Rising singer-songwriter Karen Bella, who has been hailed as one of the hardest working – and most resilient – women in the business, has released her much-anticipated, self-titled EP. The Fishman®-endorsed performer and recent Sam Ash Music Store “Spotlight Artist” released the six-song album Saturday, March 13 on all DSPs, after putting the project on hold for a year due to the Pandemic.
Bella premiered the songs from the collection just once – live at the Rockwood Music Hall in NYC on March 13, 2020, the night before the world stopped due to Covid-19. Following the performance, she suffered a broken wrist, requiring surgery and several months of therapy, and she then contracted Covid-19. Deciding to focus all of her physical and creative energy on getting healthy and stronger, the release was delayed… until now.
Bella’s self-titled project is a heartfelt record that she describes as “transcending genres and symbolic relationships, inviting listeners to take a journey through triumph and tribulations, wonderment and weariness and, most of all, love and hatred.” To achieve this, Bella enlisted multi-instrumentalist Josh Dion of Paris Monster to produce and help create an album that she says “captures her experiences and spirit,” and one that is already being called her strongest to date.
Perhaps the most pivotal element of the NY-singer-songwriter’s EP is its lyrics. Describing them as “at times, light and free, then diving without apology into traumatic relationships, betrayal, and past struggles with substance abuse,” the words are instrumental in ensuring that every song has a different twist stylistically.
Yet, thanks to the production team that included Dion, Grammy®-Nominated Engineer Jake Lummus, and Nate Woods (mastering), as well as prestigious musicians such as Teddy Kumpel, Geoff Kraly, Chris Parker and Ryan Scott, a consistent, crisp, authentic, timeless, and even “dreamy sound” is woven throughout the album.
“I grew up listening to a multitude of genres. As a songwriter, there are many benefits to having genre versatility,” said Bella. “I get to share my love for Folk, Rock, R&B, Pop, and Country to its fullest. This record represents that. I want my fans to enjoy these little chapters of my life. My goal as a songwriter is to have a positive effect on the listener, because music has been a miraculous coping mechanism for me, helping me to fight the depression and anxiety that followed traumatic life events.”
This wide variety of influences, combined with Bella’s life and musical experiences, have culminated in a collection of songs that is as dynamic and complex as the singer-songwriter herself. Standout tracks like the catchy, County alt-rock anthem “Jack Honey” and the upbeat, pop rock track “Indio” showcase her laid-back, care-free side while the more folk-influenced singles like “Needle In The Hay” and “Good Morning” celebrate her often introspective nature.
Karen Bella is Bella’s sophomore release following her debut album Ordinary Girl in 2013. In between releases she spent her time touring and performing and, prior to the Pandemic, was playing live eight to 10 shows a week in the Tri-State area, at such notable venues as the Rockwood Music Hall, The Bitter End, the Landmark Theater in Port Washington, Great South Bay Music Festival and the Philadelphia Music Festival. She also earned a VIP audition for NBC’s The Voice during this time.
Ultimately, her dream was always to release a collection of songs that she was proud of and that embody the culmination of her musical – and life’s – journey. Thus, Karen Bella was born and will finally be celebrated the way it was intended when it is released this March.
“The world needs music more than ever now. That’s what I’ve learned from all the world’s struggles – including my own – of 2020,” said Bella.
The official track-listing for Karen Bella is as follows:
Fly
Indio
Needle In The Hay
Good Morning
Jack Honey
San Andreas
To learn more about Karen Bella, visit www.karenbella.com
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