It can be the tiniest spark that catches fire in a creator's soul - singer/songwriter, Bela, looks for those small moments that stir the greatest reaction in her own soul to be inspired. Growing up in Warsaw, Poland with a rather unconventional childhood, she found music to be her greatest companion, which was readily available with a mom who was a musician and introduced Bela and her brothers to a wide variety of artists and styles. 

“A lot of who I am as a writer today is shaped by the music she played for me. I remember sitting for hours on the sofa with headphones plugged into a boom box, listening to my favorite musical theater cast albums. There was always a piano in the house, as my mother was concert pianist, so I was always playing little melodies to myself. As I got older I started to try to write songs--which I was never satisfied with. It wasn't until I taught myself to play guitar that a whole new world opened up for me, and I began to write songs I wanted to sing.”

At the age of 15, Bela played her first open mic and although she was terrified, she knew deep in her soul she had something to say, and it was the medium of music that she would be able to say it. As she continued to hone her yet-to-be-developed craft, her and her mother would make trips to Nashville, Tennessee to explore the unique music scene. "When I was 18 we moved to Nashville, and at 19 I moved out to live on my own. I learned so much from my time in Nashville, mostly how write what you believe in, in the face of an industry that mostly cares about product. Being a songwriter is such a scary venture, but you have to need it to keep doing it. Learning to juggle business and art is very tricky, and it is something I still don't quite have in balance. I began to have a lot of fears in Nashville about my voice not mattering, or not being needed - but I’m learning now to trust in my own voice, and the kind of music that comes out of me. As a creator it's so easy for me to constantly second guess my work or question its validity. However, as time progresses I am getting better about allowing myself to write the song that needs to be written--even if its not the one I was looking for. Trusting my own words and music is hard, but so important for growth and development. I am excited to continue to evolve and go new places musically. What I have to say can only be said by me."