Rising singer-songwriter Bella Gate has announced the release of the live version of ‘Drink With Me’, out December 13th.
With the vulnerable emotion of the original, and the added rawness of the live version, ‘Drink With Me (Live)’ is a powerful exploration of the self and inner psyche.
Bella Gate is a 23-year-old London-based artist whose musical journey began at the age of nine when she started writing and continued at 16 with her first recordings. During her year spent in Barcelona, from September 2022 to July 2023, she performed her debut single extensively, whilst also working on and recording her first album at the renowned Sol de Sants and RoomTo studios. Whilst there, she collaborated remotely with UK-based producer Jordan Round. The album, much like her debut single, was meticulously mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Geoff Pesche, marking a significant milestone in her evolving career.
‘Drink With Me (Live)’ blends personal struggle with the hope found in human connection.
Bella highlights how connecting with others can provide strength during vulnerable times.
Speaking on this, Bella said, “I wrote the song when I was 15 and in it I take apart my own character and the predicament I found myself in. The chorus, on one level, is about underage drinking and falling in love. On another level, it’s about being together, with or without a drink in hand, and finding community in a partnership, friendship, or family/chosen family”.
Musically, the jazz influence adds complexity with chromatic progressions and intricate riffs, mirroring the emotional twists of the lyrics. The song’s embrace of uncertainty and improvisation fit perfectly with a song about exploring one's character. The live version features a string quartet which adds to the tenderness of the original release. It was Alberto Pérez, the Latin Grammy Award-winning engineer who owns the Sol de Sants studio, who wrote the string arrangements with Juanjo Fernandez, and pulled together a wonderful string quartet for the live session.
Bella admits “This is my favourite of all of my songs”, a statement that can be backed by the fact that it was first released as a single in June and then included on Bella’s album Gateway that was released in September. It is for good reason, though, as you can truly hear parts of her soul speaking through the melody and lyricism. Now, the live version wraps up everything she has worked for and created with this track.
With features in outlets like Wonderland, Earmilk and Notion and a successful debut album release, Bella has proven time and time again she is the one to watch on the new music scene.
Listen to ‘Drink With Me (Live)’ on all streaming platforms now.
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