Giselle Bellas
{{short description|Cuban-American singer-songwriter|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
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| name = Giselle Bellas
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| image = Giselle at Mercury Lounge Release Party .jpg
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| birth_name = Giselle Bellas
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| birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.
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| genre = indie pop, baroque pop, art pop, alternative
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| instrument = Vocals, piano, flute
| years_active = 2015–present
| label = Independent
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| website = {{Official URL}}
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Giselle Bellas (often referred to mononymously by her stage name Giselle), is a Cuban-American singer-songwriter and multimedia performer.
Background
Originally from Miami, Florida, Giselle moved to New York City to pursue a singing career. Though classically trained in opera, Giselle's vocal style evolved as she began charting new territories as a songwriter. Inspired by her family's taste in predominantly Latin music, jazz, and oldies, in addition to her own love of classical music and pop music, Giselle began to build a successful music career of her own.{{Cite web |url=http://giselle.us/ |title=Home |website=Giselle |access-date=April 23, 2018}} Her sound has been called "a combination of the dark ethereal nature of Fiona Apple and the vibrant passion of Florence & The Machine set in a smoky jazz club."{{Cite web |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/singer-giselle-bellas-louie-opts-pop-pianos-show-article-1.2494239 |title=Singer Giselle Bellas, of 'Louie' fame, opts for pop at Pianos show |website=New York Daily News |date=January 12, 2016}}
Career
Classically trained, Giselle began her career by recording opera demos for music studios to potentially be used in television and film. Her voice is featured heavily in the Emmy Award winning FX comedy series Louie, most notably the viral "Diarreah Song" which would quickly become an internet hit and receive national praise.https://www.salon.com/2015/05/08/i_dream_of_dying_babies_lets_talk_about_the_completely_insane_song_at_the_end_of_the_louie_nightmare_episode/ After running into pop and indie music producers who encouraged her to release her own original music, Giselle released her debut EP, Change Me in 2016.
In 2017, Giselle released her first full-length album titled Not Ready To Grow Up (stylized as not ready to grow up).{{Cite news |url=http://www.jerseyindie.com/blog/giselle-mixtape-release-not-ready-to-grow-up |title=Jersey City/NYC Indie Pop Singer Giselle Releases Mixtape, "not ready to grow up" |work=Jersey Indie |access-date=April 23, 2018}} Shortly before the album's release, Giselle launched a campaign aiming to hire solely female directors for each music video. {{Cite news |url=http://tealcheese.com/2018/01/12/nyc-pop-singer-giselle-is-not-ready-to-grow-up/ |title=NYC Pop Singer Giselle is Not Ready to Grow Up |date=January 12, 2018 |work=#Tealcheese |access-date=April 23, 2018}} The album was well received by critics, and is widely considered her most vulnerable work to date.https://www.labaatan.com/music/not-ready-to-grow-up-a-review
Giselle is a staple in the independent music and underground performing arts scene, having opened for big acts such as St. Vincent, Wyclef Jean,https://www.metro.us/news/local-news/new-york/new-york-subway-performers-concert-series and more. In 2023 she announced that she was writing her own original multidisciplinary musical entitled 'Florence Foster Jenkins Schubertiade Review'; a satirical play inspired by the infamous opera singer Florence Foster Jenkins, written, produced, directed, and starring Bellas. https://www.nj.com/hudson/2023/05/opera-singer-from-jersey-city-puts-it-all-on-display-with-new-jctc-show.htmlhttps://pix11.com/calendar/?_escaped_fragment_=/show/?start=2021-12-23#!/details/Giselle-s-Florence-Foster-Jenkins-Schubertiade-Review/13420873/2024-05-25T19 The sold-out premiere of the musical received rave reviews, and Bellas continues to perform the show across the country.
Bellas's original music often goes viral on various social media applications, particularly on the live streaming platform Live.Me, as do her "guerrilla covers" - covers of other artist's music released within 24 hours of the original release.
Advocacy
As a tribute to her grandmother who died from Alzheimer's disease in 2016, Giselle wrote the track, "Hazy Eyes" and has since become an advocate, working closely with Alzheimer's organizations such as Alzheimer's New Jersey{{cite web |title=Video Premiere: Giselle'S 'Hazy Eyes' Speaks to the Struggle of Alzheimer'S |url=http://pancakesandwhiskey.com/2016/11/04/video-premiere-giselle-hazy-eyes/ |website=Pancakes and Whiskey |date=November 4, 2016 |accessdate=November 4, 2016}}{{cite web |last1=Foster |first1=Allen |title=Interview: Giselle to host a benefit to raise money for Alzheimer's New Jersey |url=https://www.axs.com/interview-giselle-to-host-a-benefit-to-raise-money-for-alzheimer-s-new-108923#slide=1 |website=AXS |accessdate=October 27, 2016}} and Act Now.
Discography
=Albums and extended plays=
- Change Me (2016)
- Not Ready To Grow Up (2017)
- Bring the Curtain Down (2020)
- As Dreamers Do (2024)
=Singles=
- "Save Me" (2016)
- "Hazy Eyes" (2016)
- "Devil in the Details" (2019)
Filmography
- Louie (2015)
- E.ro.sion, noun (2017)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bellas, Giselle}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American musicians of Cuban descent
Category:American indie pop musicians
Category:21st-century American women singers
Category:21st-century American singers