Bella DeNapoli Of 'The Voice' To Release Debut Album

WEST ISLIP, NY — Thousands of Americans watched West Islip's own Bella DeNapoli soar as a Top 20 finalist on NBC's "The Voice" in November.

Now, the 23-year-old is set to release her debut album, "Three Letters" on Tuesday.

DeNapoli recently spoke with Patch about the inspiration for and the making of the album.

"It's a positive, overwhelming feeling of just being grateful that I can do what I am doing," she said. "I am grateful that I have the platform to connect with people on a different level. I'm grateful to create and have people relate."

Each song off the album is titled with three letters, DeNapoli said. The idea emerged from her single "idk", originally titled 'Stranger In My Mind', which she co-wrote in 2020 with songwriter Raquel Castro.

"I took it to my producer. We were sitting and I was like, 'You know what, the title is just not doing it for me, what should the title be?'"

After changing the title, DeNapoli said she liked the idea of music — a specific way to express a feeling — to match modern day communication.

"I think in today's society, social media, texting, communicating through our phones and the internet is so normalized, that it's so easy for a message to get misconstrued," she said

DeNapoli said that the concept was a great opportunity to not only challenge herself as a songwriter, but to challenge the meanings of some common phrases.

"For example, I have a song called 'wtf' ," she said. "It's such a negative term that we use today, but it's actually a love song that I wrote. So it's just super interesting, the context of the titles and the meanings behind it, and how people today can get them confused."

The album has also been a "diary" into her life, and ranges on all topics from being friend zoned, to being in love, to inspiration from her "The Voice" coach, Ariana Grande.

DeNapoli said that the song "brb", is a "thank you" to Grande and her single "thank u next."

"That was a stage in my life where I was just saying goodbye to relationships, saying hello to new ones and creating and ready for the next step," she said. "So 'brb' is kind of like, Bella Napoli's interpretation."

After taking some time in Los Angeles, the singer said she will be coming back home to perform on Long Island, including at the the Montauk Music Fest from May 19 to May 21. She will also be launching self-designed merchandise, such as hats and T-shirts, at her performances on May 24.

DeNapoli said she was also proud to have recorded and produced her album on Long Island, with her producer Donnie Klang.

Throughout her "The Voice" journey, DeNapoli said she's never forgotten her roots.

"gtg", a song she wrote in California while on the show, is a "goodbye", and reflects on a new chapter in her life.

The singer/songwriter wowed judges in her Season 21 audition, singing a unique rendition of Danity Kane's "Damaged." She ultimately chose to join Ariana Grande's team. She later rose to the Top 20 finals, but lost to 14-year-old Hailey Mia of Team Kelly via viewer vote.

"I wrote that in a state of knowing I had to pursue my career fully. And that means I have to let go of things that are holding me back," she said.

At the same time, she'll never forget where she comes from.

"There's a line in it that says, 'Home is always home',"she said. "My parents are always going to be my parents. My family is always going to be there in New York — and Long Island will always be my home."

"Three Letters" will be available through most streaming platforms. To listen to DeNapoli's music, click here.