Music
Fresh List
Ticketmaster Fresh List 2026: Becky McNeice
We met up with Belfast pop artist Becky McNeice to talk about collaboration, staying true to yourself, and her new EP 'Popular Loner 2'.
Can you introduce yourself?
Yes, my name is Becky McNeice. I’m a pop artist from Belfast and I’m this month’s Ticketmaster Fresh List act.
How did you get your start in music?
Singing in the shower, honestly. Just annoying my parents and annoying my family. Then I started playing guitar, writing some music, and just thought it was magical, and couldn’t stop trying to get better. So that’s where I’m at now. Just loving music as well, I loved all sorts growing up. Had my wee CD player and it was never off. So yeah, I just kept going with what I loved.
How would you describe your music?
I would say it feels sad, but sounds happy, and it’s sort of like a mix of pop, rock, electronic pop, maybe with an indie sort of vibe as well. Just a mix of everything that I like.
Who are your influences?
So many and it changes every day, nearly. But growing up, I was obsessed with Black Eyed Peas, Elton John, Lorde, and Justin Bieber.
What would be your dream venue to play?
I want to do a headline in The SSE Arena. That’s the dream. I mean, there’s more throughout the world, but doing a big gig at home would be class.
Do you have any backstage rituals?
Going completely mute and just not talking, and shaking and trembling. That’s the only one.
What’s been your most memorable live experience?
It was in The SSE Arena two years ago, me and Young Spencer, a good friend of mine. We opened up a show in there, and I got to come on and run about for a few minutes and sing a tune that was just class, because it’s always been my dream. And as I say, I hope to get back in there, so let me back in.
Who would be on your dream festival line up?
Well, I would have to be in there. I would actually have to be in everyone’s set and have my own too. I would say, honestly, just same as I said before, Black Eyed Peas, Elton John, Lorde. Who else? CMAT, I love CMAT these days. Yeah, I think that’s it, just us and then me in everyone’s set. I need to be involved in everything. I’m more interested in that. Like, when you’re watching someone, I’m thinking of being on the stage with them. I’m not even enjoying it. I’m just like, I want to be up there singing all the tunes as well.
How do you approach songwriting?
I try not to think about it really at all. I write a lot of stuff on guitar, and then I just let someone else take over with the production most of the time. So, yeah, just grab the guitar and just start saying gibberish and messing about, and then just land on something you like and keep running with it.
You produce too right?
Yeah, yeah, I would produce. I feel like everyone, or maybe not everyone, has a kind of block around it though. Once I get so far with something I think, this could just sound way better, and I don’t always have the vision to take it further. But, yeah, I do produce a lot of stuff, and I’m happy with the stuff that I have produced, but it can be hit or miss.
So what would you say a good producer is bringing to the table?
I would say just like another angle. If you’ve been making, or sitting with something, you need perspective. It’s like anything. Like, when a designer makes a poster, you need someone else to look at it, just to give you the fresh eyes, you know? No matter how far you get with it, I feel like there’s always more that could be done. And yeah, collaborators just bring their own world of inspiration, and then I leave with more things to think about as well. I think it’s not good to be stuck in your own kind of, like, echo chamber of ideas and everything. Even though I like my own ideas, other people’s are awesome too. You need to be tuning in to inspiration from everywhere, really.
On that note, who would be your dream collaboration?
Hmm, that will take me ages to think about. Dream collab? I’m trying not to think of the obvious answers. I’ve always said, it’s just everyone that released a song in 2015, that’s who I want to collab with. No, like, I would actually always say this, but I would love to do a collab with Trisha Paytas. Don’t know if you know about Trisha Paytas, but I love her so much. Maybe not best known as a musician, but I think that would be fun. Like, I don’t know, I want to have a giggle. I don’t want to be serious all the time. So Trisha Paytas, I need the Trisha Paytas collab. Love you, Trisha Paytas, honestly.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Probably just to be confident with what is coming from yourself. I think sometimes some artists don’t feel comfortable with committing to what they’re doing. Especially if it’s, like, a wee bit different, or it’s not getting much attention. It’s hard to, like, stand on business with the stuff you’re putting out and everything. But I think the best advice I’ve been given is just, like, there literally is only one of your brain, so whatever it’s doing of its own accord is going to be different and amazing. So just stick with that. And you can copy, and everyone does copy, that’s part of art, but at the same time, use your own taste and trust your own judgment, like, that’s really it.
What would be the key track of yours that you recommend people listen to?
I would say ‘Nothing At All’ on my new EP, Popular Loner 2, I feel like it just covers all the bases. It’s got so many different sections, and it progresses so much that it kind of just goes through all my moods sonically.
What is your career highlight to date?
I think my favourite thing I’ve done is when I went to Estonia last year. I did a gig there, my first gig, like, outside of Ireland. I didn’t know what to expect at all, but it was their music week in Tallinn. I just met so many different people and kind of overcame such a fear of performing in different countries. I mean, it’s like, different everywhere. Like, the culture is always different. Especially for how different countries intake music and watch gigs and everything. So I was always very comfortable with performing in Ireland. It’s like, okay, Irish people, we’re all loud. We’re all getting involved. Even if we’re not loving it, you know, we’ll get involved. You don’t want to see anyone down, you know? You don’t want to be silent in the crowd. So I was just kind of scared, like, what’s it going to be like in other places? And that was just a real highlight. I met so many new friends, had a really fun performance. And then I would also say, this year I did Whelan’s Ones To Watch with my band Sparkle. Shout out to Sparkle, who are going to be playing with me on the 18 June. And yeah, I think that was just our best performance to date. And like, the most fun I’ve had performing pretty much ever.
Could you tell us more about your new EP?
I put out my second EP, Popular Loner 2 on 3 April. So it’s out there now for everyone to listen to. I think it shows a lot of growth from the past couple years of making music. And this is kind of just where I’ve ended up. I’m really proud of this project. I hope everyone listens to it. It’s kind of like a new, or new-ish sound for me. It has more pop-rock kind of vibes, and I love it so much. Also, Popular Loner merch is coming soon.
Where can fans see you next?
I will be performing my first ever headline show on 18 June in Whelan’s Upstairs, Dublin, so everybody get your tickets. I’ve got lovely new merch that will be getting sold on the day. And yeah, I’m going to be performing with my band, Sparkle, who are all awesome and so talented. And REI will be opening up as well. So I’m excited for that. He’s a really cool, talented guy from somewhere around Dublin, I’m not sure, but yeah, he’s awesome, and he’s been producing some stuff with me as well. So it’s gonna be so fun.
What does the next year look like for Becky McNeice?
Plans for the next year is to hopefully play loads more shows. That’s what it’s really all about for me, at the minute. I’m always making music, but I’m not always performing and getting the chance to be on stage. So I definitely hope the year brings a lot more of that. And, yeah, more music as well. I’ve been holding so much stuff back, so after the headline show, I’m gonna be flat out releasing everything. So get involved, everybody.
Becky McNeice plays Upstairs at Whelan’s, Dublin on 18 June 2026. You can buy tickets here.
Artists can submit themselves for consideration for the Fresh List here.
