Cruz Beckham has opened up about criticism surrounding his privileged background in the music industry, telling Rolling Stone that he "completely understands" the frustrations directed at him.
The 21-year-old son of David and Victoria Beckham, whose indie-rock outfit The Breakers has been attracting considerable attention, addressed suggestions that his family connections have given him an unfair advantage.
"I completely understand it," he stated in the interview. "On one hand, I can't control what family I come from but on the other hand I am so aware that I'm incredibly fortunate, which is why it means even more to me to do this the right way and try to be as proud of myself as I can."
The young musician expressed a strong desire to prove himself through grassroots performances rather than relying on his famous surname to open doors.
The star has opened up about being in a family with his successful footballer dad and model/singer mother
|"I really want to do this the right way – I want to play live in these independent venues across the country," he explained.
His debut tour is drawing to a close this week with three sold-out performances at London's Courtyard Theatre.
"I want to earn my stripes, I want to work really hard, I want to learn to be the best musician I can be, I want to meet my fans, and ultimately see where this mad journey takes me," he added.
His father David attended the Manchester date, where Cruz performed wearing his dad's football shirt.
Mr Beckham recently sang alongside his mother and three other Spice Girls
|When asked why he chose to perform under his real name rather than adopting a stage name, Beckham pointed to the central role of authenticity in his creative process.
"I realised quite quickly when I was in studios that nothing resonates more than honesty in music," he said. "Honesty, truth, and speaking from your own experience. So anything else would've felt inauthentic."
The musician, whose mother Victoria found fame as a Spice Girl before launching her fashion career, suggested that concealing his identity would have undermined the personal nature of his songwriting.
The youngster is going on tour with his band The Breakers
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"I didn't spend that much time writing songs to better understand who I was, to then be someone else," he explained.
He recently appeared alongside his mother and three former Spice Girls members in a viral Instagram video.
The Breakers have been steadily building their catalogue since October, releasing tracks such as 'For Your Love', 'Optics' and 'Lick The Toad', and have accumulated more than 150,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
Brooklyn recently cut ties with his family
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Following the 13-date UK and European tour, which included stops in Birmingham and Paris, Beckham will embark on his first American dates.
The US leg will take in Washington DC, New York, Toronto, Seattle and Los Angeles, with festival slots at Lollapalooza, Outside Lands and Shaky Knees also confirmed.
The stateside tour will bring him geographically closer to his estranged elder brother Brooklyn, 27, who lives in Los Angeles with wife Nicola Peltz, 31.
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The young musician has a close bond with his parents
Beckham became emotional while performing 'Loneliest Boy' in London this week, a track thought to reference his sibling, and has expressed hope for reconciliation following the public family rift in January.
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