Tāmaki Makaurau’s pacific-pop extraordinaire and double Taite Music Prize nominee Erny Belle shares a playful new summery track, ‘Pitt Stop’. The third single to be released from her forthcoming highly anticipated sophomore album Not Your Cupid — out Friday 10th November 2023 via Flying Nun Records.
Inspired by 60’s pop; The Dixie Cups, The Marvelletes and the Shirelles, on ‘Pitt Stop’ Erny Belle riffs on a classic innuendo. Says Belle, “It’s kind of an ode to all the music I grew up listening to.”
The accompanying video, directed and edited by Erny Belle and Matt Hunter and made with the support of NZ On Air draws its inspiration from the quaint rural life of late 60’s and early 70’s New Zealand. It further delves into Belle’s fond recollections of her childhood visits to her Nana Venus’s home. The concept, ingeniously crafted by Belle’s sister, revolves around the theme of eagerly awaiting a letter, or in today’s digital age, a ‘notification.’
In contrast to the current era characterised by screen fatigue and the weight of an uncertain future, the video seeks to offer a light hearted escape from reality. It encourages the notion that, even if you’re not presently in love, you can find solace in pretending to be.
Watch Erny Belle – ‘Pitt Stop’ (Official Video)
Made with the support of New Zealand On Air
Alongside the new bop, Erny Belle has announced three North Island album tour dates to celebrate the release of Not Your Cupid:
Friday 24th November – The Great Hall, Polish Association Wellington
Saturday 25th November – The Great Hall, Polish Association Wellington
Friday 8th December – The Wintergarden, Auckland
Tickets onsale from moshtix.co.nz
Erny Belle also features on the lineup for Laneway Festival NZ in 2024
“Belle moves so impressively effortlessly through her songs; swaying melodies that threaten to sink into background noise but swim back into one’s consciousness in a sudden moment.” – Rolling Stone
“The single marries her calming voice with a slightly unsettling chord progression. The lyrics speak to an uneasiness in a relationship, but the production does most of the storytelling” – The New Zealand Listener (Unchained – Song Of The Week)
“Erny Belle heads towards her sophomore album with another strangely sultry, weird hip-swaying swoon of a song.” – The New Zealand Herald (Stay Golden – Song Of The Week)
Erny Belle, is a sweet enigma adorned by dark dreams, wild wonder, and spellbinding song. The musical veil of Ngāpuhi singer-songwriter Aimee Renata emerged onto the scene with a billowing aura of mystery but swiftly enamoured audiences with her heartful and haunting abstractions of life weaved into gorgeous composition. From stoking the flames of the Aotearoa music scene – Russian net bowtie in hair, spicy margarita in hand, Otara Millionaires Club playing in the background – she is now setting the scene ablaze in tight style.
Her meteoric rise followed the independent release of critically acclaimed debut record Venus is Home (2022) with singles ‘Burning Heaven’ and ‘Hellhole’ paving the way for its summer twilight unveiling. A sublime and swellful record, the nine-song voyage of graceful ruminations was a stunning introduction to the neorealismo yet rich world of Erny Belle. The gothic double entendre that Renata lyrically dances between emanates a pensive, almost prayerful, album experience – a depth is held steadfast by stunning vocal harmonies, tremolo-washed strings, lilting steel guitar, and beautifully catchy melodic writing. A landmark alt-folk, pop-kissed record written “For the Kaipara – For Nana Venus”, captures and radiates a heart shaped by the deep landscape of Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) with all of its magical, satirical, and intimate memoirs. Raving reviews and enthusiastic profiles reflected the phenomenal release with the record since being nominated for both the Taite Music Prize and Best Independent Debut Award in 2023.
Hailing from a background and family steeped in the film world, Renata is a visual artist through and through, a detail that shines through the heavenly synesthesia of her sonic offerings. An actor before transitioning into costume design for eight years, it is no coincidence that poise and picture is a focal point for the music. Naturally, the interdisciplinary charmer has added film directing and producing to her credentials with six videos under her hefty rodeo belt since Venus Is Home came on the scene.
From a sold-out album release show, a spectacular headline feature at the esteemed Hollywood Cinema, and opening for the renowned likes of Andy Shauf, Billy Bragg and Orville Peck, Erny Belle and her band have well cemented their place as powerhouse performers. Magical in every sense of the word, audiences continue to be enchanted by what is whimsical theatre alchemised with decadent seance, musical misty dives uplifted with wonderful spectacle. Within only a stone’s throw amount of time since kicking down the industry door – Tarantino-style – Belle and band have traversed and swooned the hearts of the country with the 2023 Hōtoke Tour – their inaugural headline tour that garnered widespread acclaim and sold-out venues.
WATCH: Erny Belle – Stay Golden (Official Video)
Made with the support of New Zealand On Air
WATCH: Erny Belle – Unchained (Official Video)
Made with the support of New Zealand On Air
Not Your Cupid Tracklisting
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Bowman
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Pitt Stop
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Crypto
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Midnight Madness
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Inertia
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C’Est La Vie
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Not Your Cupid
For more information on Erny Belle
