A young country musician who ditched PE for music lessons at school has said she wants to bring country music to a new generation.
Katie Belle is a 22 year old singer-songwriter from Wigan. She has had a strong interest in music since a young age, but it has been her time at Liverpool Music Academy that has given her invaluable knowledge of the industry.
Katie said: “I've always been interested in music. At school, I was ditching PE to do music. It was only when I got to LMA that I realised that you can release music without being signed to a label, which really motivated me then to just get stuff out there and get my name out there.”
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Country music may seem like a left-field choice for a young musician, but Katie said she wants to bring country music to a new generation. She explained: “It's getting more popular. Introducing it to people my age has been more popular than I thought it would be because it’s seen as more of a genre for older generations.”
This has been witnessed in Liverpool and across the country. Mean Eyed Cat, a Johnny Cash themed bar, opened recently on Seel Street. Meanwhile, a new range of radio stations including Absolute Radio Country entertain fans of a genre that encompasses Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift.
Data from the Country Music Association last year argued that streams of country music had increased by almost 50% in two years. Katie claimed that the narratives in country music lyrics are at the heart of its popularity.
She said: “Country songs tell a story and very personal ones at that. Compare that to pop songs, which I think can be about anything.”
Katie’s family introduced her to traditional country music, which unintentionally fed into her songwriting. She said: “My grandparents and my mum listened to country music a lot. And I just found, when I was writing music, that that was the style I was writing in.”
While Katie enjoys performing in small cosy pubs back home in Wigan, she said Liverpool has been invaluable in enhancing her experience as a musician.
Katie explained: “In Liverpool, getting a fan base is a lot harder because you're in a bigger city, but, it opens more opportunities to venues and bigger places."
She has performed at the Zanzibar and the Cavern Club, but Jimmy’s on Bold Street has been her favourite venue. She cited the bar’s great acoustics and vibes as reasons why.
Katie also credited LMA for the education they have provided her. She said: “LMA has been amazing too. All the tutors are people still in the industry.
“They've been on tour and been in bands. It's really interesting to get advice from people who've been there, done it and are still doing it.”
With final year exams rapidly approaching, Katie is hopeful that a bright musical career lies ahead. She said: “I’m working on an EP at the minute, which should be released later this year. I’ve also applied for a few festivals and gigs. I’m hoping it’s going to be a busy summer.”
You can visit Katie’s website here.
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