Leila Bela (Persian: ليلا بلا) is an Iranian-born American avant-garde musician, writer, photographer, actress, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, and recording artist from Austin, Texas.
After dealing with issues of misogyny in the newspaper industry she started her own one-woman music magazine in 1998 called NYXLair while attending college at the University of Houston.
She was one of five students, chosen out of thousands who had submitted original plays, to study with award-winning playwright Edward Albee, known for his dark themes.
[4] In 2002, she launched Ellahy Amen Records, a label based in Paris, France and Austin, Texas for avant-garde musicians.
Artists signed to her label include Bela herself; Maya Bond, an eight-year-old singer-songwriter; and Lexion Blacklord, a musician from Switzerland.