Bella was a Canadian indie pop band from Vancouver, active from 2003 to 2011.
History
Pretty Mess Initially, the band consisted of Cameron Fraser (guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals), Tiffany Garrett Sotomayor (drums, guitar, vocals), Matt Hutchings (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Charla McCutcheon (keyboards).St. Amand, Mindi (2005). "Bella, Pretty Mess", Soulshine. Retrieved June 14, 2019. In 2004, they released their debut album, Pretty Mess, which was recorded in Fraser's bedroom but mixed by Colin Stewart.Noel, Alyssa (October 3, 2007). "", Chart. Retrieved on 2009-10-16.Lindsay, Cam (March 2005). "Bella: Pretty Mess ", Exclaim!. Retrieved on 2009-10-16. Tom Harrison of The Province compared the band's sound to 1980s bands Martha and the Muffins and Altered Images.Harrison, Tom (February 22, 2005). "Quick spins: Bella: Pretty Mess", The Province, p. B5. Music from this album was featured on CBC Radio 3 and on MuchMusic.
No One Will Know Bella was signed to Mint Records, and the second album, No One Will Know, produced by David Carswell and with contributions from Roddy Bottum (Faith No More), Will Schwartz (Imperial Teen), John Collins (the New Pornographers) and Jason Martin (Starflyer 59, was released in 2007.(August 10, 2007). "", Chart. Retrieved on 2009-10-16. It received mostly positive reviews from music critics.Bergstrom, John (January 2, 2008). "Bella: No One Will Know", PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-10-16. In a favourable review of the album, the Edmonton Journal likened the band's sound to that of Tegan and Sara.Ash, Amanda (September 15, 2007). "Album: No One Will Know", Edmonton Journal, p. C3. Exclaim! called it "futuristic indie pop at its most danceable."Papamarko, Sofi (February 2008). "Bella: No One Will Know ", Exclaim!. Retrieved on 2009-10-16. No One Will Know reached the top ten of multiple alternative and college album charts in Canada.Burland, Chris (November 13, 2007). "", Chart. Retrieved on 2009-10-16.(December 8, 2007). "The charts", Edmonton Journal, p. C3.(January 17, 2008). "Top 10", Winnipeg Free Press, p. E2.
Bella toured extensively and performed with The Breeders, Pretty Girls Make Graves, The New Pornographers, Phoenix, Imperial Teen, Viva Voce, 54-40, and The Organ, among others.
The band broke up in 2011, when Sotomayor moved to Barcelona and created the one-woman project 'That Girl With Dark Eyes'.
Discography Pretty Mess (2004), Hideout Records Bella/Columbus (2006, split with Columbus), Pop Echo Records No One Will Know (2007), Mint Records
See also
Music of Canada Canadian rock List of bands from Canada
References