Early on in my interview with award-winning, chart-topping country music artist Kaylee Bell, I discovered that she has a background in sport – this was not something I’d found in my research but I always like exploring this angle when it comes up with musical artists because to me, at least, there are commonalities in both pursuits. Both require an understanding that most of one’s time will be spent in preparation: practising, practising, practising for the moments of performance (sporting competitions are also performances in their own way, as are recording sessions). That in turn implies a tolerance for the mundane things that go into playing sport or being a musical artist – the admin of it all, whether that’s getting to a sports ground or concert venue, warming up, setting up, packing down. And it also means being prepared to chase something that is elusive, whether it’s a goal, a victory, audience response or a hit song.
Seen in that context, it is no surprise that Bell – who grew up in Aotearoa New Zealand and spent several years in Australia – has been so successful, because she essentially has been and keeps training to be the best she can be in her chosen endeavour. That absolutely does not mean, however, that the success she has built on with release after release, tour after tour, is a foregone conclusion. She can have all the talent in the world and apply herself diligently to making something of it, but so often there needs to be a little bit of magic.
The magic comes from being prepared to embrace the frailty and joy of being human, and in the case of a musical artist, also being prepared to offer that back to the audience. Bell has had great triumphs, such as winning the 2023 Global Artist Of The Year at the CMA Awards in Nashville, and great challenges, with her health in particular, including during her recent pregnancy. Frailty and joy is in ‘Heartbeat’, the final track of her new album, Cowboy Up, and they’re both there to find in the seven other tracks on this impressive, memorable album. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to her about the album and hope you enjoy listening to or watching the interview.
Kaylee Bell will be performing at Tailem Bend Classic and Strummingbird Festival in Australia at the end of this month, then touring New Zealand. Details at: https://kayleebellmusic.com/pages/tour
Cowboy Up is out now through Sony Music Australia.
Listen to Cowboy Up on Apple Music
Listen to Cowboy Up on Spotify
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