Bella Ferraro
Bella Ferraro | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 20, 1994 Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, singer |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Known for | Contestant on The X Factor Australia (2012) |
Bella Ferraro (born 20 August 1994) is an Australian vocalist recognized primarily for finishing as the tenth contestant eliminated during the fourth season of The X Factor Australia in 2012.
Early life
Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Ferraro developed an interest in singing at a young age. She joined the Australian Girls Choir when she was five years old, performing at notable occasions such as Carols in the Domain and during Oprah Winfrey's tour in Australia. She decided to leave school in Year 12 to focus on building her music career.
2012: The X Factor Australia
In 2012, Ferraro auditioned for the fourth season of The X Factor Australia, delivering a rendition of "Skinny Love," inspired by Birdy (musician). Encouraged by the success of One Direction on the UK version of the show, she progressed despite experiencing a momentary lapse in lyrics during the super bootcamp stage.
Her debut live performance was Matt Corby's "Brother," which elicited varied responses from the judges. The following week, she performed a simplified version of "What Makes You Beautiful", which entered the ARIA Charts at number 62. Later performances included Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" (which debuted at number 84), Madonna's "Ray of Light," and Nena's "99 Red Balloons."
During week six, Ferraro found herself in the bottom two but was saved by the judges' decision. She later performed The Temper Trap's "Sweet Disposition" (reaching number 59 on ARIA) and The Cranberries' "Dreams" (entering at number 82). In the semi-final round, after a deadlock with The Collective (band), she was eliminated, securing fourth place overall. Her final song, "The Last Day on Earth", debuted at number 90 on the ARIA Charts.
Performances on The X Factor
denotes an appearance on the ARIA Singles Chart.
indicates placement in the bottom two.
| Stage | Theme | Song | Original Performer | Performance Order | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auditions | Free choice | "Skinny Love" | Birdy | N/A | Advanced to super bootcamp |
| Super bootcamp 1 | "The A Team" | Ed Sheeran | Progressed to stage 2 | ||
| Super bootcamp 2 | "Somebody That I Used to Know" | Gotye | Advanced to stage 3 | ||
| Super bootcamp 3 | "Don't Dream It's Over" | Crowded House | Moved forward to home visits | ||
| Home visits | "Heartbeats" | Ellie Goulding | Qualified for live shows | ||
| Week 1 | Judges' Choice | "Brother" | Matt Corby | 10 | Safe |
| Week 2 | Party All Night | "What Makes You Beautiful" | One Direction | 5 | Safe |
| Week 3 | Top 10 Hits | "Big Yellow Taxi" | Joni Mitchell | 5 | Safe |
| Week 4 | Legends | "Ray of Light" | Madonna | 7 | Safe |
| Week 5 | 1980s | "99 Red Balloons" | Nena | 5 | Safe |
| Week 6 | Latest and Greatest | "Shake It Out" | Florence + the Machine | 6 | Bottom two |
| Final showdown | "Tonight" | Lykke Li | 2 | Saved | |
| Week 7 | Made in Australia | "Sweet Disposition" | The Temper Trap | 5 | Safe |
| Week 8 | Judges' Challenge | "Dreams" | The Cranberries | 5 | Safe |
| Semi-final | Power and Passion | "Bulletproof" | La Roux | 3 | Bottom two |
| "The Last Day on Earth" | Kate Miller-Heidke | 7 | |||
| Final Showdown | "Angel" | Sarah McLachlan | 1 | Eliminated |
2012–2013: Signing with Sony Music and Single Releases
Following her participation in The X Factor, Ferraro secured a contract with Sony Music Australia and launched her first single, "Set Me on Fire," on 14 December 2012. This song reached number 36 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Her follow-up single, "Forgot You," which features Will Singe from The Collective, was released on 18 October 2013 and attained a peak position of 75 on the ARIA chart.
2014: Departure from Sony Music and Social Media Withdrawal
In 2014, Ferraro chose to terminate her agreement with Sony Music and simultaneously removed herself from all social media channels. She is currently no longer affiliated with Sony Music Australia.
2015–2019: Period Away from Public Eye and Work as LilBels
During these years, Ferraro focused on studying music production, contributed backing vocals and keyboard parts, and occasionally performed under the alias 'LilBels.' She collaborated with the Sydney-based group Sister Peach, where artist Zepha discovered her again—a significant event that catalyzed her return to the music scene.
2020–Present: Comeback as Bella Ferraro and New Releases
Ferraro re-emerged as a performer at Sydney’s Low 302 venue, presenting unreleased songs co-produced alongside Zepha. Encouraged by positive audience feedback, she unveiled the single "Her" in August 2020, which is part of an upcoming EP. Dave Ruby Howe from Triple J Unearthed highlighted the track's intimate atmosphere and engaging production quality. The second single from this EP, titled "Believe You," was released on 30 October 2020.
Artistic Influences
Ferraro acknowledges Bon Iver, Lykke Li, Crystal Castles, Foals, and Two Door Cinema Club as significant inspirations shaping her musical style.
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| "Set Me on Fire" | 2012 | 36 | Non-album single |
| "Forgot You" (featuring Will Singe) |
2013 | 75 | |
| "Her" | 2020 | ||
| "Believe You" |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| Set Me On Fire | 2012 | — |
| Forgot You (feat. Will Singe) | 2013 |
Additional Charted Tracks
| Title | Year | Highest chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| "What Makes You Beautiful" | 2012 | 62 |
| "Big Yellow Taxi" | 84 | |
| "Sweet Disposition" | 59 | |
| "Dreams" | 82 | |
| "The Last Day on Earth" | 90 |