by      

Neil Stewart

Melissa Bel is an artist who envelops timeless melodies and simply enthralling musicality into every second of her repertoire, and her new Alone Time EP is no exception. The incredibly talented singer-songwriter continues to transcend musical genres, as she brings her enchanting melodies and soul-inspired stories to life. 

Her latest offering offers six examples of Bel’s rather humbling fables. Offering a moment for self-reflection, the intricacy and likening intimacy of her music flow sublimely together. As Bel takes listeners on a journey into solitude, anxiety dreaming and growth, we’re reminded of her unique abilities to weave hope into every second of her EP. 

As the name suggests, Alone Time offers an ode to the global pandemic and the peace which ascended around this time. Bel explains,  “I spent lots of time walking in the countryside and I would come up with lyrics and concepts, or tweak ones we already had. I recorded the birdsong and some other nature samples that you hear throughout the EP on a couple of my walks, and went back to one of my favourite spots in the woods to shoot the artwork for "Better In the Morning.” 

Mesmerising with her charismatic choruses, flowing melodies and simply enthralling musical capabilities, Bel’s EP feels like a breath of fresh air. As she exemplifies the importance of slowing down and spending time in the natural world that encompasses us, we’re reminded of her ability to reassure and provoke comfort with her music. Needless to say, Alone Time makes for exceptional listening.