Bela Fool

Brighton rock trio BELA FOOL have released their new single and video, Up To Me, out now, followed by their debut EP, Fool Me Once. 

 

Who is in Bela Fool, how did you meet, and what do you play?

Jordan: There are four of us: myself, Sye, Jonas and, as of the last couple of gigs, young Ed.

Jonas and I met through a martial arts club in Brighton. Sye was there too. We used to have a few scraps before we became friends! I was doing bits on my own and had a gig coming up. Sye turned up and played with me, which was good. Then Jonas messaged me on Instagram, and the three of us went out. We’ve had a few drummers since then, but yeah, that’s how we met. We’re good mates.

What do we play? I’m the singer and I play rhythm guitar. Sye does backing vocals and lead guitar, Jonas plays bass, and we’ve got young Ed on drums. He’s very good.

 

What is your earliest musical memory?

Jordan: Listening to and watching Stand by Me. I wanted to learn the song. My mum had it because she was a Motown fan, and I would just play it over and over again. I wrote the words down, and because I knew you could sing different notes, I was trying to sing it at different pitches. I can’t remember if I got it right—I was probably about six, maybe seven.

 

When did you begin songwriting?

Jordan: My girlfriend’s gonna love this one… my first song was when I was seven. It was called “Trendy Wendy.”

It sounds like a fun song, but it’s a true story. First of all, I can’t remember the lyrics, but I remember the hook. I’m not gonna say it, though my girlfriend loves it. There was a girl on the estate who’d come back from a church gathering, and Auntie Norma said, “Oh, don’t you get trendy, Wendy.” I remember thinking that’d be a good name for a song, so I put a few things together using some pans and stuff in the kitchen.

 

Your debut EP Fool Me Once is out now. How did you approach the making of the EP?

Jordan: The songs flew out really easily. Some of them I wrote before the band was formed, but everyone turned them into what they sound like today—it’s almost as if they are completely different songs! The band flows really naturally when it comes to creating music, so it wasn’t too difficult at all. Every song comes from raw, real-life events, and the music reflects that rawness. We don’t want it to be too cleanly polished.

 

Where did you record the EP, and who produced it?

Jordan: We recorded it at our studio, and Sye produced it. I felt sorry for him, as I do with all producers—it’s a painstaking job, and I couldn’t do it.

Then we actually recorded the vocals at Salvation Studios in Portslade. Dave Grohl himself has been there, apparently! It’s a very, very nice studio with really nice staff who looking after you. So yeah, we did the vocals there and got a good mix done as well. We went back a few times, but we finally got it done. So yeah, glad to get it out!

 

Do you have any interesting, funny, or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

Jordan: Well… I don’t know, really. I mean, it wasn’t exactly smooth! We just had a good crack writing it.

Coming up with some of the harmonies was exciting because there were a few tracks that were lacking. We were throwing bits together at the last minute, and they would come together perfectly. I’ve done a few things in studios before, so I was comfortable. It took a minute, but once you get into it, everyone starts to really buzz. There was a nice piano there that I got on and played some of my old songs, which sounded beautiful. It’s a really nice place to be creative.

 

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, or recording equipment to get a specific sound or tone for the record?

Jordan: Just what was available at the time! Sye tells me that it was a pretty standard mic setup for the drums, and the guitars and bass were recorded with the same dynamic/condenser combination—don’t ask me what that means! For the rest, we used the guitar amps and pedals that we use live. We didn’t feel like we had to come out with tricks to make ourselves sound like a different band. Our sound is already there; we just needed to capture it.

 

Which of your new EP tracks has you at your A) most reflective, B) angriest, and C) happiest?

Jordan:

A) Most Reflective: I think at the end of “Ballad of Billy Jesus,” there’s a line about giving them some reason. There’s a lot of story in there about my personal experiences. He was involved in a dark trade, and people die from heroin addiction. That line lands on how deceiving that lifestyle is, and how heaven bleeds because of the guilt involved. When I sing, “I would give you some reason,” I actually feel really reflective.

B) Angriest: Well, I scream in “Pest Control.” I’m angry, sad, lonely, and grieving. I love belting that bit out. I wrote the song about Ricardo López, who was filled with anger and confusion—he was in love, but hated the person at the same time. I wanted to portray that uncontrollable anger mixed with grief. I chose a light A major chord at the beginning so it almost felt like a nursery rhyme, contrasting with the complete darkness of the context.

C) Happiest: The song that makes me happiest just sets me off because it’s blues, and I’ve always loved having a blues track. It’s a massive track that reminds everyone of that unforgettable, catchy way you get people rocking and rolling. It’s a complete frenzy, and that brings out pure happiness.

