Full Transcript for Bella Lam: “Boot First,” Dolly Parton & Chasing Her Country Music Dream | Skip Happens

today. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:56.319 I was like speechless, didn't know what to say when I opened my mouth. 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:58.000 Usually you can't shut me up. 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:00.080 But uh, it was like one of those days. 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:09.439 So I just want to draw attention to the fact that uh we're all kind of with with do you have any um what about Dolly in your mind? 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:10.240 Tell me something. 00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:13.039 I she was just a big inspiration to me. 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:21.680 I was actually in the car coming from Alabama back home to to do this interview when I found out one of my friends texted me and she was like, Bella, how you how do you feel about the news? 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:22.720 I was like, What news? 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:23.360 What's happening? 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:29.360 And she just she just said it and I remember my heart dropped, and I was like, You have to be like that's not that's not true. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:42.639 And um, she really was she inspiration for so many artists, and also being from Tennessee and being based in East Tennessee now, it's just I see her in everything and everywhere. 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:52.160 Um and it it's just she was an inspiration to artists because she was like, keep your music, keep the rights to your music and write with your heart and do everything you do with your heart. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:59.439 Um, and she was just a lover of everyone and a helper of everyone, and um, she really did do it for the love of the game. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:03.279 Yeah, were you ever um anything ever pass go through your mind? 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:11.920 Like um, let's say you have a certain scenario, something's going on, whether it's you're singing or you're with the band or whatever, which did you ever think like what would Dolly do? 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:13.439 All of the time. 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:21.920 Um when I'm writing, when I'm recording, when I'm like making decisions about putting music out, it's always because she really is the the blueprint. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:30.879 She is I look up to her so much, and yeah, um, it's everything I do is just would Dolly be proud of me if she knew about this. 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:31.439 Exactly. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:32.319 Don't stop. 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:40.319 She's always gonna be there, especially for you know, the young up-and-coming female artist, uh such an inspiration. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:44.639 And I I shouldn't even say just for females because I hear that a lot from the guys too. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:46.639 That you know that's cool. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:50.879 And I've heard nothing about from like people I know who've met her. 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:53.279 I've heard nothing but like amazing things. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:54.240 Yep. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:56.160 Exactly right, exactly right. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:57.839 Well, long live Dolly. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:05:58.720 You know what I mean? 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:00.240 Absolutely, exactly. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:01.439 I will always love you. 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:04.560 All right, so so your story, Bella. 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:07.839 Your story starts uh with some pretty significant challenges. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:14.240 You were born early, premature, uh, later dealt with a speech impediment and motor skill issues. 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:20.800 Uh but when you look back now and realize that you became a singer and performer, uh, does that ever hit you? 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:22.639 Yeah, all the time. 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:34.480 And I always say on the bad days where I feel like I'm not doing enough or I'm not progressing in the way that I feel I should be, if I look back at that little girl who didn't think she'd be doing it at all, um, I'm like, I gotta keep going for her. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:35.920 I get to keep going for her. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:38.800 Um, because I know that she would just be so in awe. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:42.720 Like I said, I grew up like so in love with music of all genres. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:46.959 And um, I my parents could not shut me up, even though I sang with my little list. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:55.120 Um, and right just I I'm in since today was a hard day too. 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:57.120 So today I was thinking about that a lot too. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:06:58.639 So yeah, yeah, exactly. 00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:02.480 And but um, you know, music is a source of happiness for you. 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:08.480 And uh as you were growing up, what did music give you during those early years? 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:18.800 Well, um, in early middle school and high school, I didn't have a lot of friends, I wasn't invited out a lot because I was the weird kid whose hands wouldn't shop shaking in class and stuff like that. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:19.920 That was me too. 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:22.399 I just want you to know I was the weird guy. 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:22.959 I don't know. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:25.040 That's probably you know, I was just one of those. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:27.040 And and I didn't mind being myself. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:27.600 I don't know. 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:28.399 I didn't either. 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:30.079 Yeah, you know, I'm doing this, you're doing that. 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:30.639 That's pretty cool. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:31.920 Who wants to be normal? 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:32.800 That's weird. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:37.040 Now that you're Bella, you are 100% correct. 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:37.839 That is weird. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:39.040 Don't be normal. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:42.000 So yeah, I would I would stay at home and I would be honing my craft. 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:44.240 I I um I started on the piano. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:47.120 My grandpa was very out of it that I started on the piano. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:49.600 He

was like, You can learn anything if you know how to play the piano. 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:52.879 And then I switched to the drums because I was a jittery kid. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:56.480 And my dad was like, we gotta get that energy out somehow, put me a drum lesson. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:12.319 Then um, I switched to guitar when I started songwriting and um always learning my favorite songs, always wanting to be playing the guitar, always like just I I walked around high school with like drumsticks in my backpack and a few guitar picks in my back pocket because I always wanted to be like messing with it. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:15.839 Um, and yeah, I was always like doing something. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:21.040 Now it was your grandpa that uh he played that huge role introducing you to music, right? 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:21.920 It was your grandpa. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:26.000 Yeah, and uh what do you remember about making music with your family? 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:30.399 Yeah, well, I remember visiting my grandparents' house. 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:46.879 Um they had like a uh an upright piano in their their basement area, and they were in a house that was kind of like their the the kitchen and stuff was like a a level up, and then they had like a little basement area with like a a common room and stuff, and there is an upright piano there. 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:58.080 And I remember my grandpa would be sitting there and his violin was sitting right above it, and he would either play the entertainer on the piano or he'd just like start plucking on his violin, and there's always music around, and um, my cousins all play. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:01.360 I I play my sister loves classical music. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:03.440 My dad was always playing something. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:06.399 So um, at my grandparents' house, that's where it started. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:12.960 And then, of course, at home, my dad and I, my dad, my sister, and I had a band that was just like kind of a jam band, and I played the drums and sang. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:19.120 My sister played my my dad played guitar, and we called ourselves MPEG, or my dad called us MPEG. 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:22.960 My sister and I didn't really agree on the name, but my dad was like, Wait, wait, wait, whoa, whoa, whoa. 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:23.440 What is it? 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:24.720 M MPEG. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:25.600 Well, here's the thing. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:28.799 He he never remembered my favorite animal. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:31.919 He only remembered that when I was a really little girl, I liked puppy dogs. 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:34.799 So he took all three of our favorite animals. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:36.480 Mine was no longer puppy dogs. 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:37.840 I will I will stand on that. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:42.480 And he was like monkey, which is his puppy dog, elephant, which my sister's group. 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:44.240 So he was like, That's the name of the band. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:45.279 I was like, Great, Dad. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:46.080 Oh my god. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:48.240 I learned yeah, exactly. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:49.200 That's good, Dad. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:51.840 Yeah, whatever you want to do, whatever you say. 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:52.720 Exactly. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:57.679 So is it safe to say that you grew up uh listening uh to everything from Memphis Soul? 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:04.159 Uh, you got Nashville country, get to blueglass grass, rather, classic rock, metal, classical, as you just mentioned. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:09.919 Um, how do all those influences uh find their way into music that you make today? 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:13.679 I really think that first off, it shows in my writing. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:16.080 Um, I think it's the way I string my words together. 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:22.639 And also, I think you just the instrumentation of it, the way I like talk to my studio musicians, I'm like, hey, let's try this and let's try this. 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:28.320 Um, I was actually in the studio the other day and my my producer was like, let's try something like the cure-ish. 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:31.360 And I was like, oh my god, yes, it'll be awesome. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:36.320 So um I they're they're very they're very like malleable to it too. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:39.440 So um it really I I it's kind of subconscious. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:41.840 I don't like realize it's happening until it's happening. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:58.720 But um, I feel my most inspired when I'm listening to a playlist where it's like going from Dolly Parton to all-time low to ACDC to one direction to like it's just all these different artists that have nothing to do to with each other, but like kind of string itself because it's who I am. 00:10:58.960 --> 00:10:59.840 Yeah, exactly. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:01.919 Wow, that's crazy. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:04.080 Yeah, and tell me about Will J. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:05.440 Let's go back a little bit. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:08.480 So and a little birdie told me about this conversation. 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:10.799 Maybe it was a birthday conversation, yeah. 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:13.120 Uh, and it it got down to writing. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:14.159 It did. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:14.879 Yeah, okay. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:15.600 Tell us about that. 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:25.519 He was like, he was in a band that I loved growing up, and he was always like writing for like all these cool artists, and even now he's like writing so many cool songs. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:32.320 But um, I remember I got a Zoom call with him for my birthday, and I was just so excited to talk to Will J. 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:37.120 I grew up like seeing him on a screen and stuff, so I was like, oh my gosh, he's a real person, first of all. 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:38.320 That's what I thought in my head.

