Born out of the artist’s contrasting experiences across cultures in Europe, Africa and the United States, the song, Bells of Liberty, is an expression of what it means to feel truly free; the vitality of belonging; a call for compassion towards one another.
Haitian singer/songwriter, Christella, wrote Bells of Liberty in 2018 while participating in the program, Summer Songs, in New York. She had recently returned to the United States from traveling abroad with her college choir group. These tours across different countries and cultures resulted in contrasting experiences throughout. During her time in the Balkans in eastern Europe, she experienced racism and discrimination, “I was accused of things. I felt very isolated and had a really rough time there”. However, once in Ghana, being surrounded by people with whom she felt connected and who openly welcomed her, created a sense of belonging, but also of surprise. “Going from a place of Europeans, of white people, to an African country where everyone around me looked like me, it was like culture shock on both sides.”
Returning home to the U.S., she brought with her a changed perspective and a broadened awareness. “Being in a place where I was feeling like – When will I really be free? When will I have liberty? Everywhere in America, they say things like “Land of The Free”, “everyone is free”, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like there’s freedom – not completely.
“I really wanted to write this song to say – This is not just a problem where you are, but it’s a problem all over the world that we mistreat each other; that we don’t have compassion for one another.”
Above all, Christella is guided by her Faith. It is through this lens that led her towards the answers to these questions; a way forward from hate and discrimination; a path that doesn’t create division, like a fork in the road, but one that leads us to find one another. A path that allows us to see and to be seen by each other. She says, we can truly achieve freedom “If we stand in unity, if we learn to care for each other in the ways that we’re supposed to.”
Watch the music video on KRM’s YouTube channel, debuting on Friday, October 25th, 2024:
“bells of liberty”
Originally from Haiti, Christella moved with her family to the U.S. at age seven. After their visas expired, they had to return to Haiti. Eventually they were able to come back to the U.S., where Christella attended the prestigious Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) of duPont Manual High School in Louisville. She went on to get her bachelor’s degree from Berea College and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. With a passion for helping people and bettering the lives of others, her dream is to be a community chaplain, as well as to start her own non-profit organization to serve the people of her community.
“Bells of Liberty” Artistic & Production Credits:
Lyrics & Performance
Christella Philippe Music
Production & Recording
Fred Bogert – Briarpatch Audio, Louisville, KY 40204
Video Production
Laxman and Ram
Created in Partnership with
Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM)
KRM Arts & Culture Coordination
Adrienne Eisenmenger Alexandra Miniard
Funding for this project was made possible by Louisville Metro Creative Industries External Agency Funds.