Interview: BEL at Oceans Calling: Dreamy Pop, Honest Words, and Ocean Air

Photo Credit: Chad Wadsworth

The ocean breeze carried the sound of BEL’s ethereal vocals across the boardwalk as the California-born artist made her Oceans Calling debut. With shimmering melodies and emotionally charged lyrics, BEL (Isabel Whelan) brought a wave of sincerity to a lineup packed with powerhouse acts, instantly winning over new fans.

Later that afternoon, I caught up with BEL for a private conversation. Still glowing from her performance, she was warm, grounded, and as authentic in person as she is in her music.

“It’s so beautiful here,” she said. “I didn’t realize the stage would be right on the beach. I love the ocean, so this was kind of a dream setting. Everyone was vibing - even people standing right in the sand. It felt magical.”

Oceans Calling marked BEL’s first time performing in Ocean City, Maryland, but she immediately felt at home. The Los Angeles–based artist, known for blending nostalgic pop with introspective folk and rock undertones, explained why festivals like this are so special.

“That’s what I love about playing festivals,” she said. “It’s such a great way to make new fans - people who might have never heard of me before can stumble upon a set and connect with something real.”

Her debut album, Holy Grail, coming out this Thursday, reflects that same mix of vulnerability and sonic exploration.

“It’s definitely a step up sonically,” she said. “I got more experimental with textures and sounds I hadn’t played with before. But lyrically, it’s still very me - really honest, really vulnerable. I write mostly from personal experience, and I wanted this album to feel like an introduction, like: this is who I am.”

Themes of yearning and self-discovery run deep in her music, inspired by years of chasing big dreams that once felt just out of reach.

“When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a singer,” she shared. “I just didn’t know if I could really do it. So this album kind of captures that - the pursuit of something that feels just out of reach, but you keep going anyway.”

Her influences are a rich mix of classic and contemporary sounds.

“I’ve always been drawn to artists like Fleetwood Mac, Sheryl Crow, and Joni Mitchell,” she said. “But I also grew up on ’90s and 2000s pop - and I was obsessed with rock bands like Green Day and Vampire Weekend. A lot of those sounds just naturally come together in what I make now.”

That Green Day connection wasn’t just musical - it was personal. BEL, staying to watch the headliners later that night, laughed about finally seeing the band she once begged her parents to let her attend as a kid.

“I’m so excited - I’ve never seen them live. When I was younger, my parents said I was too young to go to shows like that. So this feels kind of full circle.”

Between tour stops in New York and Boston, BEL’s Oceans Calling set came at a high point in her year. With Holy Grail dropping this week and an album release show in Los Angeles on October 16, she’s already manifesting her next big step.

“I’m hoping to land a really cool opening tour soon,” she said. “There are so many artists I’d love to share a stage with.”

And, of course, no Ocean City visit would be complete without sampling local treats. Asked to choose between crab cake or funnel cake, BEL laughed before answering without hesitation.

“Crab cake. Definitely crab cake.”

As the afternoon faded into evening, BEL’s easy laughter and grounded presence mirrored the warmth of her music - reflective, open, and human. With Holy Grail poised to make its debut, her sound is only expanding, but her heart remains beautifully sincere.