Up-and-coming vocal sensation Vella is proving to be music’s next it girl with the release of her self-titled album today (January 20).
Vella is a once in a lifetime talent — her timeless vocal ability, outstanding performance and delivery, and the soul in her music makes you wonder if she has transported here from a time of the past. Her flowing auburn locks add to the allure, as if she is cut from the same cloth as legend Stevie Nicks.
We got an exclusive first listen to the album (lucky us!), and we only have amazing things to say. Her voice alone will take you on an emotional journey, but the songwriting talent that Vella utilizes takes the project to a whole new level. She takes you on a personal journey, but the best part about the music is that it is all relatable too.
Celeb Secrets caught up with Vella to learn more about her inspiration behind the album, what it was like to create an entire body of work, and what she’s been up to lately! Scroll down for the full Q&A and don’t forget to let us know what you think of her album, Vella, by leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a DM on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
You can connect with Vella by giving her a follow on Instagram at @vellasings or on TikTok at @vella.
Celeb Secrets: Welcome back Vella! Thanks for chatting with us again! Can you give us any exciting updates about what you’ve been up to since we last chatted?
Vella: “Hi! It’s been a minute! I’ve been doing some shows around LA, and it was so much fun!! I’ve been focusing on writing more music and social media. I’ve been really busy but I’m having a blast!”
CS: Amazing! We’ve been seeing you crush it on TikTok! Congratulations on the album release! That’s so huge. First off, how does it feel to have a completed, full length project ready for the world?
Vella: “It feels absolutely amazing! I put a lot of time and effort into this album and it paid off because it sounds amazing. I’m super excited for people to listen to this album and enjoy it as much as I do.”
CS: We’re so excited for people to hear it too! It’s seriously incredible. What was the most challenging part of creating this album?
Vella: “The most challenging part was definitely changing my style sound-wise. My goal with this album was to be able to reach every audience, so I had to change up my style a bit to a more R&B and Pop sound. At first, it was scary, but once I heard these songs and how they came out, I was so pumped.”
CS: Totally. Change is always scary. You definitely pulled it off though! Is there a throughline or theme throughout the songs on the album? We’d love to hear more about your creative process and inspiration with the making of this album!
Vella: “I wanted these songs to talk about personal topics and empowerment. Some of the songs on this album talk about my past relationships, and some of these songs just give you straight up “Bad B*tch” vibes! [laughs] I love how this album gives you that. I want my fans to relate to these songs too, and I feel like this album will definitely give them that.”
CS: Agreed, we related heavily – and you got us in our feels too! So now the album is here- and we’re so pumped! Can you tell us what your favorite song on the album is, and why?
Vella: “I have so many favorites, but if I had to choose one, it would probably be Pushin. I feel like this song shows more of my old sound with a mixture of my new sound, which I love! I wrote this song about this guy that clearly didn’t get the hint. It’s such a badass song, because you’re trying to set this boundary with this person that you clearly don’t like, and at a certain point you gotta tell them how you truly feel and say it like a boss! That is what I wanted this song to be about, and I feel like people are going to relate with this because this happens a lot – and in these times, we need to stand up for ourselves.”
CS: We’re all for female empowerment! Your focus single, “Happiness” is coming out in conjunction with the album, which is a light “happy” title, but your visuals are dark and edgy! Can you tell us more about that juxtaposition?
Vella: “I want to show people that a “happy” title can sound edgy too! It doesn’t have to be all rainbows and unicorns, it can also talk about feelings and deeper topics. Happiness isn’t just a feeling of joy. It’s more about feeling confident in yourself, your decisions, your actions, and really anything you do. When I feel confident, that’s when I feel the most happy and I feel the most happy when I embrace my edgier side! And that’s what this song is all about!”
CS: Speaking of juxtaposition, which two songs are the slowest and most uptempo songs on the album? What led you to write them?
Vella: “The slowest song is going to be Danger Zone. Since a lot of my songs are normally up tempo, I wanted to change it up a bit and do somewhat of a ballad. This song is such an emotional song for me truly and it makes you feel taken aback a bit because this song talks about vulnerability which I hardly talk about in a lot of my songs. The most uptempo I have to say is How Does It Feel, I absolutely love this song. It talks about my recent ex and letting her know that she isn’t gonna be seeing me in the light of day and it’s her loss! And again I wanted these songs to be about more personal and relatable topics and they truly show that.”
CS: Your confidence and the way you carry yourself are so inspiring to us, and especially to your younger audience who look up to you! You’re truly an idol. Speaking of idols, you must have some yourself, right? Your voice is just so powerful and unique. Who inspires you? Is your vocal style influenced by anyone?
Vella: “I will have to say my dad has influenced me since day one. I grew up listening to Classic Rock and Blues. My dad showed me this type of music when I was a little kid and ever since then, I was hooked on those genres. He gave me an outlet to this type of music and I feel like it definitely influenced who I am as an artist today! Some people that have vocally inspired me are Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin! And I would also like to mention Adele – she was one of the first artists I sang when my dad and I would sit by the piano and sing together. And ever since, we have shared a bond over music.”
CS: That’s so special! We can definitely hear the passion and connection you have with music. Do you have any plans for live performances following the release? Where can your fans come to see your superstardom in person?
Vella: “Yes!! I am going to be doing some live shows around LA! I’ll be performing at WFNM at Hotel Ziggy again, Breaking Sound at Madame Siam, Writer’s Block at the Hotel Cafe, and Lower Deck sessions! Super pumped about these shows!! You can find more information on my Instagram!”
CS: We’ll definitely be there! Finally, we’re Celeb Secrets. Tell us something that we don’t know about you yet, or something that will surprise your fans!
Vella: “Although I am vocally blessed, I played xylophone in middle school band and I was really bad at it [laughs].”
