Interview by John Wisniewski

JW: Your sound is unique, Bell how did you develop this?
JW: Any musical influences?
JW: Do you write songs alone, or with others?
BS: Alone. Although, I used to be in a punk band where I collaborated on songs with my ex-boyfriend, who was also in the band, but since then I’ve only written songs on my own. I am open to writing songs with others, and actually have a few collaborations in the works, but I’d say writing by myself is kind of my default, and what comes most naturally to me.
JW: What are you doing when not writing music?
BS: I like going to shows and checking out new music. My sister, who also lives in L.A., is a painter and very involved in the art community, so I like to check out art with her sometimes too.
JW: Do you paint and draw as well as write?
JW: What lies in the future for you?
BS: Hopefully I’ll continue to create music, and collaborate with musicians and artists I admire!

Bell Stray’s EP, Scribble the Pink, now available for Cassette (Limited Edition)
and digital orders
BS: It was an organic process that unfolded slowly. I started with just recording the songs individually, not really having an album in mind, but after hearing four of the five songs — which later became the EP — in succession I thought they’d work well together as a collection. At the time I was also going through some demos I’d previously recorded, and came across the song “Steady Sister,” a super lo-fi bedroom recording I‘d done. At that point I knew I was going to release the album on cassette and thought that “Steady Sister” would work well on that format because of its very lo-fi qualities, and would also add another layer of emotion to the album.
JW: Will you add drums and other instruments to your music?