heartfirst - Kaylee Bell

“Far more than mere tales of life, love and living in the moment, the songs
comprising Kaylee Bell’s stunning new album Heart First are a bold mirror of self.
The 12 fresh, melody-heavy, new tracks are a window to the essence of a young
woman, keen to rejoice and reflect in equal share.”
MATTHEW LAWRENCE, FAIRFAX MEDIA
“Kaylee Bell is one of the most exciting up and coming country artists around. She
has an amazing voice teamed with a fresh modern sound, which has huge audience
appeal. Kaylee is quickly become one of our networks core artists”.
GREG PARKINSON, HOT COUNTRY/KIXFM
ABOUT KAYLEE BELL
34TH TOYOTA STAR MAKER WINNER
heartfirst
Kaylee Bell is an artist who has already proven her international appeal having
won over fans in her homeland of New Zealand and now doing likewise in Australia.
Testament to this is her Gold Guitar - New Zealand’s highest accolade for
country music - and her most recent crowning glory as Australia’s 2013 Toyota
Star Maker.
Following her experience at the CMAA College of Country Music in 2009,
19-year-old Kaylee, from the little town of Waimate on New Zealand’s South Island
went home and set about making plans to “cross the Ditch” and carve out a career
for herself.
In 2011, she did just that and, on completion of a Bachelor in Performing Arts
majoring in musical theatre, in Christchurch, packed up her life and headed solo for
the pursuit of success.
She set up a base in another small town: Bathurst in central-western New
South Wales.
“It was a pretty scary thing to do – especially since I was leaving my family and
all my friends behind, and knew I couldn’t just see them whenever I wanted to. But it
was absolutely the right thing, and it’s enabled me to take the steps I needed to start
building my career,” Kaylee said.
Kaylee entered Toyota Star Maker in 2011 and 2012 and in January this year –
well prepared and determined to take out the award – she headed to Tamworth, and
emerged as the thirty-fourth winner.
Her first major single releases Love Was Just A Fairytale and Unglamorous
worked their way to the top of the charts and her first single Heart First from her
Star Maker album is following suit.
In June 2013, Kaylee performed on the Global Artist Showcase in Nashville
where she met Liz Rose, Taylor Swift’s songwriter and Kylie Sackley, former Star
Maker winner who’s now a successful Nashville-based songwriter with a song on the
new HeartFirst album.
For Kaylee, Heart First’s release couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s been
two years since the release of her debut album, Wayward. ‘’I’m a big believer that
everything happens when it’s meant to happen and this is a prime example,’’ she said.
‘’I was definitely ready for some new music and now I’ve got a full album of singles
that I can release. It was perfect timing.’’
“It’s really important to me to make music that resonates with my generation,”
Kaylee said.
“I suppose you could describe my songs as contemporary country pop – but
the music is very much based in a traditional background. That’s what I grew up with,
what I love – I’ve never wanted to be anything but a country singer.
Kaylee launched Heart First in July 2013 at the Tamworth Hats Off To Country
festival and again for her Kiwi buddies at the Town & Country Club, Waimate, South
Island, NZ.
‘’I’m really excited for people to hear it,’’ said Kaylee. ‘’It really showcases
me vocally and I think it reflects a lot more of me. It’s a big step up. I feel really
proud of it.’’
For Further Information
Contact Tom Inglis @ HSF Artist Services
E: [email protected] M: 0432 078 084
Heart First is available direct from all good music retailers including JB HiFi, Sanity,
Leading Edge Music, iTunes and Bigpond Music.
www.kayleebellmusic.com.au | www.facebook.com/kayleebellmusic
http://twitter.com/kayleecbell
www.wjodistribution.com.com
For further information about Toyota Star Maker – Australia’s premier country music talent
search contact organisers Rural Press Events on 02 6768 5800 e. [email protected]
http://www.facebook.com/StarMakerAustralia
Date
July 2013
Media Contact
Tom Inglis
HSF Artist Services
http://twitter.com/Star_Maker_Aust
M: 0432 078 084
E: [email protected]
Heart First
Marti Lynn Dodson/Ryan Griffin/Kimberley Paige
This song has a lot of firsts in it. It was the first song I was pitched
and the first single released with me as the 34th Toyota Star Maker
winner. This song had me written all over it and I instantly knew I
had to record it and release it to begin this new chapter, as the title
really is a reflection of my life. I believe I am following my path in
life to be a country singer and some of the best decisions I have
made have been when I have trusted my gut instinct and followed
my heart. I have been blessed with the opportunities I have been
given to pursue my love of country music. This track is catchy and I
love the change of groove and strong beat.
Rewrite History
Hillary Lindsey/Blair Daly/Troy Verges
TOYOTA STAR MAKER
WINNER 2013
Running Out Of Time
Hailey Steele/Terry McBride/Skip Black
This track is basically speaking of the miscommunication that often
occurs in a new relationship and how there is only so long before
we get sick of indecision and need full commitment or for the
other person to hit the road if they can’t make up their mind what
they want. It think it’s a great opening track as it sets the tone of
the album which is largely based around relationships, love and of
some the challenges and sacrifices I have gone through in the last
two years since moving to Australia to pursue music.
