Her new single “You Know” is out now on all platforms.
Gen Bello is an upcoming artist from NYC who has a beautiful sound and a distinctive vocal range. Her music can be described as soulful and heartwarming, and she doesn’t hesitate to share her talents with her audience.
As a versatile artist who’s just getting her start in her music journey, Gen Bello is undeniably talented and is destined for success. She just released a new single called “You Know,” which showcases a different side of her to her audience. Her melodic hooks combined with her catchy verses set Gen Bello up as a standout star in her own lane.
For listeners who want an introduction to her sound, “Dear Mom” would be a good one to start with. The genuine single is Bello’s dedication to her mother and is a sweet tribute to how much she means to her.
In a recent interview with Remixd Magazine, Gen Bello said that she plans to remain consistent this year in her efforts to put out music.
“I plan on releasing singles until the end of 2020, leading up to a project/ EP in 2021,” Gen Bello said. “The goal is to stay consistent and release engaging singles every month.”
Keep reading to learn more about Gen Bello and her inspirations.
What city are you from and where are you based now?
I am from New York City. I grew up in Harlem. Right now, I’m living with my parents in Bergenfield, New Jersey.
How did you get your artist name Gen Bello?
My artist name is Gen Bello. But, my real name is Geneses Bello. My first year of releasing music, I was going by Geneses. But I rebranded in May and started going by Gen Bello. I changed my name to Gen Bello for two reasons. The first is that my sound has changed a lot from when I first started creating, so I wanted the name change to signify my growth/rebirth as an artist. The second reason is that I wanted to be more searchable. I realized that a lot of people had a hard time finding me because of the old band Genesis, but also the Bible (there were too many things linked to my name). I wanted to be sure that I was the only person with my artist name. My friends call me Gen, so I naturally thought of Gen Bello.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music?
It’s wild because I never thought about making music. I’ve always wanted to pursue an artistic life because I am a creative … I just didn’t know I’d end up being a singer/songwriter. I grew up doing a lot of musical theatre, so my dream was to be on Broadway. But then I graduated from college, fell in love, got my heart broken, and I was just like, I NEED to write. I’ve been pursuing music for the past three years. I’ve been actually releasing music for the past two years.
Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
I grew up listening to a lot of different genres, so I definitely think that helped hone in my ear on different kinds of sounds. My family is from Dominican Republic, so I did grow up listening to a lot of bachata, merengue, salsa, and reggaeton. However, being that I’m from NYC, I did listen to a lot of R&B, hip hop, and pop. I definitely think you can hear elements of those different genres in my music.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
I think my sound is very versatile. I create whatever I’m feeling in the moment. However, I would say my sound is a mix of R&B and pop.
What ultimately inspired you to dedicate yourself to a music career?
I am my happiest when I’m creating. I love every aspect of creating music, so the songwriting process and the recording process. I love being able to express myself through song. My goal is to be able to live life having a job that gives me complete fulfillment and music certainly does that for me.
What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you?
I am passionate about music because music is my way of healing and communicating. I’m super attached to music because it offers me a different way to process life. Music helps me come closer to my emotions. Creating music is like therapy for me. I get inspired to write from my own life experiences, but also from stories that I hear from the people around me.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
I do have hobbies outside of music. I enjoy reading, acting, dancing (mediocrely lol), shopping, hanging out with friends, watching movies/tv shows. I honestly don’t have a concrete answer for how I stay creative, I just think that as long as i’m alive, life is happening, so there’s always going to be something to write about/sing about.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
SZA, Summer Walker, Kehlani, Jhene Aiko, Umi, Ella Mai, Mahalia, Jorja Smith, Kiana Lede
What are some of your music career goals for the future?
My honest goal is to be able to quit my day job and pursue music full time. For me, this means having enough support from listeners where I’m getting an income. I want to be able to go on tour and sell out tickets. I want to have listeners that buy my merchandise. I want to get more playlist placements, blog placements, collaborations with artists I admire, publishing, more recognition. I want it all haha.
Tell us about your song “Dear Mom.” What is it about and why did you choose to create it?
“Dear Mom” is a song I wrote as a tribute to my mother. I decided to release it on July 9th because that’s my mom’s birthday. “Dear Mom” is a single I wrote in order to honor my mom and share with her how important she’s been in my life. The moment I discovered songwriting, I knew I wanted to make a song for her. Before this release, I had rereleased a single called “Desire.” I had a lot of success with this single when my artist name was Geneses, so I wanted to make sure it was a part of my repertoire with Gen Bello. Desire is a fun, upbeat pop song about knowing that someone isn’t good for you, but not being able to resist them.
What has the response been like to that project?
The response on this single has been INCREDIBLE. I have received so many sweet messages from people telling me about how it resonated with them because it made think of loved ones both in and out of their lives. This release has had more support than I imagined. “Dear Mom” got featured on three editorial Spotify playlists. Fresh Finds, Fresh Finds: The Wave, and In My Bag. I’m so proud of being featured on these playlists because I am an independent artist and I know how hard it is to get playlisted on this platform.
What are some projects you’ve done in the past that you are most proud of and why?
Dear Mom has been my biggest release, so I’m definitely proud of this song so far. I’ve released two other singles aside from Dear Mom: Desire & Intoxicated. Both of these tracks have had a lot of support. But with Dear Mom, I’ve accomplished things I’ve wanted to do, like getting playlisted, having over 10k streams, and getting written up in blogs.
What message do you hope fans take away from your music?
I’m super big on honesty and being vulnerable. I hope that from my music, listeners are able to confront their emotions and build the courage to talk about the things that their feeling with other people, whether that’s being in love, feeling sexy, being sad, being upset, or feeling nervous etc.
Where can we follow you on social media?
Instagram – itsgenbello
Twitter – itsmegeneses
Youtube – Gen Bello
Listen to Gen Bello’s latest release “You Know,” below.
