googly eyes

Googly Eyes, a classically trained vocalist backed by Tove Lo, approaches mainstream pop with unapologetic directness. Following an active stretch issued under an earlier alias, she abandoned those prior accomplishments to construct a fresh strain of alternative pop, earning prompt traction across independent outlets.

Bethany Ann Warner entered the world in Houston, Texas, as an early bloomer whose drive toward music received steady family support. Christian hymns filled the household courtesy of her parents and sister, while a copy of FL Studio arrived as a graduation present, spurring continued songwriting and recording that had already begun during her teenage years. College took her first to Baylor University for opera training, then to Belmont University in Nashville, where she changed majors to commercial voice before completing her studies at the rigorous Limpi Music program in Lillehammer, Norway.

While still enrolled, Warner issued self-released material she described as “poetic pop” under the name Deza, with several tracks placed in independent films. A complete rebrand occurred in 2022, when she began sharing lo-fi, electronic-based demos as Googly Eyes. The eccentric song titles “Don’t Forget to Breathe,” “Sex Sells,” and “I Like Being Human” appeared alongside a spare visual style featuring potted plants and off-center selfies. These recordings drew the notice of pop singer Tove Lo, who selected Googly Eyes as the initial external act for her Neon Gold-distributed Pretty Swede imprint; the resulting collaboration yielded the debut EP Starlet, containing the songs “Internet Star,” “Brand New Bitch,” and “Bareback on the Motherfucking Plains.”