BEL IS DISARMING AND ARRESTING WITH NEW TRACK “BETTER THAN ME”
Melbourne-based artist Bel is back in 2020 and is hitting the ground running with a sultry and expansive new track that proves she is worth paying attention too. “Better Than Me” showcases an artist who is assertive in her message, an artist who rejects genre conventions and exists as an amalgamation of art, music, creative direction and fashion. The track’s crisp production has a unique and exotic allure. “Better Than Me” doesn’t exist just to be listened to; it is meant to be consumed through all the senses.
Bel is an artist born from an academic, and almost supernatural cataclysm. She exists in a world of her own design where the ugly and raw nature of the world is not looked at through rose coloured glasses. Everything is real and authentic, with no veil to hide imperfections. Instead, Bel celebrates them, unashamed and unwilling to compromise in her approach.
The accompanying music video for “Better Than Me”, directed by Roxie Halley and Phebe Schmick, is a hypnotising affair which perfectly encapsulates the warmth imbued in the track. The video is unique to Bel, who has a hands-on approach to everything she does. Each frame, garment, movement, prop positioning and so forth is thought out and understood by her in order to convey her message.
WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR “BETTER THAN ME” HERE
Her debut EP Melancholia, released two years ago with co-producer, multi-ARIA nominated John Castle, had the Australian music industry transfixed. The release earnt Bel praise from The Music, PileRats, Yen Magazine, Beat Magazine, Happy Mag and a host of triple j presenters, plus triple j play, over 12,000 views on the title track’s exquisite music video, and comparisons to the likes of Banks, Sevdaliza and FKA Twigs.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "MELANCHOLIA" HERE
Whereas others might have forged forward, Bel did something perhaps more courageous, stepping away from the spotlight to better understand herself and her craft. Those two years have seen Bel refocus on who she is as an artist, exploring through different mediums of poetry, creative direction, fashion, visual art and design in order to answer the deeper question of what she believes in, what drives her and what she wishes to become. Bel returns to us now more aware of herself and strong in her convictions as an artist. Bel returns to us now more aware of herself and fiercer than ever. You won’t be able to look away. She will make sure of that.
The young and daring artist Bel strives to remove stigmas and present her work from an unfiltered perspective. She wants you to walk, sweat, move, cry, listen, learn and evolve beside her; nestled comfortably in the world of Bel she is creating. Please join Bel, she welcomes you with open arms.
“Better Than Me” is available for purchase and stream on all platforms now!
A note from BEL:
I am speaking to you; yes, you.
I ask both of us the following:
Why would you be a flower that blooms when you could be a fire that burns? What made you so afraid of losing yourself in a daydream? When did you decide to take the turmeric out of the recipe? The answers - we know, the questions - we doubt.
Unwrap the layers of this invitation to defy the narratives that chronicle our limitations, dictate our feats and water our blaze.
It started with a prompt; a singular word from a glorified witch. A powerful transference of passion for the unconventional.
Art in its various identities – sonic, lyrical, visual...
I choose not to beautify the human condition nor romanticise the world we inhabit. Just maybe, together, we can reverse the frame; inside out versions of a singular cell. I want connection, with you.
I am Bel - welcome to our new world.
Praise For BEL:
"There’s something truly striking about Melbourne’s newest pop icon, BEL." - Purple Sneakers
"Rich is a woman with a clear vision and direction for this project, mixing the art and fashion worlds with her music." - PileRats
"Melancholia is an impactful, engaging EP from start to finish." - The Music
“There’s a new type of ballad in town, and gone are the big chords, big voices and bigger hair. These tunes of communal catharsis are roomy and gloomy affairs; vocals wafting over fudgy chords, thrumming basslines speckled with electronics.” - Beat Magazine
“‘Melancholia’ features textured synths, unforgettable hooks and driving beats amid Bel’s gorgeous vocals. The clip is restless and gripping, as it swerves from black water bathtubs to curling pythons and murderous hands, never relenting and completely mesmerising until the last moment.” - Yen Magazine
"Combining ethereal vocals embedded with her spooky sonic allure, BEL has beautifully created pop music from the shadows." - AAA Backstage
“Bel gives BANKS a run for her money! Dark, sultry, next-level pop!” - Celine Narinli of Triple J
“Bel’s entire routine is self-directed — special personal attention is paid not just to her sonic releases, but also the visuals that accompany them (and even the styling that you see via her BTS stories on insta). Everything, down to the Off-White knee-highs, is true creative expression.” - Oyster Mag
“Bel is a wonderful multidisciplinary artist making waves around the country. She encapsulates the current zeitgeist. She is a feast for the eyes as well as the ears.” - Music Love