BELLA RIOS TALKS RIGHT NOW

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

What, and should one maybe say whom, inspired you to write this song?

I hold this song incredibly close to my heart especially “right now.” Oh God, I’m turning into my mom with the pun jokes and I swear that one wasn’t even intentional. I’m at the very tail end of my college experience, which is what inspired the track. Well, was the second wave of inspiration after I wrote the rough demo my junior year of high school. It’s a bittersweet love song to the last four years. Honestly the happiest of my life. Of course, that is largely because of the amazing friends I have made along the way, so most of the song was written with them in mind.

What does your songwriting mean in terms of offering a different outlook on current experiences. Do you usually write about things head on while you’re experience them or as a way to look back and reflect on what’s been before?

I can always rely on the writing process to give me perspective usually about exactly what I am experiencing in that moment or feeling most strongly at the time. While most of my songs, at least at their inception, have one particular emotion or moment at their core, as I go through the process of reflection writing requires, I recall previous situations, evaluate how I responded to them, pinpoint similarities, and with those as reference, start to work through, as best as I know how, what I’m currently going through.

This music video looks like it was really cold to make?

It was pretty brutal. I won’t lie. I was absolutely freezing, but it was so worth it. Just kept reminding myself to do exactly that, "remember the bigger picture", what the frostbite was for, and how exciting the result would be!

How did music become such an early part of your life?

All credit has to go to my parents. Especially my mom. Music was a constant in our house. My mind is flooded with random memories just trying to think of one, dance parties to Shakira and Katy Perry in our piano room after weeknight dinners, spring and summer afternoons listening to Kenny Chesney on our back patio, karaoke in the car on the way to school to all the “oldies.” So really, music has just always been a massive part of the happiest times with the people I love the most. Having that association imbued in it from such an early age made it feel like home. And, of course, seeing how much joy it brought me, my parents pushed and supported me in pursuing it, from enrolling me in piano and guitar lessons when I was little to allowing me to travel for songwriting sessions and shows my sophomore year of high school, to now.

It’s very clear that your music is built on a rich and diverse musical taste. I am almost curious to ask what styles or genres that you have not explored?

I mean, I feel like it is pretty much impossible to have explored every genre, there’s just so much out there, especially now. But, I am doing my best to try! Every second I am driving, walking to class, sitting in my room, or just don’t have something to cross of the to do, I’m listening to music, waiting to stumble upon another song to add to my hyper-fixations of the week. I also feel like I at least have some cursory exposure to most types of music because of the eclectic taste my parents curated for me. RnB, classic rock, motown, funk, pop, country, the list goes on! (laughs) So, while there are definitely some that I reference more directly and frequently in my own music, I can’t think of any that don’t have an entry in my musical encyclopedia.

Your passion for music has always been tied to a sense of community, whether through bands or in school, is that sense of togetherness something you deeply value, and perhaps even fear losing?

Definitely. Like my association of music with family, music has had a massive impact on my friendships. The bands I played in throughout high school, were almost entirely made up of my best friends. Half the time rehearsals were just an excuse to hang out. And the rest of the time we spent together, we were listening to music, sharing our newest favorite songs, going to concerts, and so on. That environment was so unique personally and musically. I don't think I could’ve grown in the way I did in any other circumstances, being pushed, supported, and inspired by best friends.

Embracing right now, where are you?

Right now, I am trying to embrace the joy in every moment of this, admittedly, pretty scary, transitional period in my life. Luckily, that’s given me some pretty great songwriting inspiration! And there will definitely be even more new music on the way once I have graduated and am fully focusing on music.