Process Past Feelings

Written by Nina Kremer | Photo by Makayla Keasler | September 1, 2026

The name Beatrix has roots in the Latin word for voyager, which makes it a fitting stage name for singer-songwriter Arielle Beatrice Kasnetz, as she travels back in time in her sophomore album, “We Swallowed The Sky,” to process one of the most difficult periods of her life.

The alternative indie artist is on the rise, garnering over 250 thousand views on TikTok for her haunting music video for the album’s first single, “Ghosts of Tennessee." Coming off of her first-ever tour supporting Nashville-based artist Cece Coakley, Beatrix is now moving into the spotlight, having played her first New York solo show on July 28. 

She sat down with HAZZE in June to discuss her latest album, its inspiration and what it's like to share personal stories with listeners. She said she may even have more music coming out later this year.

Embarking on her solo career was simultaneously a leap of faith and a return to form for the artist who said it was always her dream to be a singer. She said her mom told her she started singing before she could talk, and a young Beatrix found a love for music by performing the “Annie” soundtrack with her karaoke machine. Still, despite studying classical voice at Vanderbilt, she said she considered opting for a more reliable career as a doctor or lawyer.

But when the pandemic hit and Beatrix was left alone with ample free time and the guitar her parents had gotten her for her birthday, isolation sparked inspiration. She started writing her own songs for the first time and knew she had found her calling.

“When I first started recording demos, I was like so hooked,” Beatrix said. “I was like, ‘This is what I want to do for the rest of my life,’ and I never looked back.”

Once she was committed to pursuing music professionally, she was determined to put her songs out. The release of her debut single, “Vertigo,” in 2024, sparked conversations with labels, but none offered her a concrete deal. She decided to back her own venture and independently produced her debut album.

“I'm gonna put this out, and I'm not gonna wait around for a label, you know, to decide that it's good enough,” Beatrix said she thought at the time. “Like I thought that it was great, and it was done. I did it for a very low budget, but yeah, I just felt like I was 25 and I was like, ‘It's time to start putting things out there and see what happens.”

As it happened, the debut album garnered interest from Nice Life Recording Company, which released “We Swallowed The Sky” in April. For her first release with Nice Life, Beatrix was joined by several experienced session musicians like guitarist Harrison Whitford who has worked with Phoebe Bridgers, pianist Zac Rae who has worked with Fiona Apple, pedal steel player Greg Leisz who was worked with Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, and string arranger Rob Moose who has worked with Taylor Swift.

“We Swallowed The Sky” explores the lasting effects of her most turbulent college-era breakup. Beatrix said pain is a common theme that she likes to explore, using her music to process the visceral feelings and move forward.

“It was a really hard time in my life,” Beatrix said. “It was a really devastating breakup, and even all these years later, like it was still coming up in my own relationships. So yeah, it just helped me process some of those lingering emotions.”

Beatrix said she didn’t feel intimidated about sharing the songs when she first wrote them, though she experienced a bit of nerves before making her feelings public on the album. Still, she felt the memories were good fodder for musical inspiration, and that it is part of her job to be vulnerable.

“I'm proud of my songs, and I'm not like super shy about sharing emotions,” Beatrix said. “I think it like it has to be done if you want to share music that makes you uncomfortable, like that's part of that's what I signed up for.”

One popular artist Beatrix cites as songwriting inspiration is Mitski. Beatrix said she finds Mitski’s lyrics equally poetic and accessible, a balance she tries to artfully strike in her own songwriting. She said she admires Mitski’s poignant portrayal of young womanhood and aspires to write similarly impactful music.

“I think sadness and pain are easier for me to tap into, generally, than like joy,” Beatrix said. “That sounds so sad, but it's true. I mean, in my day-to-day life, I'm a happy person, but this like really gives me — it's my outlet for all of those, you know, painful things.”

Though “We Swallowed The Sky” was produced in Los Angeles, she said the album was sonically inspired by her time living in Nashville. Having been surrounded by country music, she felt inclined to lean toward an indie-Americana sound. Beatrix often traverses new musical territories, describing how she travels between indie, rock and Americana all on the same album, while trying to remain true to her own voice as an artist.

As she looks to the future, Beatrix plans to continue sharing her feelings with listeners, this time exploring even more personal themes. She notes that her third album, which she said she is currently writing, is not about a boy.

“It's not really about a relationship. So that's new for me,” Beatrix said. “It's more about myself and my faith, and [an] existential crisis, and I'm exploring like death, and yeah more like existential themes. It's more about me.”

With her third album, Beatrix is embarking on her next emotional voyage, sharing that she’s writing what she feels compelled to in the moment.