Hailed as "the next big thing!" by Yumi Stynes, Ella Belfanti weaves together soul and indie folk through her powerful storytelling and creative guitar work. She is known as a one-woman band for her live looping, percussive guitar style, and her huge voice. Drawing influence from Matt Corby, John Butler, Florence Welch and London Grammar, This pint-sized powerhouse is endorsed by Cole Clark Guitars and has developed her soulful sound between playing the snowy mountains of Australia and Japan, and touring the sunburnt Aussie East Coast. Ella has won the 'Best Guitarist' title at the Bluesfest Busking Competition, has played the Sydney Opera House for 'All About Women' Fest, and is making waves across the festival circuit. As put by Beat Magazine, "Her percussive style of guitar playing has captured the eye of critics around the country and will definitely capture you too."
Ella's latest single 'Hold You In' received national radio play on Triple J, and glowing reviews in the media.
Notable for her percussive fingerstyle guitar, live looping and powerful voice, Ella has won the 'Best Guitarist' award at the 2017 Bluesfest Busking Comp, and has made waves in the festival circuit with festivals including Byron Bay Guitar Festival, National Folk Festival, and Byron Bay Bluesfest under her belt. She takes her audience on a journey through folky ballads, groovy atmospheric blues, percussive guitar pieces, and fast-paced heralds to the confusing human condition. What her songs all have in common is a strikingly genuine quality that can only be described as raw.
Ella was only 17 years old when she won the Best Guitarist title at the Bluesfest Busking Comp last year, beating many seasoned and respected musicians in the competition.
Since the award Ella has appeared at the Sydney Opera House performing at the All About Women Festival, and at the Byron Bay Guitar Festival alongside greats such as Phil Emmanuel, Fiona Boyes, and Jeff Lang. She has also played National Folk Festival, Illawarra Folk Festival, Peak Festival, Tablelands Folk Festival, Buskers By The Creek, Marrickville Festival, Newtown Festival, and was a headline act for Bastille Festival 2017 and 2018 at Sydney’s Circular Quay.
Her music has seen her gigging across Australia (Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, along the East Coast, The Gold Coast, The Sunshine Coast, The NSW Snowy Mountains, Mount Hotham, North Queensland and the Illawarra Region) and in Hokkaido, Japan for 4 months.
Her covers of John Butler’s Ocean, The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army, and Amy Winehouse’s Valerie have won her standing ovations.
"Performing onstage at All About Women Festival was 18-yo singer songwriter Ella Belfanti who's gonna be the next big thing!" - Yumi Stynes
“When you can catch Ella at a festival or event, do it!” - Illawarra Folk Festival
“Ella Belfanti, uses a fantastic percussive strumming style on the acoustic, using the body of the guitar like a drum in between laying down the chords… a powerful voice” - Wazinator Stomp Box
"...a wonderful voice that can be gutsy and rich and also exquisitely sweet." - Sophie Hamley, Jolene
"A couple of standout acts…. on the younger side Ella Belfanti, percussive acoustic guitar with an absolute killer vocal as well." - Mark Lenzo, Illawarra Folk Festival
"Going in Circles is a collection of such good, organic folk songs. Songs that aren’t just good for the artist’s age, but good full stop. Ella shows great artistic instincts... Everything is in just the right place." - Sounds of Oz
Ella's debut EP Going in Circles sits within the more ballad-like side of her music. Featuring 6 original songs with all instrumental and vocal parts performed, recorded and produced by her (on her laptop in her bedroom), the songs have a unique heartfelt sound crafted from layering of vocals and guitar, as well as bass, bongos, cajon, flute, and sounds made from found objects such as pencils, cane baskets, and some pots. Ella also designed her own album cover, having a background in visual arts and design.
“…an unpretentious, sleeves up approach to songwriting, with emphatic guitar strumming and to the point lyrics.” - Rita Bratovich, Alt Media