00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:42.879 And I remember I said to him, I was like, hey, so you wrote written all these cool songs that I love. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:49.360 I remember we were talking about um a few of them specifically, and then I was like, but I I don't think I can write. 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.360 And I've always wanted to do it, but you inspire me so much. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:52.799 Like, do you do you have any advice? 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:54.799 And he was like, You don't think you can write? 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:57.200 Literally just sit down and write about what you're feeling right now. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:04.159 And I remember it was just like so simple, but it kind of just like it's like he took his finger and like shoved my forehead with it. 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:07.679 I was like, Oh, it really is just that easy. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:10.320 I was I was just overthinking it, is what I was doing. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:13.279 So yeah, and then that night I wrote my first song. 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:15.279 It was awful, but I wrote my first song. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:17.519 Well, do you remember what that was? 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:20.159 Oh my gosh, I think it was a song called Away. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:22.000 And what was it about? 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:24.000 Um, okay, you ready for this? 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:28.960 This is really because I love these stories when an artist tells me about their very first song. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:32.799 Number one, either that they performed or they wrote, and they'll go, it sucked. 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.840 You don't even want to hear it. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:35.360 It was terrible, but I want to hear it. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:36.159 Tell me something. 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:38.320 Okay, so I did theater growing up, right? 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:43.600 Okay, and I was in this production of um The Wizard of Oz. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:47.679 And I don't remember who this guy played, but I remember I had a big crush on him. 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:52.159 Mind you, I was in middle school, he was in high school, and I was just like, oh my gosh, I have such a big crush on him. 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:58.000 And then I found out he had a girlfriend, and I was like, What? 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:02.159 My little middle school heart was broken, so I wrote away about him. 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:11.600 Um, and I don't even remember how it goes, but I just remember now I we played it at one of my first gigs, like my freshman year of college, and I was like, I can't, I can't, I can't sing this. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:13.919 Let's we're gonna crack it forever. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:16.000 Done. 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:17.919 Done, no more, no more. 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:19.440 That's always the case, though. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:30.000 I mean, something similar when, like I said a moment ago, uh, an artist, you know, the first song you wrote or the first song you performed, and nine times out of ten, you don't ever want to do it again. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:30.960 Well, here's the thing. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:35.759 Thankfully, Will never heard that song, but I did get to meet him last year in December. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:36.320 All right. 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:39.759 He was opening for Spencer Sutherland. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:42.159 Um writers too. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:47.440 And his wife was also opening, and I he stayed afterwards to come out and meet me because he knew I was gonna be there. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:50.799 And he was like, Oh my gosh, all these songs you written just because of that phone call. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:56.559 And it was just like such a fun conversation to have with him after all of this that's happened in my career. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.039 So he's pretty much the guy that got your writing. 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:00.159 Absolutely, yeah. 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:07.440 And um, would you say now that you've been writing, that your songs are pretty much like your diary? 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:08.480 I would. 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:09.440 Yeah. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:10.000 Yeah. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:14.159 So if we listen to your music, we're gonna know what your life is about. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:16.559 For to a point. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.600 To a point. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:24.639 Um, I will say there are some songs where I'm writing about like a friend situation, or I'll Chris Christofferson it and I'll be like, that guy. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:27.519 I'm gonna try to imagine what his life is like. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:33.519 So would you say that songwriting uh it's easier for you than actually telling somebody how you feel? 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.200 I see where you're going with this. 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:36.480 Yeah, I'm getting there. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:36.960 You're right. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.279 I'm good. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:39.840 See, I told you, I told you stuff was gonna happen. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.279 It's just what I do. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:47.039 It's uh I told you, did I or did I not say I may turn down a road and we might go, you know, take a little side streak. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.720 I remember I seem to remember that. 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.480 Yeah, exactly. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:56.480 Well, so okay, so your diary pretty much, and and I think that's so many songwriters. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:15:03.600 I mean, it's about life, it's about, you know, I'm sure you've had relationships, I'm sure you've had different things, and I'm sure you've had your heart broke. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:04.879 Uh, haven't we all? 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:06.399 But they make for great songs. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:15.679 And when you, as a country artist, put something out like that along those lines, somebody like me be driving down the road going, Holy crap, that song's about me. 00:15:15.919 -->

00:15:16.399 Yeah. 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:21.679 You know, and now you now you've touched my heart or you've touched somebody's heart, and now you got a fan for life. 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:23.840 Yeah, you know, that's that really is my goal. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:28.480 Because, like I said, I grew up like involved in music, and all these artists are really looked at. 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:32.320 That was my dream to be one of those artists for somebody else, and that still is my dream. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:33.679 I want to it's happening. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:38.159 Yeah, well, that you funny you say that actually one of my gigs this past weekend. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:41.679 A fan came to my show, like like a big fan from my TikToks. 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:43.360 I recognized her from my TikTok live. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:59.840 She came to my show, and I remember like just like smiling because she was just shaking and she was like singing all the words to my songs, and I was like, and I'm I'm not to a point in my career where that happens like super extremely regularly, but it happens and I'm like happens, yeah. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:06.559 Consider it a skip happened moment because I mean I know, I know, I gotta stop that. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:08.240 I think it I like it. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:10.559 Hey, but don't tell a lack out, I love it. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.679 But but you know what? 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:15.600 When somebody does that, you've touched them in a way like no other. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:21.120 You have created that bond, your music, that fan, and that'll never go away. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:29.840 And as long as you take the time to to talk to them, to maybe sign an autograph for them or whatever it may be, they're gonna love you for life. 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:31.759 And that that you know, don't ever change. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:33.200 You just gotta keep doing that. 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:33.919 That's cool. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:34.879 Uh, you know what? 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:36.000 I want to play a little game. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.440 It's called Name That Tune. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:40.080 So I'm gonna I'm gonna hit a button, I'm gonna play a song. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:48.320 You need to tell me what it is, and here's the deal if you guess it right, you will win a skip happens podcast mug. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:49.679 Whoa, these are pretty cool. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:50.720 I'm gonna get that mug. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.639 I'm telling you, these these are pretty cool. 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:53.919 They are that looks awesome. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.360 It looks hefty too. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.879 It is, it's it's a biggie. 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:57.600 It's it's a good one. 00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.000 I don't know. 00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:58.960 Do you drink coffee? 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:02.639 I I don't drink coffee, but I eat soup out of my mugs. 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:04.079 Oh, oh yeah, oh yeah. 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:04.559 Perfect. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.039 Perfect. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:07.359 It's like uh I think it's a 16 ouncer. 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.880 So, anyways, all right, here we go. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:09.359 Ready? 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.240 Listen, listen. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.599 You need it again. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.559 Wait a minute, I'll do it again. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:15.200 I'll do it again. 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:16.000 Hang on. 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:20.319 Does that happen to be Boot First by Bella Lamb? 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:22.079 Is it? 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.720 Yes, yes! 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:28.000 Ding ding ding ding ding. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:28.960 Here we go. 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:29.759 Here we go. 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.920 I'll play just a little bit of it. 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:38.960 Full throttle, full stop, no in twain. 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:46.160 Don't run, stumble up and tumble be the holes in my old blue jean. 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:53.200 I'm the queen of all the thinking fees and has to take leave. 00:17:55.839 --> 00:18:00.240 I don't always land it perfectly, but I get back up on my feet. 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:06.160 You best believe when I saw uh Oh my god! 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:09.519 That is uh that is so good. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:11.599 I I listened to it before we went on. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:13.599 Uh Bella, I mean, wow. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:18.960 And anybody that's watching this now or later on, maybe you rewatch it, you definitely gotta get that. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.559 You need to support this young lady. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:22.799 But uh let's talk about that boot first. 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:24.880 What does the title mean to you? 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.799 Well, here's the thing. 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:34.640 I I was before I went into this co-write um to write boot first, it was my first ever co-write, and I was literally thinking of 10 song titles a day. 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:38.079 And that's something that I've continued doing after my first co-write. 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:44.480 But um, I remember I was I was kind of just thinking, sitting there listening to music and thinking about these song titles. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:53.519 And I remember thinking about like how my entire career is just literally jumping off cliff and doing things foot first um or head first or whatever. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:58.559 And then the song switched to Heart First by Kelsey Ballerini. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:01.440 And I was like, Okay. 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:03.039 Are you listening to that? 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:13.119 Um and so I was like really just thinking, and then I remembered that my mom had come down in my room, because I was in my room. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.960 I was, you know, my mom had come down to my room. 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:17.119 She was like, hey, you got

