Words by Carol Wright | Photography by Hana Haley
Nella spoke to us about working on Vox Lux with Natalie Portman and her singing career.
Have you been singing since a young age?
I started singing lessons when I was about five-years-old! I was really shy and used to tell my mom “don’t listen” even though she was waiting for me right outside the door. Eventually, I came out of my shell and started singing in front of people as I got older. Now you can’t shut me up! Haha.
Who are some artists you look to for inspiration?
So many! Beyoncé had a huge impact on me growing up. Now I look to Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Hayley Kiyoko, and more for inspiration in my genre. I also really love rock music, hip hop, folk, r&b, and even show tunes! I think all genres feed each other in one way or the other.
What inspired the sound of your newest single, “All Out?”
Linking up with female production duo, Lyre, out in LA really helped in shaping and discovering my sound. I had written all these really cool songs on my piano at home with clever lyrics and hooky melodies, but I couldn’t find the right producer to take it to the next level. The Lyre girls heard and saw where I was trying to go and they immediately just got it. We started from scratch and came up with music that finally felt like ME in every aspect. I describe the sound as salty and sweet 🙂
Tell us about your EP that’s set to come out in the New Year. What can we expect?
I like to think that this EP is an introduction to me as an artist. Kind of the outer layer of the planet Nella Cole. This EP is all about what I’m dealing with in my life and in the world right now. Partying, boys, NYC, career hustle, and more. It’s definitely a very confident and fearless EP! I’m looking to dive a bit deeper into my next body of work.
How did you get involved with Vox Lux? What was it like working with Natalie Portman?
Vox Lux was actually a direct booking through my dance agency. Most of the other ladies I worked with were friends of mine since we all either have the same agent or know each other through the dance community, which made things super fun! Working with Natalie Portman was a dream come true. She is absolutely lovely! I learned so much from her professionalism and kindness. She treated each and every person with the same level of respect. I often think of her behavior on set as a reminder to myself to always remain humble.
Do you hope to work on more movies in the future?
I’m actually really interested in getting more involved in film and television! Singing and dancing have always been at the forefront for me, but I’m super excited to see where this new road might take me. Ultimately storytelling is my passion and I find happiness in doing that no matter what the outlet is.
You also made your off-Broadway debut in This Ain’t No Disco. What was it like working on Broadway? What did you learn through that process?
Working on This Ain’t No Disco was truly life-changing. It was my first time doing a big musical theater show and I was a bit apprehensive to switch gears to something I hadn’t really done before. I am so glad that I went into it with an open heart and mind because my time working on the show has taught me more than I could express! Not to mention I made lifelong friendships with beautiful artists who I got to share the stage with every night. It was one of those lightning in a bottle moments and I will never forget the experience.
What advice do you have for aspiring singers?
My advice is to be who you are! But before you can “be” who you are, you have to find out who you are and that takes work despite how simple it may sound! Get to know yourself and learn to love exactly who you are so you can feel confident and authentic. If you are being true to yourself, there is no way you can go wrong.