18 Questions With introduces 1883 readers to the brightest young artists, actors, creatives and beyond. From childhood memories and guilty pleasures to their latest ventures and upcoming projects, our goal is to bring you closer to the people who inspire and entertain us.
Bella Rios is making waves—not just with her powerhouse vocals and heartfelt songwriting, but with her refreshing honesty about life, growth, and the emotions that fuel her art. Whether she’s performing at a packed venue, tackling thought-provoking coursework, or reflecting on the friendships that keep her grounded, Rios is all about embracing the present.
From childhood dance parties with her family to a life-changing trip to Africa, Rios shares the stories behind her music, her inspirations, and what she hopes to manifest in the year ahead.
What’s one exciting thing that happened to you this week?
I played a great show with Breaking Sound and some incredibly talented musicians at the Paramount Hotel in New York.
What was the last thing you read?
Last thing I read was a court case for my civil liberties class. We read West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette.
Favourite memory growing up?
I don’t even know if this is my favourite, because I’m lucky enough to have the coolest family in the world, I think, but it’s the first one that came to mind. Almost every other night after we would have dinner we would go to our music practice room, which was just this giant open space with a grand piano and a bunch of amps and guitars, and my dad would blast Shakira and Katy Perry, or whatever. We’d have a family dance party for like 30 minutes every other day. That was just the best.
Where was the last place you travelled to?
I went to Africa with my family which was insane! We went to Cape Town, Sabi Sands and Mozambique. My mom is knocking out all the once-in-a-lifetime trips that I won’t be able to take once I graduate. Everyone in my family is a total adrenaline junkie except for me, and we went rappelling which was horrifying. Honestly, I never would have done it if I wasn’t scared of them bullying me for not doing it afterwards, but if my 13-year-old brother can do it then I can do it.
What was the last thing that made you laugh?
The weekend debrief I had with my girlfriends at lunch today.
What’s your nighttime ritual?
The only consistent thing I do is brush my teeth and then fall asleep, I’m pretty bad with taking my makeup off and things like that. So, put a Lacroix by my bedside, brush my teeth and then stare at the ceiling until I pass out because I get anxious and I’m afraid of the dark.
Who would be on your dream dinner party guest list?
Oh, my god. How many people do I get? Adele, Freddie Mercury, Olivia, Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Reneé Rapp, and Jon Bellion. I think they’d all fuck with each other.
Favourite quote from a film or TV show?
Monica says it to Rachel in Friends: “Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’re gonna love it.”
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood
What is your favourite item in your closet?
My sweats. Don’t tell my mom!
What initially inspired you to pursue storytelling as an artist and songwriter? Was there a specific moment that you can recall?
There wasn’t one particular moment, I have always loved performing, and a massive part of that is because I’m able to express myself and say things in ways that are bolder than I would on a daily basis. After a while of being in cover bands I wanted to tell a story that was my own and express myself in my own words rather than channeling myself through others. That’s when I decided, “well, I guess I need to learn how to write mine down too.”
Can you tell us a bit about your new single, “Right Now”?
I’m so excited about this song. I love it so much that I tear up every time I think about who inspired it. Basically, it’s about trying to live in the moment even when you know the moment is fleeting, as difficult as that may be. It’s obviously very timely for me right now being a second-semester senior about to face the real world, but I think most moments in life can feel like that regardless of where you are. I hope this song brings people some comfort, or at least a way to remember that you just can’t let what you have left pass you by.
During writing “Right Now”, was there anything that surprised you about yourself or about the process of creating the track?
Every time I write, as I dig into a subject or an emotion that I’m feeling to tell the story, I peel back the layers of why I’m feeling that way. I was surprised that a lot of my fear of starting fresh was because I knew I was taking the road less travelled. I’m going to do the struggling artist thing as opposed to the investment banking thing, and I realized how much comparison was being the thief of my joy. I’ve always known that, but I had to really reckon with that and that was a thing that made writing the song a great source of growth for me.
Since releasing your first single in 2019, how do you feel your music has evolved over the years, and where do you see it going in the future?
I’m always listening to new music and learning as a person, those are the two major components that influence my own writing and everything I put out. My music evolves as quickly as I do as a human. Each release is a more accurate, honest depiction of who I am and what I’m feeling and how I operate. I used to be so obsessed with finding my lane that I would get in my own way. Now I just write and I’ll figure out how it all goes together later. That, I think, has been one of the greatest developments. Wherever that takes me I’m open to it, so long as it’s authentic to me.
If you could collaborate with any musician, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
That’s so difficult, but I always go back to John Bellion. I think he’s a musical genius. If I could have a crush on someone’s mind, it would be his. I mean, it does help that he’s also cute, but even just to watch him work would be one of the most inspiring experiences.
If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice about pursuing a career in music, what would it be?
Be patient, be kind, and do your best to be confident because you don’t stand a chance without perseverance and self-assurance.
Can you share a story behind one of your songs that holds special meaning to you?
“Right Now” brings a flood of memories back to me, but if I had to pinpoint one that encapsulates the sentiment of all the experiences that the song is about, I’d pick one from two months ago. It was the morning after a night out that had obviously been as dramatic as all the others and my girlfriends and I decided we weren’t going to have a productive Sunday for the first time in forever. We turned on our friend’s basketball game and ordered donuts, coffee and pizza, and rotted with our old makeup on in our bizarre conglomerate seating situation – a bean bag, a couch, two desk chairs – in someone’s common room. We were all just flopped around this room watching basketball and then High School Musical, and we spent the entire day talking to each other and recovering. That is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, and it was all because of the company I kept.
Lastly, if you could manifest something for yourself this year, what would it be?
Every day that I get to keep making music is the thing that makes me the happiest. It’s living out a dream come true. So, any more moments to keep doing that and to keep sharing it with people…That’s all I can ask for.
“Right Now” is out now.
Photography Shervin Lainez
