Powerhouse singer strips songs back

Bella Kalolo

SMOOTH, velvety notes underpin the powerhouse voice of Bella Kalolo.
The singer/songwriter of Samoan, Tongan and Maori (Ngati Porou) descent has soul coursing through her veins, and a passion that's seen her hand-picked by some of New Zealand's most notable talent.
Kalolo has worked with everyone from Fat Freddy's Drop and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, to solo artists Hollie Smith, Don McGlashan, Dave Dobbyn, Nathan Haines and Aaradhna.
Her latest project aptly titled Bella's Soul Sessions, however is live, raw and unlike anything she's done before.
Hawke's Bay people can expect to hear a few unique covers alongside original tracks from her debut album Without The Paper (2011) and EP Time and Space (2013).
"This is very much an acoustic tour - all the songs have been stripped back to their most organic form and there will only ever be three to four musicians on stage at one time," she says.
Although the idea was put into planning last year, an unplugged set had been on the cards for a long time.
She selected two of New Zealand's finest musicians, guitarist Andy Mauafua and Darren Mathiassen, to join her on stage for this series of intimate concerts.
"I just wanted to perform in smaller venues that would allow me to interact with the audience more easily," Kalolo says.
"The show is just going to be good honest fun. I'll also be sharing a couple of stories with the audience as well."
For her Hastings show at the Playhouse Theatre on Sunday, March 22 she also welcomes local bass player Caleb Robinson.
"We met in Auckland in 2001. Since then, we have performed and written songs together - he's like family to me. It is great to have the opportunity to perform alongside one another."
Her reputation as one of New Zealand's most entertaining performers has earned Kalolo spots at Glastonbury, the City of London Festival, Divas in Paradise and the 2014 Sydney Music Festival where she sang with Chaka Khan.
She has also played to crowds in their thousands at Parachute Festival and Waitangi Day celebrations at Flatbush, Manukau.
Her accolades include Best Female Vocalist at the 2012 and 2014 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards.
Growing up around music set Kalolo off on an exciting voyage to share her talent with the world - performing with Paraguayan Top 10 band Dos Tribus at the age of 17. Since then she has worked across a range of genres from television's Dancing with the Stars to movies such as Sione's Wedding and Matariki, and theatre including Disney's Lion King , Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hair and Little Shop of Horrors.
Being invited on stage to sing at Soulfest last year with American singer Angie Stone was yet another highlight on her star-studded career path.
Bella Kalolo will be performing at the Playhouse Theatre in Hastings on March 22 from 7.30pm. Tickets available from creativehastings.org.nz.