Bella Kalolo-Suraj, award-winning soul singer and music mentor, says young artists need to believe in themselves and trust their own creative instincts.

Speaking in the opening episode of Hawkins’ interview series, aimed at sharing lessons and experiences to help young artists find their place in the entertainment industry, Kalolo-Suraj explains why young musicians should be wary of outside parties trying to influence their sound or style.

“When you start pouring everything into someone else’s model of how to do things, you lose a part of yourself,” says Kalolo-Suraj.

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“So I would say, stick to your guns and gather like-minded people around you.”

Originally from Ōtautahi (Christchurch), Kalolo-Suraj is of Samoan, Tongan and Maori (Ngati Porou) descent and has worked as a musical mentor for over 10 years.

The Hawkins Interview Series is the brainchild of Tāmaki Makaurau-based R&B and soul singer and songwriter, Victor Hawkins. He wanted to highlight the hidden issues and experiences faced by artists working in the cutthroat music industry.