Erny Belle

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 heartfelt and haunting abstractions of life weaved into gorgeous composition.

Her meteoric rise followed the independent release of critically acclaimed debut record ‘Venus is Home’ (2022) with singles ‘Burning Heaven’ and ‘Hellhole’. A sublime album recorded in the summer of 2019 at her fathers home (an old bus shed, north of Auckland), the nine-song voyage of graceful ruminations, was a stunning introduction to the neorealism 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.

In 2023, Erny Belle signed to legendary New Zealand label Flying Nun Records and released her highly anticipated sophomore album ‘Not Your Cupid’. Co-produced by herself and De Stevens at Roundhead Studios. The album was nominated for the Taite Music Prize and Album Of The Year at the Aotearoa Music Awards in 2024. It was ranked No.1 New Zealand album of 2023 by Rolling Stone Australia. ‘Not Your Cupid’ is described by Renata as her Te Ao Mārama era, stepping into a world of light. “It’s more about the future & imagining than painting scenes of life around me. Less narrative, more cryptic, less thought, more intuition. Plucked from the clouds or stars somewhere & brought to life by many talented hands.” 

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. Combining whimsical theatre, mystical ambiance, and musical prowess, the artist has proven to be a live show powerhouse, enrapturing audiences nationwide with the 2023 Hōtoke Tour – that garnered widespread acclaim and sold-out venues, opening for the renowned likes of Andy Shauf, Billy Bragg and Orville Peck & spectacular headline features at the esteemed Hollywood cinema (2022) & The Civic – Wintergarden (2023).