Kaylee Bell

Kaylee Bell
Born1989 or 1990 (age 34–35)[1]
Waimate, Canterbury, New Zealand
GenresCountry
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active2013–present
LabelsIndependent
Websitekayleebellmusic.com

Kaylee Bell is a New Zealand singer-songwriter. In 2013, she won the Toyota Star Maker award in Australia, making her the first New Zealand-born artist to win since Keith Urban in 1990. She released her debut studio album, Heart First, later that year. Bell has placed multiple singles in the Top 10 of the Australian Country Music Charts. She is currently the 'Most Streamed Female Country Artist' in Australia. Her second album, Silver Linings was released in November 2021. Bell opened for Brad Paisley on his World Tour NZ show late 2022 alongside Australian country singer Morgan Evans and was support act for Ed Sheeran on his Mathematics World Tour in 2023.

Career

Bell was born in Waimate in Canterbury, New Zealand and began singing at the age of four.[2] She attended Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru.[3] Bell won the NZ Gold Guitar Award at age 18 and moved to Australia four years later to pursue a career in country music.[2] In 2013, she won the prestigious Toyota Star Maker award, which led to her releasing the single "Pieces" with fellow Australasian, Jared Porter.[4] The song received substantial airplay in Australia and earned the duo an APRA Award for Best Country Music Song at the 2015 APRA Silver Scroll Awards and the overall grand prize at the US Unsigned Only Competition, marking the first time a non-American had won the latter award.[5][6][2] Bell independently released her debut studio album, Heart First, in 2013 that included her first solo single of the same name.[7] Heart First won Best Country Album at the 2014 New Zealand Music Awards.[8]

In 2016 Bell released her breakout single "Getting Closer" a break-up anthem written with Morgan Evans, that charted on the New Zealand Heatseekers singles chart. Bell started reaching career highs on the Australia country music charts with the release of her singles "One More Shot", "Who I Am", "Keith", and "Wasted on You" in 2018 and 2019; these songs and "Getting Closer" were later repackaged as The Red EP in 2021. Bell's tribute to Keith Urban, 'Keith' went to #1 on The Music Network Country Chart where it spent 25 weeks on the chart. Three further one-off singles were released in 2020: "Light On", "Home", and "Be With You".[9] In 2021, Bell released three collaborative singles "That Summer" with Josh Mirenda or Lepnani,[10] "Before I Met You" with The McClymonts, and "Living Free" with Lindsay Ell, and announced that her second studio album, Silver Linings, would be released November 26, 2021.[11] 'That Summer' featuring Kiwi Pop Artist Lepani had crossover success at NZ mainstream radio in 2021 being 'the most added single to radio' for the month of May on hard hitters ZM, More Fm and The Hits.' Bell was chosen as the face for Spotify's EQUAL global programme for Female Artists in Music where she was featured on a billboard in Times Square, New York, USA.

In 2022, she auditioned for The Voice Australia and all four coaches turned for her. After Keith Urban was blocked, she chose to join Jessica Mauboy's team.[1] She was eliminated in the battle rounds.

In June 2023, Bell became the first independent Australasian female country singer to receive a gold certified single or EP, with The Red EP.[12]

Bell's third studio album Nights Like This was released in March 2024.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
NZ
[13]
Heartfirst
  • Release date: 5 July 2013
  • Label: Rural Press Events
 —
Silver Linings
  • Release date: 26 November 2021
  • Label: Kaylee Bell (Independent)
 —
Nights Like This
  • Release date: 15 March 2024[14]
  • Label: Kaylee Bell (Independent)
 3

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details and peak chart positions
Title EP details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
indie
[15]
The Red EP
  • Release date: 26 February 2021
  • Label: Kaylee Bell (Independent)
 9

