LIVE REVIEW: BELLA AMOR & CHOLE RAE @ MIC 09/08/25

Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi

Music Industry College – Brisbane – 9 August 2025

Bella Amor put on her second gig of her headline This Is Where I'm At Tour at the Music Industry College. At this gig, she brought along Chloe Rae and her band as her support musicians to deliver a warm up and a fun afternoon of original and cover songs that celebrate music. It was also a great occasion as I love to hear songwriters deliver their music in their own way: and it was my 100th gig of the year.

I love going to gigs at the Music Industry College in Fortitude Valley. It is an intimate space where teachers and their students can run the whole process putting on a show. They deliver a gig from the front door, to photographs, to merch desks, sound mixing, lights, and the bands themselves playing their own original music. As Bella Amor reminded us: “I wrote this song here” or “this song was one of my assignments” and the Music Industry College is an important training place.

As the music reviewer coming into this environment, I always feel a bit odd as I am older, I’m among a group of young people putting on gigs for all ages but especially safe spaces for the under 18-year-old crowd. But I am also grateful because the young musicians I want to see often get pushed out by international or Australian bands wanting attention, so the gigs put on at the Music Industry College to showcase their new and rising talent is appreciated.

In appreciation of the rising talent, Chloe Rae and her band, commenced the afternoon gig with a great set of originals and covers as she and her band hone their live performance craft. The song writing skills are there. And, there has been real improvement in the live delivery since I saw them perform at the venue on 15 February 2025. They looked comfortable on the stage.

Chloe Rae (aka Chloe De Los Santos) is a songwriter, singer and guitarist. Her band are: John on keys, Harry on drums, Archer on bass and Oli on electric guitar and he is a very good. The band started the set with Chloe Rae’s first song ever released ‘Better’ and they followed it with covers of Florence Road’s nostalgic song ‘Hand Me Downs’ and Alessi Rose’s funky and fun ‘I Know You Know’.

Chloe Rae, then, presented her song writing skills on her original songs the new and to be released soon ‘Over Thinking’, then the classy rock ballad ‘Time And Space’ with Oli’s sweet guitar riff. Then, two brand new songs in the rocker in ‘Miss’ and ‘Maple’. Chloe Rae’s song writing skills are being tested at the moment in the International Song Writing Competition (2024/2025) where she is a semi-finalist and she will be going for that finalist spot on 27 August 2025. It is my opinion that her song ‘14/2 Wasted Dreams’ is one the best pop-punk songs I have heard all year – if not the best. It’s a stunner! I wish her all the best for that night at the Black Bear Lodge.

She closed out her set with the cover of Hayley William’s or Paramore’s ‘All I Wanted’. The set was terrific and fresh. I also want to thank Chloe Rae for the tip about Florence Road. They do rock, got the EP, and yes, I am going to see them. Thanks!

After a short stage change, as the students cleared the stage. Bella Amor’s very competent band Libby on drums and Karelia on guitar got the stage ready and the instruments primed for their set.

The Gold Coast singer-songwriter Bella Amor, and alumni of the Music Industry College, appeared from offstage as a short intro played. Bella Amor and her band launched straight into her fabulous song ‘Rocks In My Pocket’. The song was written with other young song writing guns Alice Ivy and Yorke, and it is filled with lyrical quips, charismatic vocals and a mish mash of pop, alternative and indie influences. Then, she delivered an older song from her back catalogue, and a song written at the College, ‘Heart Attack’.

Bella Amor seemed really comfortable on the stage and in the intimate setting as she sang ‘Simon Says’ and then her enchanting love song and fan favourite ‘White Rabbit’. Then, she stopped to talk to the crowd about her debut EP ‘This Is Where I'm At’ where these songs are available and her tour.

Bella Amor then sang the crowd a beautiful cover of Al Green’s ‘Take Me To The River’ that she did as an assignment at the College. She explained as she re-tuned her guitar that the song was a great reminder of calming oneself as we live in difficult times. Bella Amor’s gorgeous voice on this cover was worth the price of admission itself. It was the song I heard her sing over two years ago that hooked me in to her music- as well as her unusual use of the word ‘gangsta’ throughout that gig.

Bella Amor’s attempt to be tactful about her song ‘Basement’ was funny (tip- use the word metaphor). Then, she performed the fun and dancey older song ‘Sentimental’ and the fabulous and empowering ‘Daisy Fields’ followed. Then, she stopped the gig and talked about the gig at Mo’s which I missed. But she said: “Let’s do this” as she and her band played the opening chords of Wheatus ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ and it was a huge sing along moment with a side of fun.

Bella Amor closed out her set with the fabulous ‘Couch’ and it is a fantastic pop-punk song. Her blending of indie, pop and pop-punk influences sounds fresh and in this song it’s just excellent. It is great that this year Bella Amor kicked off the year at gig number one at Spaced Out and also gig 100 with her new ‘This Is Where I'm At’ EP and Tour.

It was a privilege to hear these two musicians, Bella Amor and Chloe Rae, with their striking Generation Z voices and views of the world at this venue.

Next
Next

LIVE REVIEW: FELONY @ THE BLACK BEAR LODGE 02/08/25