Interview: Katie Belle, poised for superstardom

The moment she heard “Next Ex,” Katie Belle knew she had to record it. Once she said yes, she set about tracking it in her bedroom of an Airbnb upon her return to California. The acidic anthem, written by Fabio Campedelli, Sarah Warren, and Myylo, strikes a perfect balance between epic teardown and sweltering fever dream. “I’m never going to call you back, you back, you back / And I know it’s going to hurt you bad, so bad, so bad,” she admits on the hook.

While she had no hand in penning the song, Belle connected so deeply to its theme that she called upon her own experiences. And that’s usually her approach, especially for outside cuts as she nurtures her own body of work. “I’m starting to realize I don’t have to write every song I release, but I do have a certain feeling from every song I release,” she tells B-Sides & Badlands. “It’s usually this gut feeling of happiness or deep feeling of understanding that connects me with a song. It gives me chills or it makes me think, ‘I could’ve written this. This is telling my story.'”

With Campedelli also handling production, Belle didn’t necessarily make any tweaks to the mixes—but she was “asked about certain sounds and how I felt about my vocals and all of that good stuff,” she offers in our conversation. Musically, “Next Ex” bubbles like effervescent light, falling in shades around Belle’s crystalline vocals. Sometimes, synths dazzle, and other times they simple simmer in the background to allow the singer to groove across the melody.

Below, Katie Belle walks us through the moments she realized music was her dream, what albums have influenced her work, and lessons she’s learned in co-writing sessions.

You knew at 8 years old that you wanted to pursue music. Did you have a lightbulb moment?

It was a gradual lightbulb moment. The more I got on stage and in front of different crowds the more I wanted to do it. I also was doing different things growing up. I was in pageants, dance recitals, plays. It took me a little trying out to realize I didn’t just want to be on stage; I wanted to be on stage singing.

Growing up, what were the defining albums that you cherish most and seem to influence your own work?

The first album I ever got was Hillary Duff’s ‘Most Wanted.’ I loved Miley Cyrus growing up, and my mom played Norah Jones’ ‘Be Not Nobody.’ My Dad listened to classic rock radio, Fleetwood Mac, CCR, and the Steve Miller band. I still listen to a lot of the music I listened to growing up, as I continue to create I know I’ll build a library that emulates it all.

You’ve said you’ve been writing since around 12 years old. What has been the toughest part of developing and growing your songwriting voice?

All of it. For me, songwriting does not come as natural. I have to work hard at putting my words in a way where I feel like I’m saying everything I need to say but in a cooler shorter version. There’s such an art to songwriting and really telling your story in a melodic way that also flows.

What’s the biggest lesson(s) you’ve learned while co-writing with others?

Sometimes, you need help to do your best. It’s okay to need co-writers, and managers, and moms and not be able to do it all on your own. Be really good at the things you’re really good at and accept help where you need it.

In a previous interview, you noted you didn’t have current plans for an album and that you’ve simply been writing and writing. What’s a modern album from the last 5 years that, in another life, you would have released or has a vibe you could envision for yourself?

I love Lennon Stella’s ‘3,2,1.’ It’s haunting, it’s cool. I absolutely love the writing on it. It almost feels like something a pop Stevie Knicks would make if she was 23 in 2022.

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