Bethany Cosentino reveals that she is disappointed by the reception of her debut solo album

Speaking about the decision to put Best Coast on an indefinite hiatus, Cosentino said, “My identity as a human being, and as an artist, has been so wrapped up in Best Coast for over a decade. The decision to pause the project indefinitely, and explore a new side of myself, was a very difficult one to make - but it felt necessary for me.

Her debut solo album, Natural Disaster, was released in July to critical acclaim. BEST FIT rated the album 8/10, writing: "Ultimately, though, it’s impossible to knock the commitment or the ambition. Cosentino knew exactly what kind of sparkling, big-hearted album she wanted to make, and the combination of her acidity and producer Butch Walker’s polish delivers way more often than not. For all its pomp and broad appeal, it brims with the artist’s personality and is a delight to connect with."

Yesterday evening, Cosentino posted a TikTok video discussing the album’s rollout and revealing that she’s “so disappointed” with how it’s gone, even though she knows that there isn't really anybody to blame.

Interestingly, there are multiple comments on the video from TikTok users saying that they didn't even know that Cosentino had released a solo album, which feeds into her thoughts of it being an impossible game trying to rely on social media apps and algorithms to make you the next top artist.

"I put so much of myself into this record — into the writing of this record, into the recording of this record. I left fucking California for the first time ever to make a record. Like, I walked away from my identity. I walked away from Best Coast, and I said, “I’m gonna go be Bethany. I’m gonna go make this thing.” And I have to be really fucking honest with you. I am so disappointed with the way things have gone," Cosentino admits.

@bethanycosentino Hi this is long but I wanted to tell you the truth ❤️ #dissapointment #fearoffailure #singersongwriter #believeinyourself #expectationvreality ♬ original sound - bethany cosentino

Cosentino acknowledges that "it's really nobody's fault. It just is the state of the music industry". Whilst she has had a lot of support in the press, and has played a few shows, she says "it really sucks to feel like you put all of yourself and so many years of your life into this creative project and then to just have these expectations and have these desires and have them completely fall flat." She adds that the amount of selling yourself, creating videos, and personal promotion that you have to do in the lead up to a release only to have an anticlimactic result, where it feels like in terms of commercial success, the album has faded away from view, is defeating.

"I have beat myself up over this for so many months. I have said, 'Well, you just suck. You’re too old for this industry. There’s all these cooler younger people who took your place'," she continues, noting that she wonders if people are thinking that she should return to Best Coast in order to feel successful.

"The truth is that Best Coast for me, at this point, feels like trying to fit into a pair of pants that I don’t fit into anymore. And this is not to discredit it. This is not to say that I don’t love what I’ve created. This is not to say that I don’t love Bobb. This is not to say that I don’t love you guys and the people that are here because of Best Coast. It’s just to say that it’s really hard to do something that doesn’t feel like you anymore, and I do believe that as human beings we are meant to evolve."

Wondering whether her expectations were too high for the album, Consentino says that she doesn't want anybody to think she was a failure. If anything, she says believing in yourself means that you should have expectations and big dreams. "I don’t want to sound like I’m so petty, bitter person. I just genuinely think the record I made is really fucking good, and I love it. And again, that’s what matters. I guess maybe at the heart of this message is: If you really love something, do it. Don’t give up. Don’t overthink it."