all these boots that you need to put away. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:18.559 And I was like, Bazinga. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:21.440 I've thought I've genius. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:23.680 And first is written down in my little book. 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:30.319 And then my first co-write ever, I went in with Kaylee Ann Lowe and Jessica Kane, and then they're like, ooh, what does boot first mean? 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:32.000 I was like, Well, let me tell you. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:34.000 So that's that's really where it came. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.359 Funny story, it's where it came from. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.559 I love that. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:42.720 Uh and you know, at what point did you realize, you know, maybe we've got something here? 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:48.640 I I think it was like when we were like about to finish the song. 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:54.559 Um, we we were almost we were gonna end the last chorus the exact same way we had end ended the past few choruses. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:59.920 I remember thinking, well, hey, let's make it a little longer and surprise the people. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:04.640 Um, and then when we finished writing that section, I was I had just completely fallen in love with the song. 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:06.079 I was like, this is it. 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:10.000 Um, and I cannot wait to hear it recorded, produced, whatever. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.759 And it was just, I yeah. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:19.119 Do you remember the first time you performed uh Boot First Live and you saw an audience that react to it? 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:24.079 I we tested it a little bit before my single Tears of My Tequila came out, right? 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:26.240 Just to see how audiences reacted. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:31.039 I think it was at a show at a place in Chattanooga, Tennessee called Whiskey Cowgirl. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:32.720 Okay, and people really liked it. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.160 And of course, the song was so different. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:40.000 It was still like really upbeat, heavy electric guitar, but it was a little lot more like noisy, I would say. 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:46.559 There was a lot more happening in it, and I really like how he just tightened it up into a nice little rock and roll country bow. 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:47.519 Um, the way we did. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:49.519 You know, I gotta say, that's what we need. 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:53.039 I mean, the way you know, everything in the world right now is bringing us down. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:54.400 We need music like that. 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:59.759 We need something upbeat, feel good, make smile and go, yeah, that's my girl Bella Lamb. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:05.920 That's I mean, my my goal is when somebody comes into my show, I want them to leave with a massive smile on their face. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:08.480 Um, bigger one than they had if they came in with one. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:10.240

So, how many boots do you have? 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:11.200 How many pairs? 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.880 I just got rid of some. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:16.160 Um, but then my my stylist gave me even more. 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:18.720 So I think I have a good 30. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:20.720 Where do you put them all? 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:24.079 Do you have like a closet that the whole wall is like? 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:28.799 My mama turned the spare bedroom right next to my room into a Hannah Montana closet, is what we call it. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.119 Oh, a Hannah Montana closet. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.400 Look at you. 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:33.200 I love it. 00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:36.319 And do you uh are they from sponsors or do you go to play? 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:38.400 I know boot barn is there and other places. 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:40.000 And I love the barn. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:44.400 Um you know, by the way, they're building one very close to to where I am. 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.839 So perfect. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:50.160 I mean, my stylist gave me some from um the the music video. 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:53.440 Um and there's just I've collected them over the years. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:59.359 Um and yeah, I just every time I see a pair of boots I want, I'm like, hey mom, add to the Christmas list. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:01.519 Well, I'm like, I have enough money to buy. 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.240 I'm a musician. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:03.920 Y'all know that I don't make much money. 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:07.039 But whenever I get a see a good pair of boots, I will save up for that boots. 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:07.519 Yep, yep. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:07.839 Put them. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:09.519 I got them right here on my Christmas list. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.640 I got a birthday coming up. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.599 I got the whatever. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:18.079 So most of to be fair, as a musician who has very supportive parents, most of my Christmas list is stuff for my career. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:19.599 So wow. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.480 Good for you. 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.200 Oh, thank you. 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:21.759 Good for you. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:25.680 No, no, that's that there's passion and dedication for what you're doing. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:30.480 And by the way, if I may ask, what do you think the guys are doing downstairs while you're roughly? 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:32.000 I think they've come up already. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:35.599 I hear I hear my guitarist talking in the the living room, I think. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.799 Ah, okay. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.720 I think they're getting ready to leave. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.240 See ya. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:41.759 Bye. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.759 How many guys in the band? 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.240 Who? 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:44.799 Okay. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:48.319 So we have a six-piecer, I think, right now. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:48.480 Okay. 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.440 If I'm remembering correctly. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:54.240 So two electric guitars, a bass, um, utility acoustic, me, and then drums. 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:54.559 Yeah. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:56.079 Thought about a steel? 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:56.960 Not yeah. 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.759 No, no, no. 00:22:57.839 --> 00:23:03.519 We're I'm wanting to add fiddle, steel, and keys to our band. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:08.559 But are these the same guys that you'll take into the studio with you? 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:09.200 No. 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:10.799 So they're my live band. 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:17.920 And then my lovely producer Lol brings in his favorite studio musicians for for um for my studio. 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:21.279 So yeah, most of the guys in my band also have day jobs. 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:23.039 So they they stay at home and do the day job. 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:23.759 Don't we all? 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:24.480 I'm just saying. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.559 Don't we all? 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:26.880 Yeah. 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:30.559 And uh, you know, if you could be doing do you have a day job? 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.839 Uh school. 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:34.799 Oh, yeah, I was gonna ask a question about this. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:36.480 But what if you all right? 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:41.039 So you're going to school, but what let's say you weren't going to school and you weren't doing music, what do you think you'd be doing? 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.920 Oh my goodness. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.119 Well, that's a hard question. 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:45.680 Luke Holmes said if I wasn't doing this, I'd be doing this. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:47.680 But I feel like I'd be doing it in different ways. 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:48.640 Probably. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:49.440 Um, yeah. 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:54.400 So I I mean, if I wasn't, I I'm getting my VA in music right now. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:54.720 Yeah. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:24:01.680 Um, and if I if I it was uh absolutely not in the cards for me to perform music, I think I would want to be a teacher. 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:06.000 I would want to go back and add education on top of that and teach how to do it. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.720 Awesome. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:15.920 You know, how in the world do you balance classes, songwriting, traveling, and performing? 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.119 How do you do that? 00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:24.640 Um, well, a planner, lots of tears, lots of arguments, and um just pure will. 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:26.559 Pure. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:29.839 I mean, my professors are really cool about it, they're very supportive. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.759 Um, and where are you going to school? 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:35.759 UTC, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Gomax. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:39.440 Um and yeah, my professor is

