Live & Alive: Bellah @ The Lower Third
The North London-based vocalist puts her star power on full display for her first headline gig.
Following the release of her breakout project, Adultsville, Bellah embarked on her first headline show at The Lower Third. Of course—the tickets sold out instantly, thus adding another date at the same venue and another to follow in May at Lafayette.
Bellah's headline show was unforgettable. Her DJ was blasting R&B gems, old and new. Her support act, IX had a raspy and raw voice, often belting about unrequited love over acoustic guitar. He slipped in a cover of "Die For You" by The Weeknd. A fresh new face in R&B, 17-year-old IX hails from Birmingham and is definitely one to keep your eyes peeled for in 2023.
Onto the main event, before stepping out a message from Bellah's mother played over a heaven-like instrumental before the audience heard her speak on the story of her journey to becoming the star she is today, later followed by someone interviewing her about her sickle cell. The train announcement from Adultsville's title track followed as suspense began to build.
Her backing singer’s vocalisations ushered her onto the stage as she made a grand entrance in a holographic get-up, her graphic eyeliner was on point. She opened with "Home", which is very fitting considering she proved she belonged on stage.
The acoustics on "Prototype" really set the mood for the rest of the night—the crowd sang their hearts out to her popular hit. Bellah’s stage presence is both alluring and animated at the same time, "Something U Like" saw her popping and rolling her body gorgeously. "If I Were U"—a song about telling your friend to leave her man—saw her have a little moment with her best friend in the front row as she sang:
“I’m your sis’, I’m your bitch, I’m your friend.”
She then begins an anecdote about seeing a cute guy at the studio, then seeing him posted up 'with another bitch', thus beginning "Half Of Me", a song she wrote to remind her who she is. Then Bellah sits down for a slower tune called “Need Me”, hitting some high notes on the chorus, showing off her vocal range. She then stays seated for "Return Policy": one of her best-written songs. It's a lot more emotional than some of her catalogue, the slower melody allowing her riffs and runs to come to the forefront.
Originally from Nigeria, Bellah asks to sing in her language. Beautifully covering the Yoruba song "Eye Adaba" by Asa, the audience comes to a standstill as everyone watches in awe. The piano playing in the background makes her transition into "Easy" seamlessly. She hands over to her backing singers who perform fragments of "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt.
She returns to the stage to continue to show off her angelic vocals and impeccable range as she runs "Supernova". She leaves the stage and makes way for the first of two special guests.
The infectious Afro-R&B guitar of Tamera's "Wickedest" flows through the venue as she pops out on stage, moving around sensually as her smooth vocals sound on the stage. She also performs "Flipside". When Bellah returns, the train to Adultsville pulls in. Following that she tells us how it's "Always Something", and these two songs are such a perfect display of what it's like to come of age.
"Cause U Can" is a dialogue between her and sickle cell, the energy she performs with shows she's putting up a fight and won't let it get the better of her. Her openness about the topic is so commendable, it's really moving that she's able to express herself through song and give other people with sickle cell an outlet for their pain. Her rendition of SZA's 2017 Ctrl cut "Garden (Say It Like Dat)", is guided by her backing vocalists as she croons on this slightly slower version while the crowd sing along to the SZA classic. She then transitions into her own song called "Garden", before leaving the stage for the second guest of the night.
JVCK JAMES emerged to perform "No Drama" with his smooth, sultry voice. Then he was drunk off "Hennessy Tears", his bounce on the stage in time with the music. Electric guitar booms through the sound system as Bellah comes back for "In The Moment", her stunningly sweet vocals vibrate through the mic as she moves around the stage.
"Stuck" is another standout, the drums give it that Afrobeats melody that is the foundation of quite a few of her songs in her discography. Speaking of Afrobeats, she invites people to dance with her on stage as she covers Oxlade's "Ku Lo Sa" and mashes it up with "Murda She Wrote" as she whines her waist to the ground, everyone on stage is having a wicked time—just dancing freely.
The finale of "Evil Eye" is fuelled by the electric guitar, giving it a rockstar feel juxtaposed with her voice of an angel. She's a true performer, from the vocals to the movements. Lights flash but they never phase her, they just elevate her performance as it bounces off of her holographic outfit.
Bellah's live shows are not to be missed. The surprise appearances of Tamera and JVCK JAMES really helped to boost the notion that UK R&B is alive and well. She deserves all the praise, the energy she wraps the crowd in is serotonin-producing and sweet as sugar. Make sure you catch her on May 31st at the Lafayette next year.
Stream Adultsville below!
