Not Your Cupid. Erny Belle

Baby, it's in the water", Erny Belle sings in the beginning of 'Unchained', one of the singles preceding Not Your Cupid. A single that made me so curious to hear her upcoming album. That is finally an option and since I've played it many, many times enjoying every minute of it.

The word water surfaced a few times in my posts over the years where music from New Zealand, and especially from its female artists, was concerned. Erny Belle brought it up herself, so perhaps she knows what it is in the water that makes herself and these artists write and record music at this high a level. New Zealand is, at a minimum percentage wise if not absolutely, outperforming other countries with ease.

Not Your Cupid has that same laidback kind of music that colleagues like Aldous Harding, Ebony Lamb and Reb Fountain play and are so successful with. Erny Belle manages to create this dreamy atmosphere in her songs through which she seems glide, not touching the ground, not held back by anything. She offers this atmosphere to her listeners, who can leave behind all sorrows, concerns and other negativity, to become one with Not Your Cupid.

Erny Belle, or Aimee Renata, debuted in 2022 with 'Venus Is Home'. The album was reviewed by Erwin Zijleman, who praised the Flying Nun record store newsletter in the totally right way. Because of it, we both have found our way to a number of beautiful records from New Zealand. As far as I know Not Your Cupid has not been released over here (yet?), so I would never have know about it.

Not Your Cupid is another highlight where music from New Zealand is concerned. Just listen to a song like 'Inertia'. A soft acoustic guitar is the backbone of the song. Behind it a softly played bass and brushed drums offer support. The intro is fully acoustic with a bass. When Aimee Renata starts singing, she opens the song like a flower reaching for the sun. In comes a violin and later a piano. First hesitantly playing a single note, before a cascade of slow notes, as it defying gravity, come in to accompany and expand the mood of 'Inertia'. The result is a undercooled form of beauty. Totally laidback, there isn't a hurry nor worry in the world of Erny Belle. The slowest day on the beach imaginable, not having to go anywhere else.

There is no need to expand any further. 'Inertia' captures the essence of Not Your Cupid. It is an album to fully relax with and leave the world behind for half an hour. What more can a person wish for every once in a while?

Wout de Natris

You can order and listen to Not Your Cupid here:

https://ernybelle.bandcamp.com/album/not-your-cupid