very supportive. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:44.480 Um, I've switched to one class a semester, and thankfully my class this semester is online. 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:50.640 Um, I do have a quiz due tomorrow, so I will be taking so many notes on radio. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.440 Tomorrow. 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:55.839 Well, don't blame me if I'll just say I was on late with Skip. 00:24:56.640 --> 00:25:00.799 I mean, so I can't I can't email my professor a link to this. 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.920 Yeah, you know what? 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:12.720 It's uh I just I have an shoot, shoot, but no, I have uh Ella's fella shirt on because you know Ella Langley, but I'm thinking it could be Bella's fellas. 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:18.559 Every time I do a cover of an Ella Langley song at one of my shows, I'm like, hey, who who here's an Ella Fella? 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:21.119 Let's turn it all into Bella Fellas. 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.400 Bam. 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.720 Do something with that girl. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:27.039 I mean, hey, I mean, you gotta be careful. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:27.519 I get it. 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:27.920 I get it. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.039 Are you ready for this? 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:29.680 Here's my pitch. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.559 I'm listening. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.839 My name is Bella Lamb. 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:32.799 B L. 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.720 Her name is Ella Langley. 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.440 E L. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:39.920 Ella Langley with opener Bella Lamb. 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:40.640 B L. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:41.759 E. 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.720 L with B L. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:44.079 E L B L tour. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:52.000 Somebody get her on the phone. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.519 I'm on it, girl. 00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:55.759 I let me say I can dial through my board over here. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:57.519 I'll definitely get her on the line. 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.720 Oh, how cool is that? 00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.519 No, I know. 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.160 I get you. 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:00.960 Wow. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.000 So very cool. 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:04.319 So um tell me about the the bluebird. 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:08.720 You've had a chance to uh perform at the Bluebird Cafe. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:12.400 Such an iconic songwriter uh room. 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:13.359 Man, I'll tell you. 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:15.039 And and I've been there, I've seen it. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:19.599 Uh, what was it like hearing people connect with, for example, Dear Future Me? 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:21.279 I wrote down in that setting. 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:31.839 Yeah, um, I think, well, Dear Future Me is an unreleased song, but my fans who who have seen me live have heard it, and um, there are a lot of fans who really love that song and want it out. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:34.000 Um, and I'm working on it, I promise it's coming. 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:34.960 I promise. 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:38.960 Um, but it's uh it's really just a song about my life. 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:42.319 Um, if you think Boo First is a song about my life, listen to Dear Future Me. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:44.319 It really is just who I am. 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:51.759 All my friends, they've they've graduated college, they're they're doing their jobs, they're getting married, they're buying houses, um, they're getting on with their lives. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:59.119 And I am a 24-year-old girl living in my parents' basement, pursuing music full time, still in college part-time. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:03.359 And um, sometimes you feel a little bit behind and like you you've made the wrong decision. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:08.240 So Dear Future Me really is just a song like asking my future self, hey, what's happening? 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:11.920 Is everything at least getting am I like a little bit closer to my dream? 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:18.240 Um, which I think um even if you're not in music, you you felt at some point in your life. 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:24.160 Um, and I I really it's a song that I hope that people can relate to and take it in. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.119 I love that. 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:39.119 Now, being who you are and your age, um, I would assume maybe I'm wrong because you know what assume means, but um you must have friends like getting married, you know, they're starting to go through that phase in their life. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:39.759 Yeah. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:45.839 And then you've they ask you to be in the wedding, and now you gotta come up with the money for the for the gown and the shoes and all that. 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:47.200 I mean, is that happening to you? 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:48.319 Because you're at the boot? 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:53.519 Actually, a family wedding was the same week Boot First came out. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:28:00.640 So I had to go to the day boot first came out, I was at the rehearsal dinner, and then the day after was the wedding. 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:03.279 Um, but it was yeah. 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:09.119 Um, I had a friend um that was just like she didn't want to pay for the wedding and make it a big hoo-ha. 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:20.079 So she she and her husband got eloped, and I had another friend that just got engaged, and I remember I was there when they they started dating, and I was that everybody's moving on, and it's just so crazy, and I'm so happy for them. 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:24.480 Um good, but it's expensive if they ask you to, you know, to play your part. 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.039 That's all. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:28.559 And and here you are as a struggling musician, but not really, but really. 00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:30.559 Um yeah, it's kind of different. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:33.119 I think all musicians really struggle forever. 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:34.480 They do, they do. 00:28:34.720

--> 00:28:38.240 Um so yeah, I made some notes here. 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:47.680 Um, you know, you name and check and draw inspiration from artists like you got Carrie Underwood, you got Miranda Lambert, you're a fan of the chicks. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.480 Oh, yep. 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.680 Oh, I love the chicks. 00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:50.400 I love them. 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:53.039 Uh, is it true that you're a Taylor Swift fan? 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:58.400 I I her favorite, my favorite Taylor Swift album. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.359 I was talking about it today. 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:06.640 Actually, my producer produced it and I found out out after came home from yeah, so um I'm a big speak now girl. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.680 I love her writing on that. 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:09.119 Oh my god, so good. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:11.440 I um a little Taylor Swift story. 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:13.519 I know that this is not about me, but it's about you. 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:15.440 But um No, I want to hear it. 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:22.640 Years ago, uh when she first came out, I think she was 17, and she went out on her very first radio tour. 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:26.079 I gave her her first radio interview. 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:30.079 Her and her mom were in the studio at the station I was working at. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:32.960 Yeah, and she was coming out with the song Tim McGraw. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:40.400 And of course, I had three daughters, and so she changed some of the names in the song to my daughter's names. 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:43.119 But uh that was it's a cool experience. 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:57.759 Yeah, and and and I know I have that interview here in my files somewhere on a hard drive, but I still and you can't see it, but right over there on the wall, I have a thank you note from Taylor Swift, and it says, you know, it's like Skip, thank you for the interview, blah, blah, blah. 00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:59.519 My very first blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:01.200 If you ever need anything, reach out and call. 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:01.839 Reach out. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:05.839 I'm going, I should be reaching out saying, Hey, yeah. 00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:08.000 But uh, no, I just thought that was cool. 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:14.400 So now I look at her, and and I've gone to a couple of her shows, not recently, but uh even before the Aeris tour. 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:22.000 Um, but she is so down to earth, and to be able to go backstage and be able to talk with her just like you and I are chatting here. 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:33.839 And I remember her um giving us a tour of like the backstage area, showing us her wardrobe and how under the stage with all the different arrows and lines where she needs to go and stuff like that. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.559 That was so cool. 00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:36.079 And she did that all on her own. 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:38.079 She didn't have somebody do that for her. 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:40.160 She goes, I'm gonna take you, I'm gonna show you. 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:41.359 That's so cool. 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:42.880 Yeah, I thought that was really cool. 00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:45.599 So that's my that's my little Taylor Swift story. 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:47.839 I just love I love her right. 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:54.799 I know it's like probably an impossibility, but a co-write with her would be like a her and Ed Sheeran. 00:30:54.880 --> 00:31:00.559 Put me in a I we think Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran a room together, or Ryan Tetter and Ed Sheeran in a room together. 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.359 Put me in there. 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.720 Don't ever say never. 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:03.200 Yeah. 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:11.440 Because you know, you're on a road right now, and uh just your energy, your passion, your dedication, everything you're doing, uh boots on. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.960 I mean, this is this is crazy. 00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:14.319 This is crazy good. 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.759 Uh, you gotta love that. 00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:20.799 Um, tell me a little about uh a little bit about takeout, uh take it out on my guitar. 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:23.039 I wrote down that has a little attitude. 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:24.720 It does have a little attitude. 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.839 Well, here's the thing. 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:28.559 We talked about this too as a songwriter. 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:33.119 I don't talk to my friends when I have problems, I just write a song about it. 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:35.359 Um and here's the thing. 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:37.440 I'm not the best communicate communication. 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:42.240 I sure do try, but when my friends ask, Hey, do you have a new song that you want to play us that you've just written? 00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:45.680 I'm like, Yeah, let me play you this one. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:51.759 I just so I I'm very much the person to write my feelings into a song than um speak them out. 00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:57.759 Um and I it's always I've been you can't tell it, but when I'm around my friends and family, I'm real soft spoken. 00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:59.200 Um, I'm not real loud. 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:01.200 It's just it's I mean, yeah. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:09.680 So I'm in arguments, I'm always like first to cry and then think about how I feel about the argument later. 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.880 So I'm okay to cry. 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:11.680 Thank you. 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.240 Yeah, thank you. 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.039 No, that's okay. 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.680 That's okay. 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:14.480 It's okay. 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:15.039 It's okay. 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:17.920 So I I'm more prone to write a song about it. 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:21.039 And that really what it is, what take it out on my guitar is about. 00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:24.799 Like,

