Bellusira Interview

Bellusira Interview

In a time that is consumed by all things superficial, our soul looks to connect to something real.

Melbourne based rock band Bellusira are awakening the masses with a sound that is truly resonating with their captive audiences.

Vocalist Crystal Ignite's lyrics are based on real stories about real life experiences delivered with heartfelt conviction. Crystal's powerful voice is surrounded by a sonic wall of melodic ideals and a weaving of rock electronics.

Through relentless hard work and dedication to their craft, the band earned their place co-headlining local festivals across Melbourne. This was followed up by the 2010 release of Closer To Me, which is receiving radio airplay with current rotation on Triple M and high rotation on Radar Radio. The band has just finished recording their first film clip for Closer To Me which will be released in January, 2011.

Bellusira have already secured headline spots for local festivals next year along with a national tour, and have begun writing their debut album due for a July release, in 2011.

Interview with Crystal Ignite

Question: How did it feel to hear your song played all over the airwaves?

Crystal Ignite: I realised that I was a lot closer to the success I have been chasing than what I originally thought. I have fought for 8 years for that to happen, so it was quite emotional - an amazing sense of happiness, I knew the choices I had made had led me to the right path, pure validation.


Question: Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about the music industry?

Crystal Ignite: I knew it was tough, but no one realises how tough it is until they experience it. What we are trying to achieve would be one of the hardest things in the world to achieve, in my opinion.


Question: Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?

Crystal Ignite: Yes we do as a band - we write the music together; I write my vocals and lyrics though and I'm always open to the band's opinion. We correlate on everything - the music is really a piece of us all. I'm inspired by life experience and of late, deeply inspired by spirituality. I have taken part in spiritual healing with Shamans and had some amazing insights and seen some amazing things. I want to spread a message of love and happiness, honesty and reality. Life is my inspiration.


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Crystal Ignite: Dead Letter Circus, Karnivool, Bliss n Eso, Deftones, Annie Lennox, A Perfect Circle, Skunk Anansie, Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys, Jeff Buckley, The Cure, Faith No More, like any artist there are far too many to name, I own over a thousand CDs!


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Crystal Ignite: We are Touring in March/April and will be writing through the rest of Jan/Feb finishing off the album then going in to record May/June.


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Crystal Ignite: There were times when I wished I weren't so passionate so I could live a normal life. Its hard when you work day and night all in the pursuit of realising your dreams, but passion is something that would never allow me to throw in the towel. My life is far too invested into this, there is something inside of me that tells me this is what I was put here for, I have an important job to do and I couldn't give up if I tried.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Crystal Ignite: Performing! The reason for that is I get to connect with people and see the effects of connection with people. I see myself as a musician and a performer so both are equally important to me. The great thing about recording is I can stand still and nail every note without juggling my breathing, I move around a lot on stage so it requires years of hard work to be able to move around rapidly and still control breathing and singing, but give me live show in front of a crowd any day, it's my drug.


Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Crystal Ignite: There was a time in my life when I had absolutely nothing and no one. I had no freedom, but one thing that could never be taken away from me was my voice and when I sang it was the only thing that made me feel alive. When I sing and write music, it makes me feel something I can't experience anywhere else. When I met Mark (our Bass player) and found someone who had nothing to lose like me, who was as passionate as me and willing to do whatever it took to realise his dreams I dropped everything and chose this path and haven't looked back since.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Crystal Ignite: I haven't had a proper holiday in 8 years. I find that hard - I wont mind if we achieve our goals and become and international band, another 8 years without holidays would be a walk in the park! I'm lucky if I get a night off these days.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Crystal Ignite: I get up around 7-8am, run on the treadmill for between 20-50 minutes, then I get on the computer and run my business (which is a booking agency for bands I started two years ago) until 5:30pm sometimes later, I have dinner then we either have band practice or we have the band around for a writing session, we finish around 11pm then I unwind for an hour, go to sleep, wake up and do it all over again.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Crystal Ignite: Being able to do what I love and realise that people get as much out of it from listening to our music and watching the band as what we do performing and writting the music, that is truly amazing, it is an awesome feeling to know that you are able to share your experience with others.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Crystal Ignite: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be? If Michael Jackson were here without a doubt it would be him, though it would be amazing to work with a music icon such as Tina Turner or Mike Patton.


Question: Are you single? What do you look for in a partner?

Crystal Ignite: I'm engaged to Mark who is the bass player in the band, we were in the band together for nearly three years before we got together, I always thought it would be a bad move to have a relationship with someone in the band and at the time I was actually more interested in dating women! Mark and I loved each other from the moment we met (so cliché) and we kept that from each other for three years. I was not searching for anything when I met Mark; I fell in love with his soul. Mark was the missing piece; gender is irrelevant.


Question: Do you have a website fans can visit?

Crystal Ignite: www.Facebook.com/Bellusira and www.Bellusira.com


Question: Can you tell us 5 things required for a happy healthy & enjoyable life?

Crystal Ignite: Peace, Love, Passion, Patience, Determination


Question: What message would you like to say to your fans?

Crystal Ignite: We think they already know that their support means the world to us. Thanks for being part of this journey, the best is yet to come!


Question: What is the story behind the bands name?

Crystal Ignite: Bellusira is a word we have created and means beautiful anger derived from two Latin words. I wanted to turn the anger I had from my past into something beautiful and positive through our music, its two parallels like night and day, happiness and sadness, Yin and Yang.


Interview by Brooke Hunter



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