It is truly an honour to be sharing this interview with Bellah today, because not only is she one of the most gifted singers in British R&B right now, she is also my friend—in real life. With us both being from North London, we always had mutual friends growing up, but since entering the music industry some years back, we’ve created a stronger, sister-like bond, so to see her grow as an artist over the years has been a beautiful thing.
Since 2019, Bellah has been consistently giving us heat: the singer-songwriter’s debut EP, Last Train Home, had the critics on their toes, with many not sure if she was actually from the UK or the States based on her R&B output being on the level of greats from the jump. A year later, in 2020, Bellah dropped The Art Of Conversation EP, which she says “let the world know that I was getting sick of doing what I was doing, so that I could grow.” But the real catalyst of her current trajectory is the COLORS live session she did last year for her song “Evil Eye”, which led to co-signs from the likes of SZA, Tems, and BBC 1Xtra’s Nadia Jae.
On Adultsville, her third and latest project, Bellah explores what it means to transition from a girl to a woman in this day and age. Reflecting on her life and career as a whole, it’s the inner page of a diary she says is her “most transformative, painful, eye-opening, beautiful and shitty chapter of my life.”
“I was in the studio with [Grammy-winning songwriter for Beyoncé, Wizkid and more] Ari PenSmith when he asked me, ‘What do you want this project to be about?’ I expressed that I’d been going through a weird time, where the people I thought would be in my life forever were no longer there. Some of the people I’ve met more recently have a bigger place in my heart than some I have known for years. My position in life is changing, so many things are changing for me, and I wanted to talk about it. Ari actually gave this EP the name Adultsville; we created this space where I was at peace, a safe space for me to truly express my thoughts, my doubts, my fears—and the rest.”
We sat down with Bellah to discuss her career thus far, what getting those huge co-signs means to her, her hopes for UK R&B moving forward, and much more.
“The UK’s most reliable source for R&B is me!”
COMPLEX: Hey, friend! [Laughs] I know you well, but I want the readers to get a real feel of who you are, too. Describe Bellah to the world in three words.
Bellah: Mimi! Love, always. So, ‘prolific’ would be the first word because it describes my ability to improve over time, as well as my knowledge and experience. The thirst for knowledge in me never ceases, and I’m always eager to improve. The second word would be ‘different’. The reason I say I’m ‘different’ is because I don’t fit in comfortably, which isn’t a bad thing at all. I actually love the fact that people can’t always place me. And the last word I’d use to describe myself is ‘determined’, because I’m determined to overcome any obstacles that may stand in my way.
Bellah: the artist, and Isobel: the person—what’s the difference, if any?
Bellah: the artist, is a force to be reckoned with. Bellah aims to become a household name, and she executes her plans with precision and caution. Isobel is sentimental, soft, sensitive, and pretty much still a little girl, one who wants to inspire greatness. I consider her to be my inner child. For Bellah to thrive, Isobel does everything in her power to help her, and Bellah does everything in her power to fulfil Isobel’s dreams. Despite Isobel’s responsibilities, Bellah sometimes protects her, and sometimes neglects her.
Powerful. You just released your third project, the brilliant Adultsville EP. That title is quite striking—how did it come to you?
I wanted to create a project that fully represents me. I was in the studio with Ari PenSmith when he asked me, “What do you want this project to be about?” I expressed that I’d been going through a weird time, where the people I thought would be in my life forever were no longer there. Some of the people I’ve met more recently have a bigger place in my heart than some I have known for years. My position in life is changing, so many things are changing for me, and I wanted to talk about it. Ari actually gave this EP the name Adultsville; we created this space where I was at peace, a safe space for me to truly express my thoughts, my doubts, my fears—and the rest. I want this to be the soundtrack to people’s lives.
What has been your experience of transitioning from childhood to adulthood?
It’s the hardest time of my life and I think the transition isn’t going to be any easier. The more I learn and know myself, the more I will have an identity to depend on. So anything that life throws at me won’t phase me as much. This stage is finding balance in morals, in feelings, with a mindset to create this person to live this so-called life. It’s beautiful—a beautiful disaster. Life constantly gives us lessons and we just need to see the beauty in them.
Even the way you answer my questions, it’s like your words could easily be turned into a song. You really have a way with words. When it comes to songwriting, what’s your process?
Conversation and food [laughs]. Honestly! I need to be in a room with creatives and friends and live in the moment. I want to draw from conversations. That’s why my last project is titled The Art Of Conversation because, as humans, we talk about what we know—from our morals to our experiences. Music, for a lot of people, is a pacifier, so people have something they can relate to or know they’re not alone. I feel like familiarity is the key, so it’s me, the music and the listener—and we’re all bonding. When you attach music with time and memory, it hits differently. Believe in conversations—there are so many hidden lessons and gems within them.
