We recently connected with Stells Di Rossi Hurst and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Stells thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
This is something that happens all the time from genre to culture. I feel like society is over judgmental, and tends to trap creative souls by what they feel an artist should be, rather than learn who they are or as they choose to evolve. I find that it unintentionally creates discomfort to challenge conformity, earning the nicknames Stella the Bard or Stells Hells Bells is just coincidental. As a woman of color, I constantly find that I am defending my individuality and culture beyond skin color, wanting to be a force for reckoning against art’s pigment-associated, gender-biased, and conformist nature.
Art’s subjectivity is a double-edged sword due to social diseases and stigmas. I’m often mislabeled and underrepresented by those who conform. People ask why I don’t fit their stereotypes for comfort, but I create for myself and those who break free from social pressure. It’s not for everyone, and that’s the beauty of being free creatively. Creativity is a powerful form of expression, it is the voice and story of humanity. It can break barriers, bridge gaps bringing people together, evoke feelings of intensity and transcend constructional concepts. Rock n’ roll, by nature, isn’t about following rules.
Unless we as society break the mold, we remain stagnant of progress always following someone else’s formula- this is how innovation, new concepts and ideas become stagnant and die. The greatest minds within human existence dared to evolved and broke the stereotype for innovation and expression due to generational programming. As a creative, I’ve strived for independence from gender, skin color, and pigment association to avoid stagnation and the stigma of social disease. I’ve explored my creative identity, but faced challenges from generational curses and stagnant mentalities. It’s challenging, but worth it to inspire people by challenging the construct. I wear many creative hats to shake things up, as my art is a form of activism to shatter the glass ceiling.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m known for being the founder and driving force behind the alternative rock band Method to the Madness. I’m also a psychological expressionist painter and designer under the name E.dRH. I’ve become a public persona and radio podcast personality known as Stells Hells Bells. And I’m the composer for musical alter ego as the electronica fusion project known as The Velvet Crush. I’ve also embraced my plus-size figure and become a body positive influencer and model. These days I am one of the core founders of RH Media Productions, a digital media productions label that hopes to work in film, animation, production and many forms of art helping marginalized artists find their way to reach beyond the constraints of an industry that often follows conformity and bias rather than inspiration and innovation. I believe that my true essence lies in my role as a creative innovator, using my talents to express myself and make a positive impact through creative activism.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Despite facing many social challenges in my career, the hardest was health challenges. Being a creative person in a confirmative and competitive industry with health constraints, especially unseen disabilities, can be challenging. People often have assumptions about you and don’t know the silent battles you face. Gossip, misinterpretation and bias are all social disease because of people lacking empathy and understanding of what you silently endure to do what they take for granted with ease. Its a double edged sword that is both a hardship and an empowerment to strive for better at the same time.
I was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune disorders, including Sjogren syndrome, which causes environmental, regional, and other reactions and amplifes my extensive sensitivities and allergens. Sjogrens syndrome, attacks the body, organs and tissues making your immune system fight itself- there is no cure and they can only give temporary relief of symptoms or reactions and can flare for unknown reasons. It also partners with other diseases and can be amplified. Unfortunately this went full bloom right as my band and art began to gained recognition. I was labeled a control freak and controlling for trying to minimize stressors and often called things by those that were ignorant and lacked understanding of the cost of their actions. I took to my art to express my aggression of dealing with these aggressions and frustration in a healthy way. Eventually I had to cut ties with thing and people that exacerbated things or made life worse. It was killing me. I became so sick that I couldn’t stand while playing. People would tell me to stand and present myself as a musicia professionally assuming i was fat, lazy and not realizing I was disabled not knowing I was fighting nerve issues. They spread lies and rumors that I was a drug addict for always sweating, and having symptomatic reactions which was due to environmental reactions and light sensitivity reactions beyond my control.
I was risking my life every show and taking the criticism for people that never knew until I was eventually home bound after I was hospitalized. I wasnt even aware of the severity of it due to the flaws in healthcare until at least two years after i was finally diagnosed properly. I took to virtual performances and found a larger audience over the internet and airwaves breaking stigma- I found a second life creatively. I began to remove working iwth those that failed ot understand my physical constraints often labeled a prima donna but I continued to find my own way and a safer path. What they assumed was ego was actually self care.
People mistook my standoff avoidance of socializing as being stuck up or having an attitude, but I was immunocompromised and keeping a safe distance.
The concept that you have to do things one way creatively is absurd and stagnant. Sometimes we are forced to think outside the box and truly are tested to see if our passions and dreams are capable of existing beyond the means we assume are standard. You find ways to evovle, and retrofit life everyday so why not in a creative capacity. y weakness became my strength. The hatred and intolerance I received for being different was abusive from people that didn’t understand or even know I was simply working with the cards I was dealt. I chose innovation over conformity with a system that wasn’t designed for me- so I broke the barrier they never saw because I had to. The envy I continue to receive is simply a sign of the fact that they are unfamiliar with why and how I adapted because it doesn’t apply to them. I kept this secret for years and continued despite the gossip. My avoidance of drama and tough attitude was a way to protect myself, not because it was a personality complex. There was no reason to explain to people that didn’t care. I speak about it now because I feel that society needs to be better educated about these expierences and understand that no everyone fits in the assumed standard and that in the arts there should be more freedom. Judge me by my work not what you assume it should be- this is my experience, interpretation and voice not yours. How can relate if you wont try to understand as human beings?