I'm more likely to write a song than key your car. 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:27.279 Do you realize we met? 00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.880 It just occurred to me. 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.920 We have met. 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:32.079 We have yeah. 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:43.279 I have a I have a white flash drive with your name on it from CRS? 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:49.039 Yes, and I have an email from you saying it was a pleasure meeting you. 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:50.640 All of a sudden it just hit me. 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:52.400 It just hits me, hit me. 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:54.480 You're yes, I CRS. 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.920 Here's the thing about CRS. 00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:58.400 I blackout afterwards at everything erases. 00:32:58.799 --> 00:32:59.359 Who does, right? 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.279 Hang on, hang on. 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:05.279 I'm just hanging, I'm just gonna stand up and I know I have it. 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:06.640 Hang on, keep talking, keep talking. 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.680 Keep talking, keep talking. 00:33:10.079 --> 00:33:18.559 Well, apparently, Skip and I met at CRS, which is it stands for country radio seminar, and that happens at the only hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. 00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:20.000 And apparently we had met. 00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:22.480 I thought it was over on my uh on my desk. 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:24.079 I was handing them out like candy too. 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:27.279 You were, you were, you know what, and that's a very smart move. 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:32.960 What you did was a very smart move because back in the day, I've been going to CRS for like 25 years. 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:38.799 Back in the day, they would hand you CDs and they hand you all this stuff, and it's like, oh, I gotta carry this around all day. 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:40.319 You know, I hate to say it. 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:48.640 That's probably a big waste of money to do the CD thing or anything like that, because you know where it's gonna end up, nobody's gonna carry it all day unless you can take it back out to your room. 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:51.279 And but they usually end up in the trash or something like that. 00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:54.559 But with the flash drive, it goes in your pocket. 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:55.359 Mm-hmm. 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:57.200 It has my name on it too. 00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:58.240 Has your name on it. 00:33:58.319 --> 00:33:59.759 I plug it into my computer. 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:01.920 It's it's not a you know, it's not a bother at all. 00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:03.119 Smart move, young lady. 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:03.680 Smart move. 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:04.880 But that's right. 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:07.839 I'm gonna have to uh all of a sudden that hit me. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:10.719 We did meet at the country radio seminar. 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.840 Goodness. 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:14.239 Yes, absolutely. 00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:17.440 I'm trying to remember

where where do you think it happened? 00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:18.639 In the Omni. 00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:21.599 Yeah, but like what what what event do you think happened in? 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:23.280 Oh, I don't know. 00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:24.960 I don't know. 00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:26.960 I was all over the place. 00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:36.239 Well, yeah, because you know, for somebody like me, I go to network with other radio people, talk to the labels and uh, you know, the all the press people and this and that. 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:40.639 You're there to shake hands and of course people like me. 00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:46.239 And you know, there's a lot of good people, and it's probably a lot of people's like, oh, where's the hand sanitizer? 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:50.880 But um, you know, but you do what you have to do to get your music out there. 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:55.760 I've learned that it's okay to be annoying if it means to push yourself forward a little bit. 00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:59.360 And here's the thing I imagine you being annoying, young lady. 00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:01.519 You should talk to my dad. 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:03.840 My older siblings, I'm the baby. 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.519 I was born to be annoying. 00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:06.880 Oh my god, I love this. 00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:07.599 I love this. 00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:15.920 Um, you know, I do want to say, you know, there's still, you know, there's not many Asian American artists uh in mainstream country music. 00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:19.679 And what does it mean to you to be building your own place in the genre? 00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:23.360 Because I mean, that's pretty cool. 00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:33.199 Well, I just I I think my grandpa came here from from China because he wanted to give his his family um a better shot. 00:35:33.760 --> 00:35:34.079 Exactly. 00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:42.000 Um fun fact, my grandparents actually got married uh when interracial marriage was still illegal through the Catholic Church because they it was like crazy. 00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:45.360 Since they were Catholic, they were able to get married and it wasn't illegal. 00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:51.440 Um, and he he wanted us to to succeed and um he loved our country so much. 00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:57.920 And I think that I really just want to make him proud um and show that I can be Asian American and I can be in this industry. 00:35:58.000 --> 00:36:05.360 And you know, when I was first starting, I was shy about it, and I always said I was shy about it because I people made fun of me for for all the music I listened to. 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:07.920 And if I said I liked country, what were they gonna say then? 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:09.760 And I really think that I was shy about it also. 00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:30.960 I'm realizing now that because uh I don't think people would have been accepting if they found out there was an Asian American girl who wanted to do country, and um I'm realizing now that it's my own sparkle to the genre and it doesn't make me um any less likely or more likely to succeed in um this industry and um just add my own little spice to it. 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:34.400 I love it, I love it, absolutely, absolutely. 00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:36.400 And it, you know, it's a good point too. 00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:50.480 But you go back, you know, you were maybe afraid in the beginning because because, but if you go back to let's go way back with Charlie Pride and the black artists that went country and this and that, you know, it was just they were so afraid, well, this isn't gonna work. 00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:52.880 He's you know, you know where I'm going with that. 00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:57.280 So it's like, but it it was so wrong, so wrong. 00:36:57.519 --> 00:37:01.760 But here's the thing, I wouldn't have been able to do it now if it wasn't for artists like them then. 00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:11.039 Um exactly, and I'm so I'm so thankful for all the um artists of color and country music um that paved the way for all of us to be able to do it now. 00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:23.199 So you're country at heart, but um you're known to be quite the rocker too, because if I understand, you throw out some unexpected uh covers when you do your show, which is pretty cool. 00:37:23.440 --> 00:37:30.079 I like to surprise them a little bit because I did really grow up just listening to a lot of heavy guitar and on top of my country music. 00:37:30.159 --> 00:37:55.599 Um, so we do some sweet child of mine and we do some any way you want it, and then um after that we end our set with Redneck Woman all every night and um banger after banger after banger, and I it just makes me so happy because I really just love performing with music that like just fills you and fills the room around you and just makes you feel like like you could do anything, and that's that really is what those songs make me feel like. 00:37:55.840 --> 00:38:04.719 What would it what would you think if Gretchen Wilson called you right now and said, I want you to uh you know do rednecked woman with me at this certain show as the final song? 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:06.239 First of all, I would say yes. 00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:07.920 Before anything else, I would say yes. 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:10.000 Um, I would not fangirl on the call. 00:38:10.320 --> 00:38:14.880 I'm very good at pretending not to be a fangirl, but I'm a good artist because I am a fangirl. 00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:17.119 Um I would fangirl on the call. 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:23.119 But then afterwards, I would probably like lose my mind and practice till my my throat is hoarse. 00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:27.679 Does and does things like that do they make you nervous? 00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:28.639 Yes. 00:38:28.800 --> 00:38:31.440 Um, here's the thing I don't get nervous for normal shows. 00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:34.159 Um things like that I would definitely be nervous for. 00:38:34.239

--> 00:38:41.199 Um and performing for people that I I look up to, I always get nervous because I I care about it a lot and I want to impress them. 00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:46.079 And um yeah, I would, I would absolutely lose my mind. 00:38:46.800 --> 00:38:47.760 I love that. 00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:50.480 How important is social media to you? 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:51.760 Really important. 00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:56.719 Um, it's I I wouldn't be able to find most of my fans if it wasn't for social media. 00:38:56.800 --> 00:39:08.400 And I always like to say um that you can get lots of fans from live music, um, but not all the time would you be able to get the fans that you get from your live performances without um without social media. 00:39:08.559 --> 00:39:19.920 Um, so you you get like a variety of fans and um social media really helps with that and show them my personality, who I am, um, and just like kind of connect with them on a different level. 00:39:20.239 --> 00:39:22.480 Wow, it's important, it's very important. 00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:23.760 Yeah, 100%. 00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:26.000 Let me tell you something, a little sidebar. 00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:32.639 Um, my Facebook actually, my official Facebook account got banned for impersonation of myself. 00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:36.159 Well, I applied for a verification badge on Facebook. 00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:45.599 I've been verified on Instagram for forever, and I guess they Instagram flagged it when I applied for verification, and they were like, no, you're impersonating this other girl. 00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:47.199 It's just the same account. 00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:51.679 So how hard was that was it to get straightened out? 00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:54.159 It's we're we're we're working on it. 00:39:54.559 --> 00:39:57.599 Maybe, maybe that's why I tried to tag you. 00:39:57.760 --> 00:40:05.519 I I put a little thing on my Facebook saying I was gonna talk to you tonight, and I went to to tag you and I couldn't find you. 00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:07.679 We're working on it. 00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:08.800 Promise it. 00:40:11.840 --> 00:40:12.320 Go to Instagram. 00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:12.800 Just wait. 00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:14.400 Just yeah, just go to Instagram first. 00:40:14.480 --> 00:40:15.519 I'll post it when it's back up. 00:40:15.679 --> 00:40:16.639 All right, go to insta. 00:40:16.800 --> 00:40:17.280 Insta. 00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:18.239 That'll work. 00:40:18.320 --> 00:40:19.039 It's still meta. 00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:20.639 Just go to insta, you'll be good. 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:24.320 You've got like you've got like 80,000 followers on there. 00:40:24.800 --> 00:40:25.440 Uh yeah. 00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:26.559 I maybe more now. 00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:30.559 It's almost a hundred thousand across all my platforms, which is that's crazy. 00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:33.519 That's all yeah, it's crazy. 00:40:33.679 --> 00:40:34.639 Yeah, it's crazy. 00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:36.000 I'm so

