BELL LARSEN’S NEW EP, IF I WAS, I AM, OUT TODAY VIA NEXT DOOR RECORDS
WATCH / SHARE “SUITCASES BY THE DOOR” LIVE PERFORMANCE
BUY / STREAM IF I WAS, I AM HERE
LISTEN TO BELLS LARSEN’S INTERVIEW ON CBC q HERE
“the unvarnished honesty and worn charm of a bedroom recording while retaining a sense of immaculate beauty” — Under The Radar
Photo Credit : Monse Munro // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Montreal songwriter Bells Larsen’s new EP, If I Was, I Am, is out today on Next Door Records. This EP is Larsen’s first release since transitioning; in his newly baritone voice over artfully sparse instrumentation, he examines the nuanced beauty of identity, as well as his experience as a trans, queer person navigating the qualms of young adulthood. Bells says, "Contrary to what some might think, the point of my transition isn’t about an arrival at a final destination; I don’t know that such a place exists. The only arrival that makes sense to me is the one where I come home to myself.” Alongside the highly anticipated EP, Larsen shares a live performance video of focus track “Suitcases By The Door”.
Larsen shares of the track, “‘Suitcases’ is about watching someone you love go through big life changes and wanting to feel close to them through that growth. When I wrote the song, I was witnessing my partner navigate some major decisions. We talk a lot about bell hooks together and her definition of what it means to love. She says that to love is to want to support someone through their mental, physical, and spiritual growth; I suppose “Suitcases” is about that.”
WATCH / SHARE “SUITCASES BY THE DOOR” LIVE PERFORMANCE
BUY / STREAM IF I WAS, I AM HERE
MORE ABOUT BELLS LARSEN
Bells Larsen is a Montreal-based songwriter who weaves together cathartic lyrics and memorable melodies in his music. Drawing from experiences of loss, love, and identity, Larsen's songs speak to his life as a trans, queer person. His folk-inspired sound and ardent lyricism slows down the pace of the world around him to create space for contemplation and expression. Traversing between emblematic and actualized narratives, he sees storytelling as a way to make sense of and connect with both the ordinary and unpredictable moments in life.
Good Grief, the 2022 debut from Larsen, was conceptualised during a time of restoration. Healing from the death of his first love, the album bridges the gaps between I, you, and we to narrate an intentional meditation on how we try to grapple with the meaning of loss. Good Grief drew acclaim from CBC Music, Exclaim! and The Revue who proclaimed him “undeniably one of the most exciting young artists to arrive on the scene,” as well as showcase opportunities at School Night, POP Montreal, and SXSW.
WATCH / SHARE “PLACE TO BE” (NICK DRAKE COVER) HERE
WATCH / SHARE “TEN HANDS” HERE
IF I WAS, I AM TRACKLIST
01 Ten Hands
02 Suitcases By The Door
03 When I Was Your Favourite Person
04 Just Knowing You
05 Place To Be