What I've been listening to...

Just thought I'd update anyone who was interested, I've been listening to some old and some new and would certainly recommend every single song!


The Teardop Explodes- Bouncing Babies.
This is a song from an album that I cannot listen to just once. At the moment it is constantly on repeat! My dad showed me the album when I was on holiday in my early teens and have been hooked since. It's not everyones cup of tea but I like this song particularly.

Hot Feet- Wood House.

Now to a more recent (and for a while, local!) band, Hot Feet. These guys are currently based in Stroud and I love what they do. Marianne has an incredible 60's esque voice and her guitarist Jack has style beyond many a guitarist I've ever met! This video is a gorgeous summing up of their total marrying of musical flavours. Love it!

Natalie Prass- Deer.
After supporting the AMAZING The Apache Relay in November last year, Mike Harris (a wonderful Tennessee'n guitarist and cuddler..) told me to check out this chick, and bloody glad I did! She has a beautiful little EP that I bought and have been listening to it ever since. Natalie Prass would be a good choice if you like Feist and all voices soft and sweet.

Jessie Ware (& Sampha)- Valentine.
I came across this video recently and fell totally in love with it! I love the sounds used, how percussive it is, her melodies and vocal range that she uses and just that they can squeeze such a great track into just over 2 mins! Thats how it should be. Check out other Jessie Ware stuff, tis all very good.

The Invisible- London Girl.
These guys I heard about because the bassist is married to the conductor of my choir (who are also in a very adorable duo Moats and Thrones) and they are awesome. Although I hate comparing artist to artist I will here because I thought it as soon as I heard this track- they're like a soulful Bloc Party- the bass lines are so awesome in this track and i'm a total sucker for a good ol bass melody. Tune indeed The Invisible.

Thats all from me! I would love to hear what else everyone is listening to.. please comment if you want to share!

Bella x

Communion: Rae Morris

I have just been confirmed to support Rae Morris in Brighton at The Hope for her Communion tour. I'm very excited to be playing this show had hoped for a while that I'd get a chance to be involved!

If you've not heard of her stuff before, you should have a look at some of the video footage that she did for Burberry:

This is my fave video of the ones she did for Burberry Acoustic. Some would say a perfect match for two hair pianists! Rae has the kind of voice that I like more and more every time I hear it. I saw her at Communion recently and she was fab, looking very much forward to seeing her perform in Brighton.

For tickets click here!: http://www.communionmusic.co.uk/live/eventdetails/8-mar-12-rae-morris-the-hope/

Looking forward to playing live again, also playing some violin for my dear friend Ez Stone.


Bella x

The Staves and The Folkroom!

This week has been mega busy! I got a call about a last minute support slot for The Staves who are just about the most beautiful sisters around:

I performed supporting them at The Hope in Brighton as part of their Communion tour and it was a fantastic show. As well as being lucky enough to actually receive their first Radio 1 play that day, I realised that on the 5th December 2010 I supported these girls for the first time at a Communion christmas show in Notting Hill! A year later and we were reunited on the same day, for the same promoter but in a different town, crazy!

The show was all round successful, I really enjoyed their set and look forward to seeing how they do in the future, after chatting to them after the show they told me that they only had 4 days off for christmas, hectic times for busy ladies.

Later in the week I played with  a dear friend of mine Alex Wells from Twin Brother at The Folk Room in Kings Cross, a lovely night was that, whiskey fuelled and all!

Gearing up for christmas, everyones getting ready. madness.

Taraa!! x

Goldsmiths Vocal Ensemble

I joined the most WONDERFUL choir recently, lead by the beautfiul ESKA:

She is just amazing! We're singing three really fantastic shows this month with her, singing parts for songs that she has written (like the one above!) and also some fabulous christmassy tunes.
The first show we're doing is at The Bedford in Balham on the 11th December for One Taste's 7th Birthday! http://onetaste.co.uk/events/2011/onetastes-7th-birthday/
The second show we're doing I am VERY excited about, as I'm playing at one of my favourite venues in the whole of London: The Union Chapel!! On the 13th December we're supporting The Choir with No Name! Watch out for some photos for that.. I hope someone films it!

Gotta get my rehearsals on for that... x

Lindi Ortega!

So I haven't updated  this in a while! Just to update you on what has been happening.

The single launch went really well, since then I have just been writing and rehearsing since then, playing a few more shows too!
Here's a couple pictures of a show I did with Lindi Ortega in October:

I'm going to start trying to blog properly from now one, things are happening but i'm keeping them to myself... haha.
Expect some wonderful choir photos/videos/rants about my wonderful new choir.
and lots of christmassy stufff! (some christmas tree cookies and a santa plate ooooh yeah)

Love x

Zimbalam!

Zimbalam interviewed me on monday! and you can see it here: http://zimbalamfeatures.tumblr.com/post/8729612083/bella-spinks-big-interview

It's very exciting to be featured on their website; they've done a lot to promote the single and for that I'm very grateful. Last week they wrote a lovely piece on me and my single:
http://zimbalamfeatures.tumblr.com/post/8640468763/bellaspinks

Keep an eye on them, they write very nice things!

Bella x

Single Launch Week!!!

SO the single is officially out! yaay! I had the single launch on sunday night 24th July in Brighton, which was really lovely. Despite the bill not being particularly suited to me (down to the promoter..) the venue packed out as I was playing, which was such a compliment because I didn't know many of the people there! The atmosphere was really great, it was quiet and everyone seemed really relaxed! The set went well, even though I had planned to play a new song but got cut short because of timings :(. But overall, it as a really wonderful night.

The launch in London happened on wednesday 27th july at Strongroom, which was also a good night. The two supporting acts were two lovely ladies, one of which was a little ill so only played 3 songs :(! But it was nice to play with artists who were similar to eachother and to me, it was a good feel to night.

Overall this week has gone extremely well, it's made me very excited for the months ahead! Watch this space for  some news of shows etc. :)

Bella x