Erny Belle takes Venus Is Home to the Hollywood Theatre, with support from D.C Maxwell.
The birth of Erny Belle began in October of last year, 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 flames within New Zealand’s music scene.
Belle, moved from Auckland, to the Northland 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’.
Venus Is Home captures a sound shaped by the landscape of Aōtearoa, with references that are distinct to New Zealand - her 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’. The songs on her nine track album are woven together beautifully, with lilting slide guitar, tremolo guitar, slow-burning melodies, and sublime, harmonised vocals.
Her first sold out album release show, 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, channeling a performance that feels like an earnest surrender to her audience. Belle has since opened for Andy Shauf and Orville Peck for their international tours. This will be the first headline performance with full band since her debut in February.
Opening on the night will be D.C Maxwell, an electrifying artist not to be missed. D. C. Maxwell is an alt-country singer-songwriter from Tāmaki Makaurau. One part troubadour, one part magnetic performer, D. C. Maxwell is a storyteller whose songs weave vivid tales of lives on the outskirts. D. C. Maxwell is the former front-man of punk band Roidz (Danger Collective Records), active from 2016-2019. Called one of Tāmaki Makaurau's hottest rising talents by UTR.