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot
[17]
"Heartfirst"[18] 2013 — Heartfirst
"Pieces"[19]
(with Jared Porter) 		2014 — East to West
"That's What I Call Crazy"[20] 2016 — Non-album single
"Getting Closer" —[A] The Red EP
"Next Somebody" 2017 —[B] Non-album single
"One More Shot" 2018 —[C] The Red EP
"Who I Am"[24] —
"Keith" 2019 22
"Wasted on You" —[D]
"Light On"[26] 2020 — Non-album singles
"Home"[27] —
"Be With You" —[E]
"That Summer"
(featuring Josh Mirenda or Lepani) 		2021 17 Silver Linings
"Before I Met You"
(featuring The McClymonts) 		—[F]
"Living Free"[30]
(featuring Lindsay Ell) 		—[G]
"Same Songs"[32]
(with James Johnston) 		2022 — Raised Like That
"Small Town Friday Nights"[33] — Nights Like This
"Christmas Tree Farm"[34] — non album single
"Boots 'n All"[35] 2023 20 Nights Like This
"When Summer Rolls Around"[36] 13
"Nights Like This"[37] 37
"Good Things"[38] 21
"Life Is Tough (But So Am I)"
(with Navvy) 		2024 41
"Where Were You" —
"Cowboy Up"[39] —
"—" denotes recording that failed to chart or was not eligible to chart.

Notes

  1. ^ "Getting Closer" was released prior to the creation of the current Hot Singles Chart, but peaked at number 7 on the New Zealand Heatseekers Chart which ranked the top ten singles outside the main singles chart.[21]
  2. ^ "Next Somebody" was released prior to the creation of the current Hot Singles Chart, but peaked at number 3 on the NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart which ranked the fastest-rising singles outside the main singles chart by New Zealand artists.[22]
  3. ^ "One More Shot" did not enter the Hot Singles Chart, but peaked at number 11 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart which tracks only songs by New Zealand artists.[23]
  4. ^ "Wasted on You" did not enter the Hot Singles Chart, but peaked at number 12 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart which tracks only songs by New Zealand artists.[25]
  5. ^ "Be With You" did not enter the Hot Singles Chart, but peaked at number 13 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart which tracks only songs by New Zealand artists.[28]
  6. ^ "Before I Met You" did not enter the Hot Singles Chart, but peaked at number 20 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart which tracks only songs by New Zealand artists.[29]
  7. ^ "Living Free" did not enter the Hot Singles Chart, but peaked at number 20 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart which tracks only songs by New Zealand artists.[31]

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2024 "Same Songs" (with James Johnson) Most Performed Country Work of the Year Nominated [40]

Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They commenced in 1973.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 (unknown) (unknown) Nominated [41]
2023 "Small Town" (with James Johnston) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Won [42][43]
Silver Linings Contemporary Country Album of the Year Nominated
Album of the Year Nominated
2024 "Boots 'n' All"
(directed by Shae Sterling)		 Video of the Year Nominated [44][45][46]
Kaylee Bell Female Artist of the Year Won
2025 Kaylee Bell Female Artist of the Year Pending [47]
"Beer in a Bar" (with The Wolfe Brothers) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Pending

Country Music Association Awards

The Country Music Association Awards (CMA) are an annual American awards show honouring the best in country music. Bell has received two nominations.[48]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2022 Kaylee Bell Global Country Artist Award Nominated
2023 Won

Tamworth Songwriters Awards

The Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) is an annual songwriting contest for original country songs, awarded in January at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. They commenced in 1986.[49] Kaylee Bell has won one award.[50]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 "The Seed" by Kaylee Bell and Lance Coassin Amateur Contemporary Award Won

