Wild Belle perform live in The Current studios
by Mary Lucia, Leah Garaas and Wild Belle
September 16, 2013
"You can't give up until you know what you're giving up." That's what Elliot Bergman's mother said to her young son after indicating that he wanted to quit playing clarinet in the school band. He may not have stuck it out with the clarinet, but he surely did not give up playing music altogether.
When Elliot left Illinois to study at the University of Michigan, younger sister Natalie had barely seen her 10th birthday. Being a Bergman, Natalie experienced the same musically influenced upbringing as her older brother, and at an early age, the family took notice to Natalie's vocal talent that far exceeded her age.
While Natalie gained momentum back home in Chicago, Elliot started an Afrobeat band in Ann Arbor. "I was just waiting for her to be able to get into bars because you can't take a 12-year-old on tour," the eldest Bergman says. After she turned 16, Elliot gave Natalie an "entry-level position" playing percussion and singing vocals on tour with Nomo.
Now the brother-sister duo perform as Wild Belle, integrating Afrobeat and Studio 1 artists of the '60s and '70s for a distinct yet multi-faceted sound.
During their session in The Current studios last Friday, Elliot and Natalie chat with Host Mary Lucia about the making of the new music video for "Another Girl" — filmed by Bennett, the littlest Bergman — as well as the band's massive new sound system and the connection Elliot has to Solid Gold bassist Adam Hurlburt.
Songs Performed
"Love Like This"
"When It's Over"
"Another Girl"
All songs off Isles, out now on Columbia records.
Hosted by Mary Lucia
Produced by Derrick Stevens
Engineered by Mike DeMark
