Check out our interview with songwriter Katie Belle who recently released her latest single “Next Ex.”
Belle’s euphonious vocals have hit another great balance with this Pop R&B infused tune. This release follows a string of successful singles Belle continues to pump out. Belle, a prolific songwriter teamed up with Producer Fabio Campedelli (LA). Campedelli brought together a crisp contemporary production and Belle delivers the song’s temperamental lyrics with her usual flare and raspy vocals; we’ve come to know her for.
The song takes on the topic of the proverbial “one sided relationship”. We have all experienced a friendship or love interest where feelings, commitment and expectations have an unequal balance.
The lyrics/composition of “Next Ex” were penned by the LA writing team of Fabio Campedelli, Sarah Katie Warren and Michael Lewis. Belle’s dulcet raspy vocals bring a swagger and sway to the song’s lyrical story; combined with the crisp production and emotional aura “Next Ex” will keep you listening to the end!
Follow Katie @officialkatiebelle
Tell us a little about yourself
Hi! Thank you for having me!!
I’m a 23-year-old pop artist from Atlanta, starting off 2023 fresh and working on a lot of new original music.
Describe yourself in 3 words
I would say optimistic, loyal, and individual
How did you get into the industry?
I knew I loved music from a very young age and have been doing it ever since. My journey started around 8 when I got the lead in a school play and from then I was sold. Making my first trip to a professional recording studio in Nashville By 10. In 2018 I jumped genres from country to pop and then followed that in 2019 with making my tv debut on American Idol (season 17). Now I’m working on original music and getting into sync writing
How has this changed your life?
It’s hard to say. I’ve done music my entire life so I don’t really know anything else. If I wasn’t in music, I know I’d still have an interesting life though, maybe I’d run diving excursions in the Caribbean or be an archeologist in Egypt. I guess we’ll never know.
Describe your sound in 3 words
Sexy, fun, and evolving
Who influenced you?
I was influenced a lot by Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) growing up. The way she was depicted on that show was enamoring to me. How Miley was a normal person but also had this extraordinary life at the same time. I also grew up the only daughter in the house so I related to that attention I think all girls crave and it really became a personality trait haha. It also helped that in a way I have always felt a natural love and talent for music and performance.
Do you play any instruments?
I dabble a little on piano and guitar and I recently picked up the Tambourine!
Do you ever get nervous?
I do! I think it’s a human emotion that never really goes away but it’s also situational. It doesn’t happen every time, or that often to be frank but it still creeps in.
Tell us about your new single Next Ex/what’s the story?
My latest single Next Ex is a fun pop jam I did with Fabio Campedelli, Sarah de Warren and Myylo. It’s basically about the trials and tribulations of casually dating and realizing the person you’ve been seeing is probably not going to work out. But it’s not a breakup song, it’s the kind of fun bop that you want to listen to when you’re on your way to the bar with your friends.
How was it working with other writers
I absolutely love co-writing and collaboration. As an artist and creative, working with other people really helps open my mind and see other perspectives. And opening other creatives typically gives me the opportunity to tell my story even better.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Connecting with fans. Seeing and meeting the people who listen to or know me by my music Is an indescribable feeling.
In a selfish way it’s validating but on the other side of that I feel for the younger version of myself who just wanted to fit in and find community and have friends.
It’s all still a work in progress but I look forward to connecting with even more people this year as I do more live shows!
What book should every entrepreneur read?
My rec would probably be “How To Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. It’s not so much about being entrepreneurial, but on how to communicate with people and be a leader.
What would you say is the greatest lesson you’ve learned so far?
This is almost impossible for me to answer because I’ve learned so much throughout the years, but my most recent and the lesson I’m currently practicing is to trust my gut!
I know it sounds simple, but in a world and industry with so much noise and opinions, it can get confusing knowing the difference between what people tell you to do and what you really want for yourself. I learned a lot about trusting my gut last year and i can confidently say that there are certain things in my career i will never allow to happen again!
What is advice you’d give to your younger self?
Stay calm, and don’t worry. Trust God, trust in the timing of your life and his plan. Everything is going to be more than okay because nothing you’ve ever been through hasn’t worked out eventually. (plus, you’re going to have some cool experiences so be blessed)
My younger self was very scared of the future and the unknown. Even 21-year-old me was very stressed and anxious. There were moments that I made so much worse than they really needed to be because I couldn’t find peace in them. But truthfully, peace and assurance are everywhere in my life. I’m so grateful I can see that now.
How would your best friend describe you?
I think she would say I work hard (I’ve missed a lot of birthdays), but I hope she would say I’m the funniest person she knows.
If you were a book what would the title be
Probably “The Best Is Yet To Come” because I truly believe the best is still yet to come and my story is far from over.
Whats next for 2023
In 2023 I’m really focused on my live shows and getting back out there now that covid is a thing of the past. I’m also working hard on original music and expanding as a writer. I got out of a bad contract in January, so I think my biggest goal is to release music that I’m really excited about this year.
What’s your favorite healthy food?
Spinach. If you cook it down and season it a little bit you can almost eat it with anything.
I eat about 16 oz a week.
What’s your favorite cheat food?
Snack wise: My favorite is probably chocolate but i also love a good salty potato chip
Meal wise: pizza or pasta baby, carb me up
How would you explain your fashion style?
Witchy rockstar girlfriend from the 70’s that was also a princess in a past life
What is your own definition of happiness?
Family, Generational health, leading my life with love, financial freedom, good food, great views and even better music.
If you could meet someone living or dead who would it be?
This is also a very loaded question with multiple answers, but today I’m going to say living and Pamela Anderson. I just watched her documentary on Netflix, and i have a lot of compliments I want to give her and a lot of questions I’d like to ask… the first probably being “How do you stay so poised”
What would your dream holiday be and who would you go with?
My dream holiday would absolutely be Egypt.
It would be mostly focused on ancient Egypt and archeology but I’d also want to ride camels, see the bazaars, maybe go to an oasis and all that jazz.
And I’d have to take my best friend Maddy. Maddy is the only one I can think of that would go to the other side of the world with me just to dig in the sand and look at decaying statues and scriptures written in a language that doesn’t even exist anymore.
Best advice ever given?
Probably just to stay true to myself. There’s a lot of things you can be in this world, but the bravest and most unique thing you can do is just be you. Once again, it sounds so simple but it can be so incredibly hard.
Do you support any charity?
Yes!! One of my favorite charities is 4ocean. I’m a huge advocate for protecting our oceans from plastic and the human footprint.
4ocean is one of the only companies in the world that directly manages a global ocean cleanup operation and employs professional, full-time captains and crews to recover plastic and other debris from the world’s oceans, rivers, and coastlines seven days a week.
Visit their website and find out how you can get involved! Impact – 4ocean
Where do you see yourself/career in 5 years?
In 5 years, I see myself living in LA, touring, traveling, getting sync placements, and living my best life off music. I also hope to be averaging a million streams per song by that point and feel a lot more confident in my writing.
Favorite song / why?
I think right now my favorite song is my next release. I don’t know if I’ve ever said that before but I’m proud of this song and this next chapter and I’m super excited to release it.
What do you think of social media?
Right now, it’s not my favorite! I see the point and how it can be extremely useful and a positive tool but for me, more times than not I get overwhelmed and comparative. I go through stages, but currently I’m trying to cut out the mindless scrolling and only be on it when it’s beneficial.
Where can we follow you?
