BELLA MASONE TALKS CALL ME BELLA

"The work behind it started much earlier"

BELLA MASONE TALKS CALL  ME BELLA

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

It was just last summer you announced, and shortly after released, your first single. For how long had you worked on all this before that reveal?

Although the single was officially announced and released last summer, the work behind it started much earlier. I spent over two months developing the project before it was ever revealed to the public. The majority of my summer was devoted to bringing it to life, whether that meant writing, recording, or refining every detail. By the time it was announced, it had already been a deeply personal and time-intensive journey.

What was it like tying the full EP together the way we hear it now, not least in terms of being a coherent body of work. How close to release did you end up working on it to not only finish it but also tie it with a ribbon on top?

When the EP was announced it was actually only about halfway finished. I spent the following weeks fully immersed in recording the music, pushing to make sure every detail felt intentional. I was working on it right up until about a month before the release, making sure everything not only sounded polished but also felt cohesive as a body of work. Interestingly, the song 'Ego' was a fairly last-minute addition. I did not write that song with the EP in mind, but once it was finished, it just clicked. The themes and tone sat in such natural harmony with the rest of the project that it felt like it always belonged there.

Why do the songs on 'Call Me Bella' belong together?

Each song on 'Call Me Bella' reflects a moment in my life that taught me something, sometimes in ways I did not realize until much later, some of the songs were born from situations I wish had gone differently, while others came from experiences that, even in their difficulty, revealed something essential about life and about myself. Whether it was heartbreak, growth, insecurity, or resilience, every track carries a lesson that helped shape the person I am today. That is part of why the EP is titled 'Call Me Bella', it is a collection of experiences that made me who I am. It’s me claiming my name, my voice, and the story that comes with it.

You started as a dancer. Was it just very natural for you to fall in love with music from there?

Dance was where it all started for me, but as I got older, I realized I didn’t just want to interpret the emotions in a song, I wanted to create them. There were feelings and stories I felt like only I could convey and songwriting became the space where I could give them shape. I took piano and voice lessons from a young age, which helped me build the tools to express myself more fully. Even though not many people in my family are musicians, they’ve always had a deep love for the arts. I grew up surrounded by old musicals and a strong appreciation for storytelling through music, so I had this rich exposure early on, that really nurtured my creativity.

Dancing can be very freeing, losing yourself and letting the music take over. Expressing feelings that way can be powerful. Is that something you hope your own music will do for others as well?

Dancing has always been important to me, it's freeing in the way it lets you feel deeply without needing to explain anything. That’s the same energy I hope to carry into my music. More than anything, I want people to feel seen when they listen. I want them to experience emotions or ideas that might feel uncomfortable at first, but that ultimately help them learn more about themselves. Just like dance, I don’t want my music to evoke just one response or one "style" of movement, I want it to be interpretive. An experience that gives the mind space to grow, question, and flourish in a world of different ideas. If a song of mine can do that for someone, even in a small way, then it’s doing exactly what I hoped it would.

What inspiration would you say you have with you. What influences blends together to create what is uniquely Bella?

I grew up in a big family of hard-working people, my parents did not have anything handed to them, and their experiences in life really shaped me. Seeing that struggle and resilience made me more in touch with what truly matters in life. For me, the meaning of life is love, not just romantic love, but the love for the simple things and the love for people in general. That is something I try to weave into every aspect of my music. I’m inspired by artists who are vulnerable enough to share their most uncomfortable moments with the world and allowing listeners to see parts of themselves in those raw experiences. I am also drawn to artists who create music that's so sonically immersive it almost feels like it's sinking into my brain. Making me feel weightless or like I'm levitating. It's that kind of feeling I hope to give to others through my music.

This mostly being songs you wrote a little while ago, what space are you in now creatively. Have you been back in the studio since wrapping this EP up?

Yes, I’ve definitely been back in the studio. The praise I’ve received for the EP has been incredibly encouraging, but instead of resting on that, it’s made me even more determined to keep improving and reach for the stars. More songs are definitely on the way. Creatively, my outlook on life changes by the day, and I think that adds a little spice and reality into my music. I try to embrace the constant evolution of my thoughts and experiences because it keeps everything fresh and real. As I grow, my music grows with me, and I’m excited for what’s coming next. I want to make sure that every new track feels just as authentic and impactful as the last.