Once person is gone, what do they leave behind? Is it what they wanted it to be, or an inherent product of who they were? Are they an interpretation? A memory? An impact?

Bella Isabelle Catherine Jhun —artistically known as BelaBela— passed away three years ago, leaving behind archival material and, more importantly, ideas and emotions on love, femininity, and the self.

The first manifestation of these sentiments can be felt in her newest single, “Virgin Mary.” This posthumous release zones in and out of consciousness through masterfully mixed Shoegaze. A voice that emerges out of water and gentle electronic beats create a foundation for her poetry. The lyrics explore the uncomfortable truths contained in toxic relationships and the deprecation that in can create. Her bold verse, “I wish I was the Virgin Mary”, challenges Christian idolization in similar fashion as Morrissey’s polarizing “I Have Forgiven Jesus“, drawing comparisons between the contemporary female experience and the perception of the quintessential matriarchal figure of history.

The track’s release was also accompanied by the launch of the Bella Angel Fund. Inspired by everything that Bella represented, the fund provides emergency help for women who are victims of abuse, trafficking and batter. They offer a new beginning for people who have lost it all through Bella’s legacy.

The people who loved Bella turned unimaginable grief into a promise: that her light would go on protecting and lifting up women who need it most.

Carrying on the ideals incarnated in Bella’s art, the fund is currently undergoing their first fundraiser, in hopes to get $50,000 to help the first 50 women.

People can be outlived by their impact in others and evolve from grief into hope in the collective memory. It is profoundly inspiring to see BelaBela’s immensely talented work being shared and transformed through love. I can only thank the Bella Angel Fund for sharing such a beautiful story with us. We wish them the best of luck.

If you wish to listen to BelaBela’s music, it is available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. Click here to engage with the Bella Angel Fund and donate to their cause.