Erny Belle

The birth of Erny Belle began in October 2021, after the successful release of her debut single and video for ‘Burning Heaven’. The Ngāpuhi singer-songwriter (Aimee Renata), seemingly appeared out of nowhere, onto our shores – Leather clad, red wine in hand – stoking the flames of Aōtearoa’s music scene.

“Burning Heaven is a conversation between myself and what I identify as the spirit of creation”, “An ode to one’s artistry and all that lives within it”.

Renata, moved from Auckland, to the rural township of Maungaturoto in the summer of 2019, to write and record what would become her debut album, Venus Is Home. The alt-folk/country and pop-tinged album was self-produced and independently released in February 2022, following her second single ‘Hell Hole’. Since the release of her debut, Renata has received rave reviews and glowing profiles – Nominated for two Taite Awards in 2023.

Venus Is Home is a nine song showcase of gothic South Pacific storytelling – Woven together beautifully, with lilting slide guitar, tremolo guitar, slow-burning melodies, and sublime, harmonised vocals. Renata’s lyrics shift steadfastly from sweet and earnest, to dark and satirical; toying between her ruggedness and vulnerability, “Drinking on a broken heart was a bad move”, she confesses on ‘Sorry Not Sorry’. Venus Is Home captures a sound shaped by the landscape of the Northland, with references that are distinct to rural Aōtearoa.

Renata is a visual artist, coming from a film background and family, she worked as an actor as a teenager and moved into costume for eight years prior to making music. The release of her music opened the gateway for her to her work as a film director and producer for the six videos she has released since Venus Is Home arrived. 

Her first sold out album release show with her band, proved her assertion as a performer. Waltzing through the audience to sing her finale, singing bowl in hand, face veiled in black lace. Arms reached out by her side like gates opening, she indulges in the theatrics. Aimee has since opened for Andy Shauf, Billy Bragg and Orville Peck for their international tours.

“For the Kaipara – For my Nana Venus – For the thread that binds us together and brings us home. With love, Erny Belle.”

“Erny Belle, real name Aimee Renata, walks the razor’s edge. The narrative of her debut album ‘Venus Is Home’ sits deep in some heavy feelings and the Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist refines the art of double entendre; wreaking havoc with narrative and tense, while juggling raw emotion and dry humour”, “These songs are together a beautifully produced collection, for which Belle takes credit. Breathy vocals, a variety of measured string instruments, hand percussion, lightly played piano. It’s at times simple, sometimes multi-layered, and always rich”. – Violet French, NZ Musician

“Whānau, home and an occasionally twisted humour are woven throughout these deceptively dreamy songs, with some lyrics speaking of the day-to-day in the small town of Maungaturoto, where Renata resides when not living the big city life. Despite having played a mere two gigs in her short career, we’re calling it here and now — this is an artist to keep your eye on”. – Matthew Crawley, Viva

For bookings contact
julian@villagesounds.com