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Photo by SJ Spreng

Indie-pop musician BEL’s debut album is finally here. After releasing five singles full of the introspective lyrics, vivid storytellings, and enticing instrumentation she is known for, BEL is ready to present the full project, Holy Grail, to eager fans. On the 12-track record, listeners follow BEL on her quest to find her holy grail, witnessing every triumph, defeat, and lesson along the way. 

The album’s cover art features a makeshift theater nestled among rolling green hills. BEL poses center stage in front of a handmade backdrop, ready to perform her story for anyone who will listen. BEL’s performance, aka her debut album, aptly begins with “Break a Leg,” a short intro song that features rich piano and soft harmonies, almost like the overture of a musical. The show continues on into “I Want,” where BEL lays out all her desires. Accompanied by a dreamy, hazy bedroom pop instrumentation, BEL sings “I want the music real loud / I want the takeout on the couch / I want your tongue inside my mouth / I want my flame to never run out.”  

BEL continues to share her desires as the album continues through “Amor” and “Party Tricks.” The former focuses on BEL’s heart conflicting with her mind. The song, with lyrics in both English and Spanish, details the all too familiar frustration with dating, and how one lonely night can lead you back to an ex, even though you know you should be running in the opposite direction. The chorus is quick and full of energy, mirroring the rush of emotions that comes with returning to an old flame. In “Party Tricks,” BEL has snapped out of her lonely funk, and instead of focusing on the past is looking to the future. The singer described “Party Tricks” as a “manifestation song.” She is focusing on all the less than romantic things that when in the right relationship, are in fact extremely romantic, such as sharing takeout on the floor of a new apartment because you have yet to buy furniture. The song has a dreamlike quality thanks to the fuzzy guitars, adding to the manifestation of it all. 

Despite BEL’s best attempts to manifest, it’s sometimes easier said than done. BEL has made her desires and dreams clear, and now as she finds her partners falling short, she takes a moment to share her frustration and anger in “Read Between.” The song opens with a strumming acoustic guitar and BEL’s clear vocals as she sings “I don’t know why / I don’t believe / When you show me / Who you are / Who you are / You laid it all out / Still I have doubts / Why’ve I gotta make it hard?” BEL’s voice is strong, but a hint of exhaustion comes through. By the bridge, BEL is no longer angry with herself, and instead redirects her frustration at her partner as she sings “I don’t wanna stop / No it’s not my fault / You didn’t let me in / When I made that call / I don’t wanna stop / No it’s not my fault / I got love to give / And you took it all.” Gone is the acoustic guitar; instead the instrumentation is grunge-y and glitchy, emphasizing BEL’s anger.  

As the album grows and changes, BEL does the same. In “Hindsight” she takes a moment to reflect on her past actions, as she sings “I made a habit of it / Begging for scraps when I deserve better.” Now that BEL has identified the fact that she settled for less, she makes a promise to not repeat her mistakes, singing “Learning how to let it be / If you can’t give me what I need / I won’t spend the energy / I won’t spend it.” In “Look it Up” BEL learns what is perhaps her most valuable lesson in love: “If you have to look it up / It’s probably not love.” The instrumentation that backs up the lesson is a nod to BEL’s mother’s love of 70s introspective folk combined with angsty indie rock. Like “Read Between” there are 90s grunge-y moments, which makes perfect sense as BEL shared “If I came up in the ’90s, I would be writing more like this.” 

Now that BEL has learned her most important love lesson, she’s also learned exactly what she wants. But with knowing what you want, comes the fear of losing just that. In “Only Want You” BEL’s voice is soft and sweet, making her lyrics sound like a whispered confession as she sings “I only want you / And I’m scared if that’s true / That I’ll break my own heart / Before you even get to.” Coming out of the fear of losing the one she wants, BEL needs a “Fresh Start.” The song is groovy, bouncy, and completely self assured, contrasting the fear in “Only Want You.” Despite the upbeat rhythm of “Fresh Start,” not everything has been resolved for BEL as she reflects on a relationship that is struggling because of communication in “What Do You Want Me To Say”. She asks the other person in the relationship “What do you want me to say? / I still think about it / Even if the skies weren't gray / I'd still doubt it.”

BEL’s doubts extend beyond her relationships as the album continues into the titular song “Holy Grail,” which details her doubts and fears of pursuing a career in music. BEL’s voice is accompanied by an acoustic guitar and soft synths, creating a stripped back track that puts her vulnerability on full display. When BEL announced “Holy Grail” as the final single off her album, she shared the backstory of the song writing, “I wrote this almost 3 years ago with @sandymakesmusic at a time when I had no clue where things were going—playing shows to nearly empty rooms or rooms full of people talking over me like background music.” As a nod to the time when the song was written, the song finishes with a din of voices and it’s easy to picture BEL with her guitar on stage, facing a crowd that is more interested in their phones and drinks than the singer performing on the other side of the room. Despite her fears, BEL is determined to fight through as she sings “Learning to dance in the rain / Even if it starts to hail / Just do whatever it takes / To get to the holy grail.”

The journey of Holy Grail ends with “Parachute.” BEL has learned countless lessons throughout her quest for her holy grail, and they all come together on the final track. Gone is the need to manifest, or date for the sake of dating. BEL is ready to find love, but is also ready to take time to find the right love, as she sings “I know what I’m looking for / I just gotta look some more / I know what I’m looking for / I just gotta look some more / To find it.” Speaking on the song BEL shared, “Originally, when I wrote this song, it was slower. When I sped it up, it took on a more anthemic sort of feeling.” Guitars, drums, and BEL’s confident voice come together to create a burst of energy to end the album on an optimistic note.  

While BEL’s quest for her holy grail may be complete, her journey is far from over.