Meet Via Bella. If feminist nerd rock sounds like something you might like, you may have found your new favorite band.
Erin Bellavia‘s fledgling music career ended when she was cut from her middle school show choir. For a long time, her only musical performances were in her bedroom at home, where she pretended to make music videos.
Many years later, she met this guy named Rand, who brought her to her first filk convention in 2005. At first she was content to listen, but was gradually convinced by some of her new friends to sing — just a little — in a filk circle. She and Rand first performed together at the 2010 OVFF Pegasus Concert, and they began doing some writing together in preparation for their first concert at FilKONtario in 2013.
In January 2023, Erin was the Toastmistress at GAFilk. She has been nominated for seven Pegasus Awards, including a 2021 nomination with Merav Hoffman and Seanan McGuire for the Via Bella song “Dear Seanan.” In 2022, she took on the role of co-conchair for FilKONtario.
In her spare time, Erin enjoys reading, costuming, calligraphy, taking care of her plants, adoring her cat Reba, and watching too much TV.
Rand Bellavia attended his first filk circle at Marcon in 1993. His band Ookla the Mok played their first filk concert at Filkontario in 1994, and he has been performing at filk, science fiction, and comic book conventions all over the world ever since. Ookla the Mok wrote and performed the theme song to Disney’s Fillmore, and Rand’s voice is the first thing you hear on Gym Class Heroes’ Billboard top five hit “Cupid’s Chokehold.” He released a solo album (The Tips of My Fingers) in 2021 and a Bandcamp exclusive companion EP in 2022.
Through Via Bella, Ookla the Mok, and his solo material, Rand has released 14 albums and been nominated for 23 Pegasus Awards, winning 4. Ookla the Mok’s song “Mwahaha” won the 2014 Logan Award for Best Original Comedy song. Ookla the Mok had the most requested song on Dr. Demento in both 2012 (“Tantric Yoda”) and 2013 (“Mwahaha”). Two of their songs (“Stop Talking About Comic Books or I’ll Kill You” and “F. People”) have appeared on Dr. Demento CD compilations.
When Rand isn’t wearing a guitar, he is the Library Director at D’Youville University. He also writes the “Random Access Memory” column at majorspoilers.com and is a frequent guest on the Major Spoilers Podcast. (Like Erin, Rand also adores Reba and watches too much TV.)
Together, Erin and Rand are Via Bella. Their songs address many fandoms, including Agent/Peggy/Captain Carter, Mr. Rogers, A Wrinkle in Time, Orphan Black, the October Daye books, Sesame Street, Westworld, and the Princess Bride. Their debut album The Way of Beauty was released in 2018. Four of the songs from the album have been nominated for Pegasus Awards.
Via Bella have performed concerts at filk and science fiction conventions throughout North America and were the Toastmasters at OVFF in 2021. This will be their first Guest of Honor appearance!
You can find them online at:
Rand plays guitar. They both sing. Erin’s been known to wear a costume or two. Come see what all the fuss is about.