Bella Yorke, Screen Test Awards Winner, Musician Category
The Screen Test Awards is about recognizing something deeper: a sense of self and truth, told through talent's identity and their story. When Bella Yorke, 21, from Atlanta, Georgia, submitted her performance video, it was clear instantly that she wasn’t just singing—she was sharing something personal. Seated with her guitar, she moved through her original song with a calm presence that felt entirely her own. You could watch the way her eyes shifted with each lyric, how her voice landed softly but with conviction, and how naturally she was fused with the music.
Raised singing church songs with her family, there’s a calmness and wholeness in the way she carries herself—both in how she speaks and in how she sings. Bella knows who she is. That self-possession, wrapped in softness and warmth, swept away the Screen Test Awards panelists. Her lyrics are raw, tender, and honest, but the quiet strength in her eyes is what lingers. It’s this duality, gentle and grounded, yet powerful, that makes Bella Yorke an artist the world could be ready for.
Interview by Alec Castillo
Alec: What story or emotion do you feel your voice tells best?
BY: I feel my voice shows true and honest vulnerability. My music is my diary — a peek into my life and my emotions. I am not afraid to be vulnerable. Once I wrote the song “Never Blame You,” I sent it to the boy it was about. I wanted him to know that it was about us. There is power in being vulnerable. We are all human, and it’s important to remember that.
AC: When you step into the studio or onto a stage, what’s the first thing you think about?
BY: Before stepping into the studio or going on stage, I remind myself why I started making music in the first place. I find comfort and relief in writing and singing. So I remind myself that it is genuinely good for me to write and sing. Some people like to crack open a cold one after a long day. My preference is to write a song about all the annoying things that made my day feel long. There’s no right or wrong way. That’s just how I go about it.
AC: Your screen test gave us a glimpse into both your voice and your energy—how did you decide what to perform?
Bella: I chose to perform my song “Never Blame You” for a couple of reasons. I felt it was one of my more emotionally raw songs I had written at the time, and I know a lot of people felt that they could relate to it. “Never Blame You” is a song I put all my frustration, vulnerability, longing, and sadness into.
AC: What do you want people to feel when they hear your music for the first time?
BY: When people listen to my music, I hope they feel comforted and not so alone with their feelings. I want to help others process their feelings and find comfort by knowing that they are not alone — that we are all human and go through seasons of struggle or sadness, and that there is hope and beauty in all the pain.
AC: Was there a moment during this process where you reconnected with why you started making music?
BY: The whole entire process made me reconnect with why I started making music. I always had a dream of becoming a singer-songwriter. I wrote silly little songs and stood in front of the fireplace in my living room to perform them to my family. It was all I did as a kid. It wasn’t until I got into the studio with a producer/songwriter/musician named Davy Nathan that I realized I was really a songwriter. I was 20 and nervous to work with a professional. He asked me how long I had been a songwriter. In that moment, I hid my surprise. A professional songwriter… had just called me a songwriter. I felt like I had just been knighted. It made me think about why I never considered myself a songwriter before he said that. It made me realize that art is valid no matter the recognition. It is all subjective, and if it’s art to you… then it’s art.
AC: What genres or influences are shaping your sound right now?
BY: I listen to so many different artists every day, so it’s hard to say just a few. I decide who I want to listen to based on what type of energy I'm feeling or want to feel at that moment. Nothing is more annoying than not being able to find what you want to listen to. If it doesn't hit, then it just doesn’t hit — and I'd rather drive in silence at that point. On the way to work, I’ll put on something a little more upbeat to wake myself up. Recently it’s been the artists “Julie,” “Aldn,” “2hollis,” and “Between Friends.” On the way home, I’ll listen to “Elliott Smith,” “Nirvana,” “Imogen Heap,” and “Slow Pulp” to end the day on a chill note. I find inspiration in all of them. I take production ideas, songwriting inspo, and emotions I get from these artists. I’ll incorporate them intentionally and unintentionally. You are what you listen to, I suppose.
AC: Winning this award means visibility—what do you hope the industry sees in you that they haven’t seen before?
BY: I hope the industry will see me and my music. Not just see a random post about me and my song on Instagram, but actually see what my music and I are all about.
AC: If your voice had a color or texture, what would it be?
BY: I’m not sure if a warm hug counts as a texture, but that is what I'd describe my music as. More specifically, a blue hug. The kind of blue like the ocean or sky — an alive, vibrant ocean that is deep and has yet to be completely discovered. And the sky on a clear summer day, where it looks endless.
AC: Who’s an artist or producer you’d love to collaborate with next—and why?
BY: An artist I’d love to collaborate with is Phoebe Bridgers, for sure. She’s really good at expressing real, raw emotion and isn’t afraid to sing about what she feels. A producer I’d love to work with again is Davy Nathan, because he’s just that guy. And I’d also love to work with Dan Del Negro because… he’s also just that guy from what I’ve seen.
AC: How did the branding seminar or 1-on-1 session help you shape your vision as an artist—not just a singer?
BY: The seminar was really insightful and helped me understand different aspects of the creative world. Evan Hart was one person who stuck out to me, due to his drive and passion. He talked about how he had to really put himself out there and experience different things in the industry to learn what he wanted to do. Hearing successful creatives’ stories can be inspiring. It shows all the work and effort that they put in to get where they are now. In moments we may find ourselves in the “struggling artist” phase. It’s the drive and effort you put in that gets you to where you want to be.