Profile: Kaylee Bell
Kaylee Bell
Kaylee Bell was born in Waimate, started singing at 4-years old and today is the most streamed, female country singer in Australasia. She kicks off her NZ tour, Boots n’ All, in May in her hometown of Waimate. This month the Essence team got to ask her a few questions before she heads off on tour.
words: Essence Magazine images: supplied
Essence: What is a childhood memory that always make you smile? Just being home in Waimate playing music in the bedroom with my brother and sister and kicking about around home with my best friends…simple things .
Essence: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given and who gave it to you? If you can dream it you can do it- Kylie Harris, I had that note next to my bed my whole childhood.
Essence: What was your earliest public performance and do you come from a musical family? The Waimate Country Music Competitions in Waimate at the Regent theatre, which is where we are kick starting my tour. My Mum is musical and sang and played piano. She loves it and encouraged us all to learn so my brother and sister and I grew up playing instruments and singing in Country Music Awards around NZ from a young age.
Essence: You moved to Australia at 21. What made you move and how did you find that first year overseas? I knew quickly there was a ceiling for me in NZ with Country Music and to be able to have a career I needed to go further abroad. Australia felt like a nice stepping stone rather than just straight to Nashville. I finished my degree at NASDA and jumped on a plane with no plan and only a couple of friends in Aus but I knew I wanted to be there to have a crack. There was a lot more going on there in the scene with artists like MORGAN EVANS and The McClymonts and they were who inspired me.
Essence: Where is home for you now? Auckland North Shore, but I plan to base myself in Nashville from June onward and come back and forth between NZ, Aus and Nashville.
Essence: How often do you come back to Waimate? As often as I can, Mum and Dad are still there and I love my family and catching up with old friends. I love the sense of home I still get there and the community of a small town.
Essence: You travel and perform a lot – how do you relax? I exercise, write songs, read, do yoga and pilates, boxing and spend time with friends that fill my cup.
Essence: What’s your favourite time of day? Sunset , I get inspired and it’s like the day is starting to settle.
Essence: What’s your worst habit? Impatience
Essence: What do you miss about New Zealand and particularly Canterbury? The community, it sounds clichéd but after being in Auckland for 6 years it really is becoming more noticeable for me. I miss the mountains and views and just the people.
Essence: Can you recommend a podcast and a book to us? Podcast, The girls Uninterrupted- it’s a laugh and informative-kiwi too!! Book – the Shania Twain biography From This Moment On- I read it every year, it’s so insightful.
Essence: Social media – do you love it or loathe it? Both- it is necessary for what I do and has huge benefits when used correctly, but I have set firm boundaries around it of late and make sure I get off it and be present in my surroundings and conversations.
Essence: What has been your proudest moment in your music career so far? Winning Toyota Star Maker in Australia in 2013, it’s the biggest talent search in country music in Australia. I was the first kiwi to win it since Keith Urban at the start of his career in 1990.
Essence: What is your biggest hope for the year ahead? To be happy and keep doing what I love- playing and writing music and sharing it with as many people as I can.
Essence: The music business is super competitive. Can you give one piece of advice for young people looking to follow in your footsteps and create a career as a music artist? Never give up- it’s really that simple.