When husband & wife team Brandon Findlay and Tina Haase Findlay decided to form bella soul in the winter of 2008, they had just finished four-plus years, and hundreds of performances, with dozens of different musicians, across a great expanse of genres and styles. Having performed as a duo, in various trio formats, as well as full five and six piece bands, they did not want to surrender any aspect of that freedom, yet had a strong desire to bring their various efforts under one banner.
With bella soul launched in the spring of 2009, the Findlay's have gone on to far surpass their original goal. Using a small core of regulars and dear friends, such as keyboardist David Larson, a long-time member of their musical family and master of keyboard instruments, as well as rising saxophone star Kyle Gowin, and excellent drummer Reggie Upshur, the core bella soul duo has met no gig, truly no challenge that has stopped them. As a duo, they've opened for artists such as Robert Cray and Eddie Money. With full bands they've opened for Renee Austin, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, as well as the aforementioned Cray. Yet, as successful as they have been, they have remained true to a core of blues, rock and soul music for inspiration and direction. But both realize that the true root of the music they love most is the blues, and as such, have maintained an active presence in their blues communities, as well as reaching out into the global experience of the blues across cultures, races, nationalities, and other divides.
While writing for Guitar World magazine, Derek Trucks once told Brandon that the blues are a universal language, coming from the same delta of human emotion and experience, only to return to the same delta through our lives- a sentiment that made a strong impression on the then 22 year-old guitarist and songwriter. Proven true time and again through his own musical experience, the man they call "Deacon" took such wisdom sincerely, allowing his heart and soul to lead him in his travels, eventually uniting him with his future wife, Tina Haase Findlay.
Haase Findlay herself is no stranger to Midwest music audiences, as her twenty-eight years as a professional in the blues, jazz, soul, rock, commercial and ministry worlds have brought her many friends, much love, tremendous joy, and a deep, masterful connection to the art we all adore. Called a "legend" by local papers, she considers herself a humble student, always listening, always growing, and never fearful of what lies ahead. In a career too wide, deep and varied to easily summarize, Haase Findlay prefers to keep writing new chapters instead of revisiting or rehashing old ones. Putting her dreams of a music career on hold for many years to raise her daughter Dove, Hasse Findlay finds definition as a proud mother, a true friend, an outstanding wife, and a singer nonpareil, letting her email address do the talking for her when it comes to her life's mantra: Thriving in Joy.
Soul mates, music duo, husband & wife, etc.- the Findlay's find themselves determined to press forward, taking life one stage, song, loss, and triumph at a time. You can join their tribe at www.bellasoulmusic.com, and as their standard farewell states quite finely: "WE WISH YOU SOUL!"
Quotes and facts for bella soul, Tina Haase Findlay, and Brandon Findlay
“bella soul’s evocative music strikes a rare series of balances, proving that you can in fact have it all. They are both passionate and professional; ambitious and grounded; smooth and gritty. Most importantly, they are bursting with the urgency and joy that is at the core of so much great music.”
-Alan Paul; Wall Street Journal, Guitar World Magazine, author of Big in China (Harper Collins)
“Blues from the roots of an Iowa corn field, bella soul owes nothing to commonly accepted birth places of the blues. Their mix of jazz, funk and blues is a breath of fresh air in a reemerging blues market.”
-Gary McKeever; WVKR FM, NY; Producer of “Live at The Bearsville Theater” Woodstock, NY
“At the heart of Bella Soul’s seamless mix of soul, blues, jazz and rock music is a talented, loving couple’s wholehearted passion for reaching higher ground and greater purpose with their music.”
- Michael Swanger; Cityview Magazine music critic
“Bella Soul is one of those rare bands that has everything - a powerhouse, charismatic singer, Tina Haase Findlay who will literally blow the roof off and great original songs worthy of her talent. The band writes and plays with heart and conviction and plays REAL rock and soul music!”
- Bruce Katz; Gregg Allman Band, Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, 3-time BMA nominee, Berklee College of Music