blessed. 00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:38.000 I'm I I thank God for them every day. 00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:41.119 All right, so uh the debut album. 00:40:41.760 --> 00:40:42.239 Yeah. 00:40:42.480 --> 00:40:43.679 When are we gonna hear it? 00:40:43.840 --> 00:40:44.559 See it. 00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:46.639 We're working on it. 00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:48.320 Secret, secret. 00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:50.079 I know, I hate it. 00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:53.119 We have stuff on the way. 00:40:53.199 --> 00:40:54.639 I just can't tell you what it is. 00:40:55.039 --> 00:40:59.280 Okay, but we're working on it right now, so it's out in time for what it is. 00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:08.400 Do you think we will hear a different uh bella lamb on this album than we have heard two or three years ago? 00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:12.800 Yes, yes, yes, actually, I do. 00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:14.400 I had to think about it for a second. 00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:21.840 Yeah, there is one song that we're working on that's like so out of left field, but it's one of the ones I'm most excited for. 00:41:22.639 --> 00:41:26.320 What if uh question off the cuff here? 00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:36.559 What if uh somebody called you and said, you know what, we're gonna hook up a uh I want you to come to this writing session and I want you to write with somebody, and I'll get you anybody that you want. 00:41:36.639 --> 00:41:37.519 Who would that be? 00:41:37.760 --> 00:41:39.599 How many people am I limited to? 00:41:39.840 --> 00:41:40.639 Oh, geez. 00:41:40.719 --> 00:41:44.000 Yeah, just add to the um I don't know. 00:41:44.880 --> 00:41:45.519 Who are you picking? 00:41:45.599 --> 00:41:45.920 How many? 00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:46.639 How many do you want to? 00:41:47.280 --> 00:41:50.239 Usually it's like a me and two other writers, but okay. 00:41:50.400 --> 00:41:54.559 So if you could have two other list is like three miles long. 00:41:55.280 --> 00:41:56.719 It fills a couple of boots. 00:41:56.880 --> 00:42:00.960 I already said, I already said Ed Sheeran, Ryan Tedder, and Taylor said earlier. 00:42:01.199 --> 00:42:04.079 So um I would say Jesse Alexander. 00:42:04.480 --> 00:42:05.199 I love her. 00:42:05.360 --> 00:42:07.840 She's from my hometown, Jackson, Tennessee. 00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:11.760 Um, she wrote one of the most inspirational songs, I think, The Climb. 00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:18.559 And um, she's just such a good writer, and I've always, always, always wanted to work with her. 00:42:18.639 --> 00:42:20.639 Um, so yes, Jesse Alexander. 00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:24.079 Um, and then I'm gonna choose somebody a little more rock. 00:42:24.159 --> 00:42:36.000 And I don't know if you know who Josh Ramsey is, but he writes he writes for his band, he writes for Nickelback, and he wrote um, actually, this is why I think I I would also want to write with him. 00:42:36.079 --> 00:42:38.800 He wrote Call Me Maybe for Carly Rachel. 00:42:39.679 --> 00:42:41.679 Yeah, no, that's yeah. 00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:44.559 So I would love to write with Josh Ramsey. 00:42:44.639 --> 00:42:48.480 So put me in a room with Jesse Alexander and Josh Ramsey and let's see if we can rock out a country still. 00:42:48.800 --> 00:42:50.719 I'll bet you that would be pretty awesome. 00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:52.239 That would be pretty awesome. 00:42:52.480 --> 00:42:53.039 Absolutely. 00:42:53.360 --> 00:42:56.400 Somebody get a hold of Josh Ramsey, somebody get a hold of Jesse Alexander. 00:42:56.480 --> 00:43:06.480 We're gonna get to have you know, I gotta tell you, I mean, I I love everything about you, and this is yes, we did meet once before, but we didn't have such a conversation as we're having right here tonight. 00:43:06.800 --> 00:43:20.400 But um, you know, just your your personality and everything about you is very you're very outgoing, and you're doing, I mean, I've seen a lot of artists, and you're doing what you need to do, and you're making it happen, and it makes me want to go. 00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:23.679 I'm gonna go buy this, this, I'm gonna go get Bella's music. 00:43:23.760 --> 00:43:29.519 I mean, and I think anybody watching this or listening to this, whether it's now or down the road, should be doing that. 00:43:29.679 --> 00:43:35.599 Um, what's something about Bella offstage that people would never guess from watching you perform? 00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:40.000 Oh my gosh, my my utility player Drew was just making fun of me for this. 00:43:40.159 --> 00:43:45.679 I really love um I I always talk about all the time that I read lots of books and stuff like that. 00:43:45.840 --> 00:43:51.280 I really love, I don't love playing them myself, but I love watching people play horror games. 00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:54.800 Um you love watching people play board games? 00:43:55.119 --> 00:43:58.239 So, like horror games, like um video games, like the horror videos. 00:43:58.639 --> 00:43:59.679 Oh no, no, I guess I'm sorry. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:00.719 And stuff like that. 00:44:00.880 --> 00:44:10.800 So when I'm like doing busy work or cleaning or um I'm doing my hair and makeup before a show, I will turn on like um a YouTuber playing a horror video game. 00:44:10.880 --> 00:44:12.079 And it's my favorite thing. 00:44:12.159 --> 00:44:15.280 Because here's the thing if I play it myself, it's not gonna get played. 00:44:15.360 --> 00:44:16.960 I'm gonna just close my eyes and look away. 00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:21.440 But if somebody else is playing it, you know, watch it just fine because I'm not I'm not the one in charge. 00:44:21.679 --> 00:44:23.360 He if he dies, he dies. 00:44:23.440 --> 00:44:24.400 That's a him problem. 00:44:24.480 --> 00:44:25.760 It's not a P problem. 00:44:26.800 --> 00:44:27.440 I like that. 00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:28.559 I like the way you're thinking. 00:44:28.719 --> 00:44:29.360 Yeah, I get that. 00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:30.079 I get that. 00:44:30.320 --> 00:44:39.119 Yeah, so I love that's um my my

