Liana Bette
Finding the Truth in the Silence: How Joshua Tree’s Expansiveness Breathed Life into Liana Bette’s Debut
The transition from the industrial grit of Baltimore to the expansive, spiritual silence of Joshua Tree is more than just a change in scenery for Liana Bette—it is the origin story of a rising icon. Since 2023, Bette has been meticulously crafting a sound that defies easy categorization, blending the infectious energy of soulful dance-pop with the textures of moody electronic ballads. Following the successful release of her debut album, Finding the Truth, earlier this year, Bette has established herself as one of today’s most exciting new pop artists.
As 2025 draws to a close, Liana’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down; with stunning visual counterparts for “Echo” and “Finding the Truth” already captivating audiences, she is currently preparing for the early 2026 release of her third music video, “Mirror 2 Mirror.” In this exclusive interview, we sit down with the singer-songwriter to discuss the “DIY to the max” philosophy that fuels her creative partnership with her brother, the profound internal transformation that comes with starting a musical journey in your 30s, and why the desert silence was exactly what she needed to finally hear her own voice.
When did you first begin singing, and looking back, can you identify a specific moment or memory from your childhood where you realized your voice was a tool for expression rather than just a hobby?
Liana Bette: I’ve been singing my whole life. My cats are very drawn to my voice and meow with me when I sing. I think that was my first subtle cue that there is a certain frequency and sound that I carry, that can be felt.
What was the specific catalyst at age 33 that finally gave you the courage to transition from loving to sing to actually writing the words of your soul?
Liana Bette: I had gotten engaged, and at the same time fallen in love with someone else. My soul so clearly and loudly said to me: “You need to be alone and go sing.” So naturally, I moved to the desert where I didn’t know anyone. My brother had previously sent me some of his tracks and one night I sat with one of them—which is now “Dancing”—and the words just started coming through me. The rest, as they say, is history.
How has the stark, spiritual landscape of Joshua Tree influenced the “moody” textures of your music compared to your upbringing in Baltimore?
Liana Bette: The desert’s expansiveness and silence has allowed me to hear myself, see myself, and feel myself in a way that I never have before. I think that’s why silence can be jarring for people; it allows all of the textures, feelings, and emotions of life to be felt so deeply. What a gift to be able to feel it all.
You’ve described your work as “spiritually guided”—do you have a specific ritual or mindset you enter before you begin a songwriting session?
Liana Bette: I’m very much someone that just follows whatever is beyond me and inside of me, guiding me. I don’t plan a session; it just happens organically. I don’t like putting myself in boxes of timelines and making songwriting a “job” when I’ve experienced the feeling of alchemizing raw emotion into lyrics in a moment’s notice.
What has been the most rewarding part of the “DIY to the max” lifestyle, and what has been the biggest hurdle you didn’t see coming?
Liana Bette: The sense of empowerment for my brother and I to move forward in this journey without ever waiting on anyone or anything. The biggest hurdle isn’t really a hurdle, but I wasn’t aware of how much I would undergo such profound internal transformation in order to become the version of myself that can handle everything that is in front of me.
Your brother moved from the East Coast to build this dream with you; how do you balance your sibling relationship with a professional creative partnership?
Liana Bette: Everything has been quite a learning experience. The sibling and creative partnership is very much intertwined and it has pushed both of us to grow and trust in each other. I think part of what makes this music so powerful is that we are siblings. It’s like a tethered soul journey, and it’s such a gift.
Recording an entire album in a living room creates a very specific intimacy; how do you think that “home” energy translates to the listener in Finding the Truth?
Liana Bette: There’s a certain vulnerability and authenticity that is embedded in this album, and I think people will feel it. Being at home in my own essence and recording with people that I have a relationship with really makes all the difference in my sound. The Taurus in me needs to be comfortable in order to express my deepest self.
In the track “Echo,” what is the core message you are trying to project, and why did Palm Springs feel like the right visual setting for it?
Liana Bette: When I write these songs, I’m just unearthing something that already exists. It’s like revealing a message to myself. “Echo” feels like that pivotal moment when you are urged to move forward, out of any confines of the mind (the noise) to follow your soul’s truth. Will suffering cause you to sink, or will you allow it to propel you forward?
Palm Springs is the contrast to Joshua Tree in the sense that it represents the other side of the self—the big persona, the colorful performer. It’s the “caterpillar emerging as a butterfly” moment.
As a singer/songwriter specializing in electronic ballads, how do you ensure the human “soul” doesn’t get lost in the digital production?
Liana Bette: I like when there’s a bit of grit or texture in my vocals, when it’s not super processed and smooth. And also it’s just a feeling—when I listen to the music and I feel it, I just know that the soul is present.
What does the phrase “integrity of art” mean to you personally in an industry that often prioritizes trends over truth?
Liana Bette: This music, this art, is from beyond myself in some way and just pours out. I don’t write with any intention. It’s a pure expression. Anything that comes from a place of just being in flow with life, you can’t go wrong.
Can you walk us through the creative concept behind your upcoming music video “Mirror 2 Mirror” and how it moves the story forward?
Liana Bette: The video is kind of a play on Archetypes and all of the versions of ourselves we have the capacity to be depending on the “mirror” we’re looking in. It’s so fascinating to see yourself through other people’s eyes, and the video brings that visual to life.
When you look back at the lyrics of the debut album, which line do you feel best summarizes your journey over the last year and a half?
Liana Bette: “You can’t see it now, but it’s in front of you.”
How do you handle creative blocks when you are the only two people in the room—is there a specific way you and your brother get back into the flow?
Liana Bette: I don’t really feel creative blocks. I believe in timing and I know when we’re meant to flow we will, and when we’re meant to just be, we will be. Everything in life has a rhythm, and the space between the notes is important to the sound.
What inspired the decision to release a compilation of remixes in 2026, and are there any specific genres you want to see your songs reimagined in?
Liana Bette: These songs can be so many different versions of themselves. There are so many remixes of songs that really create a whole different dimension, and having others be inspired to create their own interpretation is so cool. I’d love to hear Bossa Nova and House versions, but really any remix would be amazing to hear. We have naturally played with different versions of each song so I think it made us eager to hear more!
For other artists who feel they might be “starting late” in the industry, what would you say is the greatest advantage of beginning this journey in your 30s?
Liana Bette: Starting late is an illusion; don’t believe it. For myself, I recognize that the depth and authenticity I bring has come from living the life I have, the experiences I’ve had, and the various versions of self I’ve been. What I carry now is not what I carried in my 20s.
If Finding the Truth was the theme for your first album, what is the “Truth” you hope your listeners find within themselves after hearing it?
Liana Bette: I can only hope that the truth that they discover is that only they know their truth, and there is something sacred about that.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who do you think would most resonate with your current musical direction?
Liana Bette: Annie Lennox carries the power and intensity, and Enya carries the softness and mystery. They both have really carved out a dynamic and unique path of sound. I think they would resonate with hearing that in me.
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