Waimate songwriter up for award

Kaylee Bell’s song That Summer is a finalist for New Zealand’s best country song but fans will need to wait awhile to hear the full version.

The former Waimate musician, now based in Auckland, has performed the song for live audiences over summer and has a snippet available on Instagram but the official release date has not yet been set.

‘‘It will come out on the album later this year,’’ she told Stuff.

The song is up against Tami Neilson’s Any Fool With a Heart and Hey Bus Driver and Katie Thompson’s West Coast for best country music song at this year’s New Zealand Country Music Awards. The winners will be announced on Radio NZ’s Music 101 on May 30.

Bell won the same songwriting award with Pieces in 2015, and had been a finalist a couple of times.

‘‘It’s really cool. It’s nice to see songwriting recognised because that can be overlooked at times.’’

Bell wrote That Summer with friends Taylor Acorn and Andrew Pacheco in Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States in November.

‘‘They’re my two favourite people to write songs with in Nashville.’’

She said they were channelling a ‘‘Keith Urban vibe’’ when they penned the song in 45 minutes.

‘‘After two hours we had a full demo which sounded like it could just about be released.

‘‘It’s a really simple summer song. I think it’s one we will play a lot over the next couple years.’’

Bell was planning to head back to Nashville after performing at CMC Rocks in Australia in March — but with the music festival cancelled and New Zealand going into lock down, her plans were delayed.

‘‘Hopefully my band can get out playing gigs soon.

‘‘We’ll be down in Waimate before the end of the year, depending on restrictions.’’