guitarist was making because I was talking to him about I think I was talking to him about uh Resident Evil, which is one of the horror games that I like watching people play. 00:44:39.199 --> 00:44:46.159 And he goes, Little Miss Sparkly Pink Bedroom over here likes horror games, knows who pyramid is. 00:44:46.239 --> 00:44:51.280 I was like, hold on, here's the thing Pyramid Head is not Resident Evil, it's Silent Hill, so ha ha ha ha. 00:44:51.840 --> 00:44:52.480 Oh my god. 00:44:52.639 --> 00:44:53.519 Oh my god, that's so great. 00:44:53.760 --> 00:44:58.400 He's like my old ball, all my bandmates are like my older brothers, so they'll just say it sounds like sister me. 00:44:58.639 --> 00:45:02.639 Yeah, and I don't say it, I don't I stand off business, I don't let that happen. 00:45:02.880 --> 00:45:03.519 Yeah, yeah. 00:45:03.679 --> 00:45:04.639 What do you drive? 00:45:05.280 --> 00:45:06.159 What do I drive? 00:45:06.320 --> 00:45:08.079 Yeah, I'm gonna ask, what do you drive? 00:45:08.559 --> 00:45:09.280 Here's the thing. 00:45:09.519 --> 00:45:10.400 No, no, let me guess. 00:45:10.480 --> 00:45:11.920 Let me guess, let me guess. 00:45:12.159 --> 00:45:18.079 Um, I want to say you have a Toyota small. 00:45:19.519 --> 00:45:22.800 I don't know, I give up what I'm passenger princess. 00:45:24.159 --> 00:45:26.239 I'm still working on my license. 00:45:27.119 --> 00:45:28.159 Don't have it yet. 00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:29.679 Here's the thing. 00:45:30.079 --> 00:45:31.039 It's all right, it's all right. 00:45:31.199 --> 00:45:31.599 It's okay. 00:45:38.400 --> 00:45:39.119 That was the rule. 00:45:39.280 --> 00:45:41.519 And then after she got hers, COVID. 00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:43.360 Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:45.199 And then after COVID, live music. 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:46.400 Bam, bam, bam, bam, bam. 00:45:46.639 --> 00:45:47.679 No, no, no, I get it. 00:45:47.760 --> 00:45:53.119 So uh hey, but here's hey, my fans are excited to know about this too because they were they're making fun of me too about it. 00:45:53.280 --> 00:45:56.159 Um my driving test is in two weeks. 00:45:56.480 --> 00:46:01.440 Yay! I just may call you up and ask how you did. 00:46:01.760 --> 00:46:03.360 If I fail, don't judge me. 00:46:03.599 --> 00:46:04.559 No, no, no, no. 00:46:04.639 --> 00:46:05.119 That's all right. 00:46:05.199 --> 00:46:05.840 I totally get it. 00:46:06.079 --> 00:46:06.639 But you know what? 00:46:06.719 --> 00:46:07.679 What a smart move, though. 00:46:07.760 --> 00:46:10.239 You put it's not really a priority to you. 00:46:10.400 --> 00:46:13.920 No, you have other priorities, and I totally get that. 00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:18.000 And it and the environment that you're being brought up in, I I totally understand that. 00:46:18.559 --> 00:46:19.199 And good for you. 00:46:19.599 --> 00:46:20.320 It really is. 00:46:20.400 --> 00:46:25.679 Um, do I feel behind a lot of the time with the the college and the the driving thing? 00:46:25.840 --> 00:46:28.880 Yes, but do I feel ahead sometimes in other ways? 00:46:29.039 --> 00:46:29.679 Yes, I do. 00:46:29.920 --> 00:46:33.119 So it's kind of like a double double-sided sword. 00:46:33.280 --> 00:46:36.559 Um, and it it's a pleasant and a curse. 00:46:36.880 --> 00:46:43.360 What would you um tell your younger self, uh-huh to uh younger version of Bella today? 00:46:43.440 --> 00:46:44.639 What would you tell her? 00:46:45.280 --> 00:46:47.599 Um, you can do anything your heart desires. 00:46:47.760 --> 00:46:53.039 You are worthy of being loved, you are beautiful, and you got the dang thing. 00:46:53.199 --> 00:46:58.079 So that's what I would say because she hadn't she she really I built up my confidence a lot. 00:46:58.239 --> 00:47:09.360 Um my my last few years of high school, and um she really did need to hear that because um my parents told her all the time, but she she needed to hear it from herself. 00:47:10.079 --> 00:47:10.719 I love that. 00:47:10.880 --> 00:47:14.159 And um, what was the last thing that really pissed you off? 00:47:15.440 --> 00:47:17.679 What was the last thing that really made you mad? 00:47:18.159 --> 00:47:18.880 It could be anything. 00:47:21.119 --> 00:47:23.199 Um I can't see you getting mad. 00:47:23.440 --> 00:47:25.920 Well, here's the thing, I'm really hard to make mad. 00:47:26.079 --> 00:47:26.719 It happens. 00:47:26.880 --> 00:47:38.400 I mean, this what I'm thinking of happened like years and years ago, but it was the last thing that made me like really go, um, so I was still full-time in college, but I was still playing a hundred shows a year. 00:47:38.639 --> 00:47:43.280 So I was like tired, and I was like, I had probably 20 hours in class. 00:47:43.440 --> 00:47:46.480 I'm a music major, it was lots of classes all at once. 00:47:46.800 --> 00:47:58.480 And there I was in a class called the Entrepreneurial Musician, and there was a few people in that class who were on the choir bus talking crap about me, playing so many live shows and promoting it all over campus. 00:47:58.559 --> 00:48:03.679 And my friends were sitting right next to them, and they so they called me up and told me immediately, you know what I did? 00:48:03.920 --> 00:48:06.639 I walked right up to those people and I was like, Hey, I thought we were friends. 00:48:06.719 --> 00:48:08.639 What what why were you saying this about me? 00:48:09.519 --> 00:48:10.719 Wow, good for you. 00:48:11.119 --> 00:48:22.159 Because here's the thing if you don't address it right away or face to face, we're adults and we are supposed to be be setting an example for the younger students. 00:48:22.239 --> 00:48:36.800 And if I don't say anything about it now, what's gonna happen when an incoming freshman comes in and they're bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and then somebody says and music is such like a a like a pure thing, like you're performing in front of your peers all of the time. 00:48:36.960 -->

00:48:42.480 And if you don't say something about that, it's just gonna keep festering and growing, and your confidence is gonna go bow, bow, bow, bow, bow. 00:48:42.639 --> 00:48:44.960 So I I don't, I don't, I don't stand on that. 00:48:45.039 --> 00:48:47.199 I don't let people talk about me like that behind my back. 00:48:47.360 --> 00:48:49.280 You if you say it, you're gonna say it to my face. 00:48:49.599 --> 00:48:50.239 Good girl. 00:48:50.400 --> 00:48:50.960 I love that. 00:48:51.119 --> 00:48:51.599 I love that. 00:48:51.679 --> 00:48:54.960 I don't I and I had heard about it happened to my friends and stuff like that. 00:48:55.039 --> 00:48:59.039 But well, that's what would piss me off if it was my friends and they're talking like that about me. 00:48:59.519 --> 00:49:01.360 They wouldn't let me say anything until it happened to me. 00:49:01.440 --> 00:49:04.559 They were like, if it happens to you, you can I'll uh we'll let you go say something. 00:49:04.639 --> 00:49:08.880 And as soon as it did, you better believe I was up off my chair. 00:49:09.039 --> 00:49:10.239 Now I was on a mission. 00:49:11.519 --> 00:49:15.840 I don't stand on bullying, I don't let it happen because I let it happen too much when I was younger. 00:49:15.920 --> 00:49:19.519 And as soon as I'm old enough and confident enough, I'm not gonna let it happen to nobody. 00:49:19.760 --> 00:49:22.559 Would you would you say you were bullied when you were younger? 00:49:22.800 --> 00:49:28.880 I would say that I wasn't treated um as well as my peers were, if that makes sense. 00:49:29.039 --> 00:49:35.360 I wouldn't say it was like hard cool hardcore bullying, but I I wasn't yeah. 00:49:35.679 --> 00:49:43.519 Well, this is what I believe is that all that um that you went through in your early years, everything made you a better person. 00:49:44.159 --> 00:49:49.360 God, the Lord has is you know, has put you where you are today for a reason. 00:49:49.679 --> 00:49:53.199 And Priscilla Blot, she's spoken on it too, and all her songs. 00:49:53.280 --> 00:50:01.840 And I really do think that um the best artists have had that happen to them, um, and they really just put it into their music. 00:50:02.159 --> 00:50:03.280 Do you know Priscilla? 00:50:03.440 --> 00:50:06.320 I don't, I've never met her, but I'm I'm doing a show with her next week. 00:50:06.400 --> 00:50:07.039 That's why I was asking. 00:50:07.840 --> 00:50:10.079 She's she's I've always really looked up to her. 00:50:10.320 --> 00:50:11.039 Yeah, absolutely. 00:50:11.280 --> 00:50:36.719 And you must uh, I mean, we're running out of time here, but uh even you were talking about you know your rock edge and those songs that made me think about Carrie Underwood because if you go to a Carrie Underwood show, yeah, you hear all the Carrie Underwood hits, so on and so forth, then all of a sudden it's it's turning into a motley crew and it just you know her her most uh roses and it's denim and rhinestones, that