Is there a difference between writing for yourself and writing for others artists?
In my experience, there’s less pressure to write for someone else because I don’t have the pressure to write about my story and make it as accurate and vivid. I’m a massive perfectionist when it comes to myself, in comparison to working with someone else. The pressure’s not there because I’m helping someone else’s vision, and we bounce off each other.
“Prototype” and “In The Moment”—is there a particular reason why those songs were chosen as the project’s first two singles?
The process was a three-day camp and it was the third day those songs came. The “Prototype” track kinda came when I was angry with people treating me like I’m a child, or belittling me, so I just put all the energy into the song. “Prototype” was the first single because it’s me telling my fans there’s a shift happening and I’m evolving. Everyone’s heard one version of me, but there’s another version of me that I want people to embrace. It’s all about evolving. “In The Moment”, funnily enough, was a song I didn’t believe in at first. I had some serious self-doubt at the time. You know when you have a weird moment in your creative process when everything isn’t enough? I felt I wasn’t producing the best version of myself. One day, I shared the song with Ari and he told me it was one of the best hooks I’d written, but that made me look at myself and wonder why I didn’t have the discernment to hear that. I feel like these two songs gave the audience a glimpse of what the project was going to be like. It’s a very introverted EP and the singles are very extroverted, so it’s the perfect balance.
“There’s so much range, vocalists and talent within the scene today—it’s growing, but there’s still so much work to do. I’m just happy to be where I am at this stage.”
From Last Train Home to The Art Of Conversation to Adultsville, how would you describe the journey from one project to the other?
It feels like I’ve graduated because there’s been so much development. Regarding each project, Last Train Home was entry-level, as it was my first time entering the music industry—and 2019 was my first time releasing music—so everything was new to me at that point. The Art Of Conversation was the project that let the world know that I was getting sick of doing what I was doing, so that I could grow, and Adultsville is a continuation of my growth but I have something to prove now... The UK’s most reliable source for R&B is me!
Musically, who would you say has influenced you the most?
Frank Ocean, Drake, SZA, Brandy, ABBA... ABBA has the most insane hooks ever! I love Lauryn Hill and Luther Vandross, too. I admire Summer Walker’s authenticity; she came into the game saying some real shit. Daniel Caesar is another one... I actually love alt-R&B: it’s just creative and amazing.
You’ve had some serious co-signs from the likes of Tems and the aforementioned SZA. How did those seals of approval make you feel?
A lot of the snowball effect came from the COLORS video of “Evil Eye”. It’s a blessing to have people I look up to rate my work. I’m aspiring to be like them, so to have them give that co-sign just shows me that I’m doing the right thing. The words of encouragement I got from SZA really gave me hope, and everyone else has been so kind and lovely. It all still feels so unreal that they know and appreciate my work.
Do you feel like your voice is appreciated within British R&B?
You can lose what you want rather than what you have. Objectively, do I feel like my voice is appreciated? Not necessary, but are people showing me love and am I heavily supported by the people? Yes, and I’m forever grateful for that support. Am I on my way to building a community? Most definitely.
How do you feel about the Black British music scene in general right now?
I feel like there are so many of us doing incredible things. We won’t be seen until we realise we don’t need to fight each other and we need to fight against the common enemy for all of us to win. We fight unbelief, which is the common enemy. I do feel like we are a hundred steps ahead in terms of where the scene was before. There’s so much range, vocalists and talent within the scene today—it’s growing, but there’s still so much to do. I’m just happy to be where I am at this stage.
There have been comments online stating that the R&B scene in the UK is limited and artists should move to the States for recognition. What are your thoughts on that?
I think there’s truth to it. But it would be criminal of me to not acknowledge the strides that we’ve made for the genre in this country, especially recently. We’re building in a way that I’ve not seen before. I can feel a shift. We have incredible, world-class acts right here in our back garden, such as FLO, JVCK JAMES, Mnelia, Tamera, and Shae Universe—to name but a few.
What advice would you give to the up-and-coming R&B acts entering the music biz?
Always remember your why—why you started, why you love music, why you love R&B. That will carry you through the peaks and valleys of your career. Be a student of the game and don’t forget to have fun!
In 10 years’ time, where do you see yourself?
A world tour and a legendary album to my name. I would be known in UK R&B history—R&B history, period—and maybe I’d have had a few babies [laughs]. As they say, the future is bright.