Just A Little Crazy
Kylie Sackley/Kelleigh Bannen/Billy Montana
This is a positive song about having a boy who is absolutely crazy
about you – what every girl deserves and hopes to find. This is
a happy love song and it’s great to have a song written by Kylie
Sackley who was the 2001 Toyota Star Maker winner. The guitar
part reminded me of Keith Urban when I first heard it which was
another reason I loved this track.
Falling
Some of my favourite writers collaborated on this track and for
me it was the ballad I had to have on the track. It’s also mum’s
favourite song so extra brownie points there. I think what the
writers have done lyrically is very clever and speaks volumes to
me as I think we so often don’t realise what we have in love until it
is gone and you can never get back what is lost, so it is that daily
heartache we live with wishing we could change that pinnacle
moment where lines got crossed and feelings hurt. “The moment
that changed everything.”
Breathless
Kaylee Bell/Brooke McClymont
Writing with Brooke McClymont was a huge highlight for me.
Brooke is someone I have truly looked up to and admired since
first discovering The McClymonts at my first Tamworth festival
six years ago. I had a blast spending time and writing with Brooke
and I think this song is a great album contrast offering a true
toe tapping, Johnny Cash, rootsy-vibe with Rascal Flatt’s banjo
extraordinaire Travis Toy sprinkled throughout.
Wasting Matches
Kelly Archer/Justin Weaver/Kelleigh Bannen
This is another personal favourite that I like to perform live. From
my experience in love and break ups we can often be guilty of
hanging on too long after things have been called off and we learn
there really is no point trying to “light the fire” after it has burned
out and the trust and respect has been lost. I think this song has
kick butt attitude and it’s a bit of a chick anthem to any girl that
has had her heart broken and has woken up to the fact that she’s
better off without him.
reflection of me and where I am from. I was born and raised in small
town Waimate, South Island, New Zealand with a population of 3000
people and have always believed there really is something cool about
coming from a small town and the friendships and support you get. I’m
glad I got the chance to be raised as a small town kid surrounded by
nature and away from city life.
Song Of My Summer
Kristian Bush/Jeff Cohen/Tina Parol/Bobby Hamrick
This song was pitched to me by multi-award winning songwriter
and producer Jeff Cohen whose songs have been featured on over
20 million albums and over 10 million video games. He achieved
BMI awards for songs written for Big and Rich and Evan and Jaron
and wrote Giddy On Up for Laura Bell Bundy and Postcard From
Paris for The Band Perry, and the list goes on. This song in its
simplicity offers something different to the album the way it is
broken down to percussion and acoustic guitar.
Replaced
Kayle Bell/Mike Carr/Chaise Flanders
This was one of the songs that won me Star Maker and a song
I wrote in Nashville with Mike Carr and Chaise Flanders. I had a
melody in my head and a chorus of lyrics, so this song was written
relatively quickly. It is a very self-explanatory title; it’s that moment
when the person you love moves on without you and you have no
option other than to walk away.
Here With You
Kaylee Bell
My favourite place to write songs is on my bedroom floor which is
where I wrote this one late one Sunday night. It is a reflection back
to small town love and being young and having the world at your
feet. It’s a real upbeat track with a very catchy chorus.
Don’t Make
Me Fall
Kaylee Bell/Jay Collie/Jasper Somerville-Collie
This song I wrote in Sydney with talented siblings Jay Collie
and Jasper Somerville-Collie. It’s all about finding new love and
being able to trust again enough to let yourself fall into a new
relationship after having previously been hurt.
“Don’t make me fall, if you can’t catch me when I do.”
Mallary Hope/Skip Black
My favourite track since day one of having this song pitched to
me. I’m a huge of fan of these two writers. Mallary has written a
lot for Lauren Alaina who was runner-up on the tenth season of
American Idol. I felt this song sat right vocally and emotionally
from the beginning. This is one song I am most proud of. The way
producer Andrew Cochrane has captured the feeling of the track
starting really broken down into this gradual build that hits me in
the guts every time.
Little Bit Small Town
Kaylee Bell/Mike Carr
While writing with the very talented Mike Carr he asked me to explain
some things about myself people don’t know that we could potentially
put in a song. “I guess I’m a little bit small town” and from there the
song grew. Mike’s clever chord changes and honest lyrics are a very real
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For further information about Toyota Star Maker – Australia’s premier country music talent
search contact organisers Rural Press Events on 02 6768 5800 e. [email protected]
http://www.facebook.com/StarMakerAustralia
Date
July 2013
Media Contact
Tom Inglis
HSF Artist Services
http://twitter.com/Star_Maker_Aust
M: 0432 078 084
E: [email protected]