Geelong-based singer-songwriter BELLA DEER has returned with her powerful new single 'Black Dots', marking her first release since 2024’s 'Age of Alchemy'. Pairing commanding, soulful vocals with grand, cinematic instrumentation, the track signals an exciting new era for the project. At its core, 'Black Dots' uses the metaphor of society's expected milestones to question whether following prescribed rules truly brings fulfilment, encouraging listeners to forge their own paths instead.
This new release represents both an evolution in sound and a much more collaborative approach alongside her band and wider creative team. Following a period of severe burnout at the end of 2024, Bella stepped back to recover, reframe her health, and replenish her creative reserves before returning to the studio. Recorded in the band's Geelong home studio—produced by bassist Simon In’t Hout alongside guitarist Josh Walker and new drummer Ben Skeggs, with mixing by Lachlan Mitchell (The Jezabels) and mastering by Andrew Edgson (Matt Corby, Amy Shark)—'Black Dots' showcases the project at its most expansive and united.
Recently, BELLA DEER joined us to open up about overcoming exhaustion, letting go of creative control in the studio, and the story behind her most ambitious release to date.
Thank you so much for joining us today, Bella, and congratulations on the new single! 'Black Dots' is your first new release since 2024's 'Age of Alchemy'. How does it feel to finally share this track with the world, especially after setting ambitious deadlines and navigating recent illness during the process?
"I was very determined to get another song out this year since it had been such a long time between releases. I booked single launch shows over 6 months ago, and that gave us something to work towards. It was really hard getting slammed with some of the worst sickness in my adult life that kept knocking me down, but thanks to my team (shout out to producer/bassist Simon for really driving this track to completion) for getting it done without complaints! I am super happy with this particular track to be out, as the feedback has been fabulous and I am really relieved the hard work paid off. Sometimes it pays to be a little ambitious."
The single uses the idea of "black dots" to challenge society's expected milestones. What personal feelings inspired this theme, and where did the visual concept originally come from?
"When I wrote the lyrics, I felt stuck in my ‘then’ situation. I felt that nobody understood me, nobody really appreciated what I could do, and that I was just a number. I thankfully no longer still feel this way, however I know that you cannot let these things get the better of you. Yes, life is hard, but it’s what you decide to do with it that counts. The idea of black dots actually came from a calendar we used to have at home. Every month of the year was a different artwork of these different configurations of black dots. I wish had kept it and could credit whoever’s art it was, I would have loved to commission a piece for the release!"
Following a period of heavy burnout at the end of 2024, how did taking time away from music and focusing on your physical wellbeing help restore your creative energy?
"Yeah 2024 was huge for me. I had nothing left to give after that period. One day I thought, ‘ok that’s enough’. There is only so much one person can physically do. I had used up all my creative drive and determination that I had no more energy to give. I do remember finally becoming bored again perhaps late 2025. There was nothing really happening, there’s nothing to look forward to – so I thought let’s get back to it. What has changed for me is that I was forced after an injury at the snow to look after myself. I started a regular workout routine which I hadn’t done in years. This made me feel mental clarity and energy returned. Who would have thought! You definitely can’t make meaningful art when you’re not feeling like yourself."
4You took a much more collaborative approach with your band for this release. How did working together in your Geelong home studio shape the arrangement and help you let go during production?
"This track already had lyrics and melody and we were never really happy with the bridge section. Simon (bass/producer) rearranged parts, wrote new guitar sections and pieced it all together really well. Ben, our new drummer was fantastic in coming in and gelling with us as a group. I had a few suggested new bridges and getting instant feedback from the band was probably what I needed, as I often write alone. By being pushed a bit, we were able to come up with a fresh bridge section. Josh (guitar) does a fantastic job of adding (what I call) glitter to the songs and elevate them. We naturally workshopped sections and it finally became a song that we were all happy with. I think as a primary songwriter, you can get a little possessive about things – this time I decided to completely let go during production and let everyone do their thing to add their creativity go wild."
What was the experience like bringing in Lachlan Mitchell and Andrew Edgson to handle the mix and master, particularly with remote sessions between Sydney and Geelong?
"Working with Lachlan was super easy. He made the mixing process very collaborative and was very receptive to what we wanted to achieve. He even allowed for a remote mixing session where he was in his Sydney studio mixing, and we were in our home studio in Geelong listening in to his mix session live. It was about 3.5 hours on the phone! But it worked. Similarly working with Andrew was a smooth process. He too was easy to work with and receptive to our comments."
As a songwriter celebrated for your lyrical depth, what core message or emotion do you hope listeners take away from 'Black Dots'?
"I hope it makes people feel less alone. We’re all connected digitally these days, yet many of us feel more alone than ever. I hope my listeners can connect with the song and the lyrics and understand that we’re all feeling the same emotions and may be experiencing similar frustrations in our modern lives."
With 'Black Dots', BELLA DEER demonstrates that stepping off the expected path and trusting the creative process can yield remarkable results. By embracing vulnerability, prioritising personal wellbeing, and opening her doors to deeper collaboration, she has crafted a cinematic track that resonates with authenticity and emotional depth.
As her music continues to evolve seamlessly across solo, duo, and full-band formats, this release marks a confident standard for everything still to come. 'Black Dots' is available to stream now on all major platforms.