 

Was the EP difficult to write?

Jordan: There were songs where Jonas came up with the basslines, like “Lost Her Mind.” He had this story about being in a tough relationship—speaking from experience, poor chap! I ran with that and wrote about domestic abuse. The guys give me great ideas to bounce off.

“Ballad of Billy Jesus” was written years ago, but every time I started playing it with these boys, it went to a whole new level—especially when Ed came along and thundered on the drums. “Up to Me” was also written a few years ago; it has a lot of structural changes and a slow outro, so that one took a minute to perfect. Sye is a perfectionist and wants to get everything right, so tweaking tempos took some time, but overall it flowed well.

 

Who designed the EP artwork?

Jordan: Sye had an idea to create a Guy Ritchie-style image. Originally, the plan was to have the band playing poker, with the cards spelling out BELA FOOL and “FOOL ME ONCE” written on the poker chips.

Turns out we were so busy getting everything sorted for the release that the day before the photoshoot we didn’t have the cards! Sye came up with a last-minute idea to feature hands on a table with elements from the Tarot “Fool” card. I lent my hands—painted fresh from work, no less!—and Jonas drew the lettering. The photo was taken by our photographer Maddie, who also did our official promo shoot.

 

One of the tracks is the single “Up to Me”. What was the story and inspiration behind the track?

Jordan: It came from people in my life coming to me with all their problems. You offer advice you think will help, they agree, and then they do the exact opposite or get annoyed. It made me realize some people get so used to chaotic situations that they treat it as part of their personality and don’t want to change.

Musically, I wanted to keep that thick grunge sound—I’ve always been into Nirvana and Pixies. You mix that grunge base with Sye’s guitar, Jonas’s punk bass, and Ed’s drumming, and it just clicks.

 

Do you have any visualizers to accompany the EP?

Jordan: Yes! There’s a video coming out with “Up to Me” and another planned for “Lost Her Mind.” We’re also working on visual art for “Pest Control.” Keep an eye on our YouTube channel!

 

Where is your hometown, and could you describe it in five words?

Jordan: I’m from Brighton. In five words: Seagulls hunting your chips down.

 

How do you look after your voice?

Jordan: Don’t go out partying after gigs if you’ve got a three-month tour lined up! Go back to the hotel, drink water, and don’t spend hours chatting excitedly in noisy rooms. It’s hard because we’re meant to be Rock ’N’ Roll, but performing properly requires rest and hydration. On match day, I focus on warm-ups, drinking plenty of water, and eating right—gotta get those walnuts in!

 

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK or Europe?

Jordan: We started our tour on September 18th in Brighton, and we’re covering the south of the UK until the end of the year. We’re heading to Ireland in November as well. We want to build a solid following close to home first—nobody wants empty venues on their own turf! In 2027, the plan is to head up North, play a few festivals, get proper management, and hopefully tour Europe after that.

 

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you leave the stage?

Jordan: I want people dancing, and maybe a few tears! Most importantly, I don’t want anyone staring at their phones—just living in the moment and enjoying it. You want everyone to leave saying, “I definitely need to see them again—where can I find their music?” That’s the ultimate goal.

 

Do you have any favorite stage instruments, effects, or pedals?

Jordan: Gimme distortion.

 

If you could score a film adaptation of any novel, which would it be and why?

Jordan: The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel. It’s the true story of Christopher Knight, the “North Pond Hermit” who spent 20 years living alone in the Maine woods. It’s a wild story, and creating an atmospheric score with lots of instruments for something like that would be incredible.

 

What are your key musical influences, and do you have any music recommendations?

Jordan: My mum was a huge Motown fan, so I grew up understanding hit records and catchy melodies. From there, I fell in love with The Beatles, The Doors, Santana, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, before moving into grunge like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pixies. Our band is a combination of all those sounds—a “Sonic Rainbow of Rock.”

As for recommendations: just follow your nose. When you hear something you like, look up the artist, dive into their back catalogue, and explore. There are millions of great bands out there—just get stuck in!

 

Finally… What makes Bela Fool happy, and what makes you unhappy?

Jordan: What makes us unhappy is when music starts feeling too much like a business. It can create tension if everyone isn’t in the exact same mindset or sharing the same intentions. It’s a tightrope, but if you’re with the right people, you make it work.

What makes us happy is being on stage in front of a crowd that’s loving it. When we’re all in sync on stage, looking at each other while performing, it’s an absolute endorphin rush. It’s a spiritual experience.

Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By San PR

Bela Fool’s new EP ‘Fool Me Once’ is out now. 

Official LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/Belafool