NZ’s Bell closer to new album
Rmike.alexander@fairfaxmedia.co.nz NEWZealand country artist Kaylee Bell’s latest single Getting Closer has a powerful message for women. There’s a fairly obvious message in the video to your new single Getting Closer. Can you background the inspiration to it?
This song is without a doubt the most honest song I’ve ever written and was born after coming out of a toxic relationship. I took the title idea, ‘‘getting closer to getting over you’’, into my cowrite with fellow Aussie country artist Morgan Evans in Nashville. Morgan started coming up with a lot of cool rhythms and melodies and we wrote the song in two hours. I want it to be a message of empowerment to make sure you’re being treated right in your relationships and particularly for girls to look out for your girlfriends! Where was the video shot? It’s beautiful.
Storyworks shot the video from Queenstown, through Lindis Pass, Lake Tekapo, Twizel and the clay cliffs in Omarama and discovered so much new stunning South Island scenery we weren’t even aware existed. Does the single also mean there is a new album ‘‘getting closer’’.
Yes, that’s the focus for 2017, a new album in the pipeline and some more writing trips to Nashville to make sure I’m writing the best songs I can to fit the album. In what way did Craighead Diocesan’s motto ‘‘to inspire and support the pursuit of excellence’’ empower you as a musician.
The whole attitude of ‘‘striving for excellence’’ that is drummed into you at Craighead and the discipline and high level of expectation really shaped me in lots of ways in everything I take on. Applying it to music has been important, as it takes a whole lot more than just talent to succeed in this industry. Australia has become your second home. What needs to happen in New Zealand for country-oriented artists to feel they can base themselves here?
I believe you can’t like a song you haven’t heard, therefore for a country artist in New Zealand we have to start having a voice and getting our songs played on radio and television to build an audience. There is so much talent in New Zealand in the country genre and everyone is working hard, but I believe it will take radio to take a punt and open the doors a bit for a new generation of country fans. Of all the awards and acknowledgments you have had, what is the one that has meant the most to you?
Winning Toyota Star Maker in Australia was huge for me. I was the first Kiwi since Keith Urban (1990) to win and I had made a lot of sacrifices to give myself a shot. I moved to Australia myself, having just turned 22, knowing only a couple of people to give myself a proper shot at a career in music in the Australian country scene. I knew, at that point, that was where I needed to be to get the support to launch my career. What’s the best word of advice you have had from a fellow musician or singer?
I’ve always had this quote next to my bed from (New Zealand country singer) Kylie Harris since I was about 8. She had signed a photo for me and written, ‘‘if you can dream it, you can do it’’, and that has stuck with me my whole life, as you have to be a bit of a dreamer in this industry to keep having fun and continue to do what you love when things are tough.