album, so much guitar, and I loved it so much. 00:50:36.880 --> 00:50:38.000 It's so good. 00:50:38.719 --> 00:50:40.239 How many guitars do you have? 00:50:40.400 --> 00:50:41.039 Oh, okay. 00:50:41.119 --> 00:50:47.360 So I think I have about, if I remember correctly, five acoustics, um, and I have two electrics. 00:50:47.599 --> 00:50:47.840 All right. 00:50:48.000 --> 00:50:49.679 Do you have a separate room for those? 00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:58.000 No, see, I have a so my um I have a Martin and a uh a Gibson hummingbird that I with me. 00:50:58.159 --> 00:51:00.079 Um and the other ones they're hanging up in my room. 00:51:00.159 --> 00:51:04.960 So my other two acoustics, um, I have a Yamaha that I learned on, and then my second guitar was a Luna. 00:51:05.199 --> 00:51:10.400 Um, and then the two electrics, I have a Fender electric, and then here's my rock side coming out of Ben. 00:51:10.639 --> 00:51:19.440 I don't know if you know who Five Seconds of Summer is, but their lead guitarist came out with a um Gibson Melee Maker, and he has a signature Melly Maker. 00:51:19.519 --> 00:51:21.360 So you said Five Seconds of Summer? 00:51:21.760 --> 00:51:22.800 Yeah, I do know who they are. 00:51:23.039 --> 00:51:26.960 They're uh also somebody that I've been a big big fan of forever. 00:51:27.199 --> 00:51:34.960 So um their lead guitarist came out with a Melody Maker, and of course I was like, I have to have his signature Meli Maker, so I have that too. 00:51:35.199 --> 00:51:37.119 Do you have names for the guitars? 00:51:37.360 --> 00:51:43.039 Yeah, so I name all of my guitars after um iconic artist. 00:51:43.280 --> 00:51:48.559 Um, and so I have Loretta, she's my backup, she is my Martin. 00:51:48.880 --> 00:51:49.199 I love that. 00:51:49.599 --> 00:51:52.880 Kitty is my main guitar, she's my Gibson hummingbird. 00:51:53.039 --> 00:51:57.119 Um, and then Luna, I've had her since forever, so I just named her after after the brand. 00:51:57.599 --> 00:51:58.480 Luna, yeah, yeah. 00:51:58.559 --> 00:52:00.320 And I've not named my Yamaha yet. 00:52:00.400 --> 00:52:01.920 So I love that. 00:52:02.159 --> 00:52:02.800 Yeah. 00:52:03.519 --> 00:52:07.199 So could you say something to somebody and say, Grab my Loretta? 00:52:07.440 --> 00:52:08.239 And they're gonna know. 00:52:08.559 --> 00:52:09.599 Well, hey, I call them her. 00:52:09.920 --> 00:52:11.360 So they're all my my girls. 00:52:11.519 --> 00:52:17.679 Um, so um the actually the other day I was running off to do something, like talking to fans and stuff before show. 00:52:17.760 --> 00:52:21.760 I asked my utility player Drew, hey, could you change the string on kitty? 00:52:21.840 --> 00:52:24.079 And he was like, Oh yeah, I'll go grab her right now. 00:52:24.480 --> 00:52:25.519 So they play into it. 00:52:25.599 --> 00:52:30.159 Ah um and I could friends be like, Why do you like humanize your your instruments? 00:52:30.239 --> 00:52:32.000 I'm like, just it's just a fun thing that I do. 00:52:32.079 --> 00:52:32.880 Why why wouldn't I? 00:52:32.960 --> 00:52:36.159 I mean, Keith Urban names his guitars, and so many people do it. 00:52:36.559 --> 00:52:38.559 Yeah, um, so I don't see why I can't do it. 00:52:38.639 --> 00:52:40.719 And you can do it, yeah, and you should do it. 00:52:41.119 --> 00:52:46.079 And they're they're pee they're they're tools that help me with my career, and I wouldn't be able to do it without them. 00:52:46.239 --> 00:52:47.519 So they're family. 00:52:47.760 --> 00:52:48.480 Yeah, family. 00:52:48.559 --> 00:52:48.960 Exactly. 00:52:49.199 --> 00:52:49.920 It is, it is. 00:52:50.000 --> 00:52:51.039 They're your family. 00:52:51.280 --> 00:52:52.960 That that's hey, you gotta have them. 00:52:53.199 --> 00:52:59.599 You know, Bella, it this has been pretty awesome finding out about you and uh digging into your life and your music a little bit. 00:52:59.760 --> 00:53:05.360 Uh quickly before we say goodbye, uh, somebody wants to go and get your music, where can they go? 00:53:05.679 --> 00:53:14.719 Yeah, um, my music is on Spotify, Apple Music, uh, YouTube Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, everywhere under Bella Lamb, B-E-L-L-A-L-A-M. 00:53:15.199 --> 00:53:19.760 And then you can look at my socials at it's Bella Lam, I T S B L A L A M. 00:53:19.840 --> 00:53:22.639 And hey, if you're looking for shows, I have a website too, Bella Lamb Music. 00:53:22.719 --> 00:53:22.880 Yeah. 00:53:23.360 --> 00:53:26.400 So are you uh any um shows like in the Northeast? 00:53:26.559 --> 00:53:27.519 You got anything planned? 00:53:27.920 --> 00:53:29.519 I'm sure try to get up there, yeah. 00:53:29.599 --> 00:53:36.079 Um, right now we're more focused um and expanding in um around Tennessee and outwards. 00:53:36.239 --> 00:53:41.039 So but hey, if somebody picks me up on a tour to open for them, yeah. 00:53:41.199 --> 00:53:42.000 Hint hint. 00:53:42.320 --> 00:53:43.840 Hint hint nudge nudge. 00:53:44.320 --> 00:53:54.639 You know, I I know like uh Drew Baldridge, he puts it when he goes out on the road, he'll put it out there saying, anybody, you know, wanna open up for me, let's let's get you up here on stage. 00:53:54.880 --> 00:53:56.480 He's that way, which is cool. 00:53:56.639 --> 00:54:02.320 So he would give somebody like you an opportunity and and um you know, and you would definitely kick some ass. 00:54:02.559 --> 00:54:05.360 Here's the thing about the idea of opening for somebody. 00:54:05.599 --> 00:54:09.199 I have people that I would love, love, love to open for that I can name names. 00:54:09.280 --> 00:54:24.639 But here's the thing if anybody offers me a chance to learn from them and be a sponge and they believe in me that much, I will be I I would be so beyond excited and so beyond happy to take that opportunity because it really is just an I a chance to learn from them and be a sponge. 00:54:24.719 --> 00:54:31.360 And also they're giving you a chance to keep their crowd warm before they come out on stage and see what you can do with the stage. 00:54:31.440 --> 00:54:34.800 And that that really sounds like a really fun, exciting test for me. 00:54:35.039 --> 00:54:39.199 No, that would be absolutely, but you could you'd you would handle it just fine. 00:54:39.679 --> 00:54:40.880 I think everything would be really good. 00:54:41.039 --> 00:54:42.880 It's uh Bella Lamb, everybody. 00:54:42.960 --> 00:54:46.880 And uh, you know, I love your story, I love the message behind Boot First. 00:54:47.039 --> 00:54:52.400 Uh sometimes you just uh uh you have to trust yourself and you have to jump in, and you've done that. 00:54:52.559 --> 00:54:54.159 I mean, you're all in. 00:54:54.400 --> 00:55:03.360 Um, everybody watching this, make sure you follow uh Bella Lamb, check out the new single Boot First, and keep an eye out for uh much more music on the way, as we know. 00:55:03.679 --> 00:55:05.679 And there could be an album coming out. 00:55:05.920 --> 00:55:06.320 Who know? 00:55:06.400 --> 00:55:06.960 Who knows? 00:55:07.280 --> 00:55:08.079 She won't tell me. 00:55:09.840 --> 00:55:11.679 I'm reading the body language here. 00:55:11.840 --> 00:55:12.800 Like, yeah, there's something. 00:55:13.440 --> 00:55:14.719 You're reading the shoulders up. 00:55:14.960 --> 00:55:21.360 I I well that's well, I can see your facial expressions, and it's like, okay, there's something going on here. 00:55:21.440 --> 00:55:22.559 It's coming, it's coming. 00:55:22.639 --> 00:55:24.559 And I know it's gonna be really, really good. 00:55:24.880 --> 00:55:27.199 Bella, I want you to hold on there when we say goodbye. 00:55:27.280 --> 00:55:29.920 But uh, thanks for hanging out with us here on Skip Happens Tonight. 00:55:30.000 --> 00:55:31.920 I'm Skip Clark, Skip Happens Podcast. 00:55:32.000 --> 00:55:35.599 We're on air online, and as I always say, every boot tells a story. 00:55:35.760 --> 00:55:37.199 Uh Bella, stay right there. 00:55:37.280 --> 00:55:38.559 Thanks for watching, everybody.