It took years to diagnose my condition and get it under control. I still have to time and limit public appearances, keep a strict health regimen, and yet I find ways to innovate, create, and transcend beyond the constructs. This is another reason why I became a creative activist to break the mold. I am proof that the act is limitless. It has been both a hardship and labor of love but a testament to my passion and authenticity to my dedication of being a creative soul. I am still standing, still here and not going anywhere. To this day I still have people negatively criticizing my life, my art, my appearance and making assumtptions and they have absolutely no idea. But I know they would not survive one day in my circumstance and that is why I advocate. As living proof that – Yes you can create and be able to break that mold. It’s art, expression should not be limited by superficial mentality because people fail to learn and understand.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
So, let’s talk about supporting original creators and innovation in the music industry.
Sure, you can enjoy any cover band, but the artist you’re supporting is drawing inspiration from someone else’s struggles and innovations. That’s not unique or authentic; it’s just a copycat. It’s not a tribute to any act when you’re supporting someone who’s just copying another person’s creative identity.
Especially when there are talented artists out there trying to make something fresh. If you love that artist or band so much, support the original act, not the knockoff. Likely, they’re not even paying dues or a dime to the original artists, so you’re paying the thief taking advantage of your nostalgia and being a fan. That’s manipulation for profit and popularity. You wouldn’t pay the scammer, or the identity thief, right? So why support the creative pirate?
Something to consider.
We all start somewhere and doing covers and tribute acts are part of the learning process. Hell, even a song or two is nice thing to set a mood and a wonderful surprise live or redone as a rendition take. Not everyone is a songwriter, and some people find success by forming tribute acts and keeping nostalgia alive. But history isn’t made by sticking to the past and copying everyone else. We need to support new acts, diverse acts, and support new ideas. You can’t create a thriving music scene by keeping things stagnant and making everyone sound the same. That’s just boring.
People complain that music isn’t as good as it used to be, but they’re also not supporting local original bands, original songwriters, or artists who challenge social norms. You get the music you support, and a lack of diversity in any scene is why bars and venues struggle. I get that there will always be traditionalist like those that pay tribute to classics, jazz, even amazing rock bands and pop – but at some point when youre not making room for innovation you’re killing music. It doesnt evolve, new voices and concepts are silenced and stagnation kills the scene, industry and people stop going out to hear music. They’ve heard it all before and why pay for a knock off when you can stay in and stream? Its just a bad business model.
If you don’t nurture new ideas, support them, and care for them, they won’t flourish. There is room for everyone, and venues need to realize that when they are booking that having too much stagnation will kill the scene. Art is a living, breathing entity that thrives on public support. If you’re stuck in the past, you miss out on exciting new experiences and opportunities. People get tired of the same old stuff, especially in this digital age where we have the world at our fingertips. All due respect to the pioneers who came before us,- they paved the way, but it’s disrespectful to stay there without making a difference. Even they were innovative at some point to become the legends that they are. How can artists ever evolve if we keep recycling what’s already been done or relying on others for inspiration? Learn to respect those who dare to create from a genuine place. We need more of that.
It’s important to appreciate those who have nostalgia but step out of their comfort zone. Otherwise, it’s like eating the same food, the same way, every day forever. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Change can be scary, but it can also be refreshing. You never know, you might just grow and evolve. Its one thing to be inspired, its another to steal an identity completely.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=78t98ef5zneu&utm_content=
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
- Other: https://www.bonfire.com/store/locowear/
Facebook:
https://m.facebook.com/getalittlelocoInstagram:
https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=78t98ef5zneu&utm_content=
Apple Music:
Method to the Madness
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/method-to-the-madness/1257814476The Velvet Crush
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-velvet-crush/1517396991Amazon Music
Method to the Madness
YouTube
https://youtube.com/channel/UCFyi3GkGWVCdZlfoxDmI75wCheck Out Method to the Madness on ReverbNation! –
http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/artist/7252146Spotify:
Art https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/estella-dirossi?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2bA1ZGx7yNyHekPvx-Sck2eZYWLEBeDA-dFouMyojHNPV2WZrgk3g0rNI_aem_Lqw6dm6W8Di1D_u8Z4ODTQ
Band Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/locowear-fashion/?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=store_page_share&utm_campaign=locowear-fashion&utm_content=default
Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/34zHEJfKddb
Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Rh Media Productions and Method to the Madness
Photographers:
Jesus Cheno & Danielle Colbert
Lee Hurst