References

  1. ^ a b Lenehan Vaughn, Grace (20 April 2022). "WATCH: 'The Voice: Australia' Contestants Keith Urban Song Is Absolutely a Country Hit Waiting to Happen". Taste of Country. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Kaylee Bell | NZ Artist Directory". New Zealand Music Commission. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Old Girl Kaylee Bell Awarded Australian ARIA Gold EP….. | Craighead". Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  4. ^ Scronin (26 January 2013). "Kaylee Bell crowned 2013 Toyota Star Maker". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  5. ^ Ashby-Coventry, Esther (24 May 2015). "Top Country Music Winners". Stuff. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Jared Porter and Kaylee Bell have won the Unsigned Only Music Competition". Northern Daily Leader. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  7. ^ "2013: The year in pictures". Western Advocate. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  8. ^ "'Holy crap, thank you!' - Lorde wins all the Tuis at New Zealand Music Awards". New Zealand Herald. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Spotify - Kaylee Bell - Discography". Spotify. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Kaylee Bell to Release New Single 'That Summer'". New Zealand Music Commission. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  11. ^ Ashby-Coventry, Esther (28 September 2021). "From Waimate to New York: Kaylee Bell lights up Times Square". Stuff. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  12. ^ "KAYLEE BELL BECOMES THE FIRST EVER INDEPENDENT COUNTRY AUSTRALASIAN FEMALE ARTIST TO RECEIVE AUSTRALIAN ARIA GOLD CERTIFIED EP OR SINGLE". Kix Country. June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  13. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Kaylee Bell Announce 'Nights Like This' Album Tour For May 2024". Live Nation Asia. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Singles Chart (Independent Labels) 25 July 2022". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  16. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  17. ^ Peak positions on New Zealand's Hot Singles Chart:
  18. ^ Daykin, James (15 February 2019). "LYRICinterviews: Kaylee Bell On Her New Single 'Keith', Life In Australia & Making It In Nashville". Lyric Magazine. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Toyota Star Maker". Tamworth Country Music Festival. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Whats new on Australian Country Radio". Australian Country Radio. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  21. ^ "NZ Top 10 Discover Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 21 November 2016. Archived from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Top 20 New Zealand Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Hot NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Kaylee Bell Declares 'Who I Am'". New Zealand Music Commission. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Hot NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Light On - Single by Kaylee Bell". Apple Music. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  27. ^ Holden, Joanne (1 July 2020). "Waimate stars in country musician Kaylee Bell's new single". Stuff. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Hot NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  29. ^ "Hot NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  30. ^ "Locals Only: Kiwi artist Kaylee Bell wants to bring country music back to Aotearoa". New Zealand Herald. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  31. ^ "Hot NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  32. ^ "James Johnston Recruits Kaylee Bell for First Duet Release". Kix Country. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  33. ^ "CMT Premiere: Kaylee Bell Bridged Gap". CMT. 7 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Kick Off the Festive Season With Our Joy-Filled Holiday Spotify Singles". PR News Room. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  35. ^ "Kaylee Bell Goes in with "Boots 'N All" on First Single of 2023". Rolling Stone Australia. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  36. ^ "Kaylee Bell releases new anthem, When Summer Rolls Around". 13th Floor. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  37. ^ "Band & Musician News - Kaylee Bell Releases New Single 'Nights Like This'". Muzic. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  38. ^ "Kaylee Bell Releases New Summer Hit 'Good Things' + Wins A 2023 CMA Award". Muzic. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  39. ^ "Kaylee Bell Wants Men to Up Their Game on New Single 'Cowboy Up'". Rolling Stone Australia. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  40. ^ "2024 APRA Music Awards nominees announced: Paul Kelly, Troye Sivan, Tex Perkins, and more". Mumbrella. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  41. ^ "Toyota Golden Guitar award nominees announced for event's 50th year". On With the Show. November 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  42. ^ "Tamworth Toyota Golden Guitar Award Nominees Announced". The Music. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  43. ^ "2023 Toyota Golden Guitar Winners Announced". Mirage News. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  44. ^ "Toyota 52nd Golden Guitar Awards". TCMF. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  45. ^ "Nominees Announced for the 52nd Country Music Awards". TCMF. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  46. ^ "Brad Cox, The Wolfe Brothers Win Big At The 2024 Golden Guitar Awards". Kix Country. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  47. ^ "Troy Cassar-Daley, Michael Waugh, Kasey Chambers Lead 2025 Golden Guitar Nominations". Country Town. 19 November 2024.
  48. ^ "Ashley McBryde & Brothers Osborne Among 2022 CMA International Awards Nominees". Billboard.
  49. ^ "Tamworth Songwriters Association". Tamworth Songwriters Association Online. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  50. ^ "Tamworth Songwriters Association Past Winners". Tamworth Songwriters Association Online. Retrieved 23 March 2022.