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Belladonna - Single Review: Calling Out Your Name

25 Mar 2020 // A review by jacquiew

Wellington-based singer-songwriter Belladonna’s second single Calling Out Your Name is a refreshing and surprisingly upbeat piece of work, especially given its topic of clinging on to the past. Belladonna has a gift for writing a catchy hook, and she employs that talent to great effect here.The lush and full production by Shannon Fowler does the song credit. I particularly enjoyed the lovely bass playing.


Belladonna’s voice is lilting and easy on the ear. It is clear and true with an undeniably noticeable Kiwi twang. It is great to hear such a natural vocal delivery with Belladonna not trying to sound other than what she is, which gives this track a particularly original feel.

This is an enjoyable offering and I look forward to hearing more from this Belladonna in the future.

Rating: ( 4 / 5 )
 

About Belladonna

Upon entering her family home, it wouldn’t come as a surprise that creativity is a part of Bella Cook’s fabric. 

Covering one wall is a print of an anarchist nun jauntily biking through Christchurch in the 80's - a photograph taken by her dad. Elsewhere, wicker baskets and colourful trinkets are scattered around the house; souvenirs collected by her mother on various journeys.

Born the youngest of four in an intentional community of close-knit families, there was never a shortage of noise or stories to be told in Bella’s home. With quirky neighbours knocking on the door at all hours and sharing rooms with foster siblings she quickly developed a fascination with human behaviour. Long summers were spent road tripping around the backblocks of New Zealand where a steady soundtrack of Wilco, Neil Young, Crowded House and Bic Runga was indelibly pressed into her subconscious. Listening to her dad’s imaginative bedtime tales and her Mum’s exuberant retelling of real-life exploits provided the backdrop of daily life. Within these creative surroundings, songwriting didn’t come naturally for Bella. She was more occupied with short story writing, photography and performing to her unwilling family audience. 

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Belladonna

Releases

Total Eclipse of My Brain
Year: 2021
Type: EP

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