Fernando Solis can’t seem to get one specific sound to be the belt that holds the pants up for Bella and the Pelican. Throughout the time that Bella and the Pelican has been alive and breathing, there has not been one consistent sound that could really sum up the project that Fernando uses to display what he refers to as “troubled times.”
“I guess when I write songs, the only thing I really try to do is keep myself from saying, ‘but that doesn’t sound like me.’ I feel like too many artists g...
Fernando Solis can’t seem to get one specific sound to be the belt that holds the pants up for Bella and the Pelican. Throughout the time that Bella and the Pelican has been alive and breathing, there has not been one consistent sound that could really sum up the project that Fernando uses to display what he refers to as “troubled times.”
“I guess when I write songs, the only thing I really try to do is keep myself from saying, ‘but that doesn’t sound like me.’ I feel like too many artists get caught up in what they can and can’t do as opposed to just doing.”
Bella and the Pelican covers a lot of ground for being the project of a singer/songwriter. Each song sounds like it could be on a separate album of its own but somehow each portrait that is painted for the listener slowly drips its colors onto the next, creating a menagerie of moods and images. Perhaps the one thing keeping these songs linked to each other is Fernando’s voice but even then Bella and the Pelican refuses to be given boundaries.
“I never really wanted to just play in one kind of band. I figured out a long time ago I wanted to sing but after that I really just let my writing follow its course. If it meant that I ended up singing in a rough, cracking voice so be it. If it meant that I would be singing in a voice that’s just above the volume of a whisper, so be it. Whether the song is about me or about someone else I know or have read about, I always take an outside view when writing about it. If the situation or memory wasn’t the most wonderful or beautiful thing in the world I’m not afraid to let that show through my voice.”
Bella and the Pelican’s latest release “This Is How You Remember Me” is made up of 6 songs that are, for a lack of better words, not that happiest sounding tracks the world has heard. Don’t let that turn you away from these songs though. Recently choosing a sober lifestyle, Fernando reveals some of his struggles associated with his checkered past on “This Is How You Remember Me.”
“A lot of what’s on this EP is in direct association with me. I went through a lot of hard times and made a lot of mistakes but that doesn’t mean all of these topics are something I necessarily went through. I wanted to open it up a little bit. Everyone goes through moments of vulnerability, anger, guilt and shame. A lot of my moments that shared those feelings did involve drinking but I did my best to really highlight what I felt were things people could relate to. I really focused on using group vocals or large sections of harmonies to capture the most important aspect of the songs. I wanted to show that no matter how low you may feel there’s always going to be others there feeling the same way. You’re really not alone. In a way I wanted to remind myself of that as well.”
“This Is How You Remember Me” is a huge step forward from Bella and the Pelican’s self titled release. Fernando is already in the works of writing a third release and doesn’t plan on stopping there. When discussing the future of this project I asked Fernando how many more “troubled times” does he think he’ll go through in order for him to keep writing.
“‘Troubled times’ isn’t really a reference to terrible things people go through. Its more of a reference to personal struggles. Any kind of struggle. Whether it be how to handle some bad choices, or something like how to show someone you care. The latter isn’t necessarily a bad situation but it is a form of conflict. I feel like I’ll always have troubled times but it doesn’t mean they’re all bad.”
If things continue to progress in this manner, we can definitely expect to continue to be impressed. Bella and the Pelican, although still in an infant stage, is a project to keep your eye on.
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