Music, Why Not! Got the chance to interview Caitlin from the band Bell The Band. Their new album has been released and let me just tell you it is fantastic. There is so much soul in every song. I have talked about this numerous times in the past. For me a song that makes you feel something and takes you to another world is a song worth listening to it. There is no better feeling than finding a song that you can connect with. Music is timeless because the songs that revive a feeling in you stay around forever. They mark a time period in your life. Music is very therapeutic in many ways. I do not doubt for a second that in the bands new self entitled album “Bell The Band” you will not find a song that you can connect to, because their music is so beautiful and relatable. I also fell in love with the fact that they improvise a bit during their performances. I love the originality- I think that there has to be such a strong sens of musicianship in order to improvise a song and make it sound good. I think Bell the Band just might end up being one of your favorite folk bands. So, dive into our interview as we discuss all about their new EP and much more.
MWN: Your self-titled EP is out now. So how does it feel to finally release something you’ve been working so hard on?
Caitlin It’s a great feeling. We’re really proud of the work we put into it and are excited to have it out there.
MWN: Speaking of putting out new music, currently what song would you say is on repeat for you?
Caitlin: Pharrell’s new song “Runnin’” and “One Headlight” by The Wallflowers.
MWN: Essentially I feel like as time goes by the people, movements, and things that influences out creativity and persona changes constantly. So right now who or what would you say is influencing you as a creative being?
Caitlin: Currently there is quite a bit of conflict in the world and it’s difficult not to be influenced by the times. My surroundings and observations typically influence my inspiration to write music, and considering current events, I think many artists are flowing with creative energy and motivation at the moment.
MWN: Every artist has different ways of developing their sound which become albums. Sometimes songs start off with a simple melody, others with a guitar riff, and other times they are developed from the lyrics. What would you say your process was for this EP? (I know it can also vary).
Caitlin:I wrote this EP while I was staying in the mountains of North Georgia. I just had my guitar with me, so I would typically start with a melodic or lyrical idea and build a structure. Then when I got back to NYC, I worked with the band to build arrangements for the songs.
MWN: Do you find yourself writing more about you past and personal experiences or do you focus on writing more about the “outside world”?
Caitlin: I think it varies from song to song. I’m inspired by both personal and observational moments in my life. It depends on when the mood strikes me and if I can properly articulate what it is I’m trying to write about.
MWN: Making music is quite the task but I feel like the end product is really rewarding in all aspects. In the creation of this album what is one new thing you learned or realized about yourself and the band?
Caitlin: I think the band sounds best when we focus on listening to one another instead of attempting to play an exact part the same way every time. Jared, Gab and Harper are amazing musicians and we’re at our best when we just get in a room and play together; that’s the best part about being in a band.
MWN: What was one of your biggest musical inspiration growing up?
Caitlin: I was (and still am) a huge fan of Norah Jones. Her music was part of what inspired me to start writing and performing music of my own. She’s classy, intelligent, an enormous talent and she set an excellent example for me when I was a young musician.
MWN: “They know the most direct route to the heard of a song is to never play it the same way twice” – (as stated on your biography in SoundCloud). Let me just tell you this is the reason why I find myself falling in love with new music and bands today. I think that improvising bits and pieces of songs shows a lot of musical integrity and understanding of beautiful raw music. What was that thing that triggered this process of improvising during live shows?
Caitlin: That is a really nice thing to hear and a great question. Improvisation and performing live are huge parts of the Americana folk tradition, and I like to avoid compromising those qualities with things like backing tracks or an exact format whenever humanly possible. Without improvisation we would never discover anything new about the songs we write and play, or about ourselves as a band. Exploration is crucial for the growth and understanding of the music and of each other. It’s also just more enjoyable and makes us feel more connected to one another. That’s what music is all about, isn’t it?
MWN: One of my favorite songs off of the new EP is “Love Before Me.” I think the lyrics are beautiful and the way I interpreted the meaning of the song is that it really captivates the feeling of heartbreak and the power of love resurfacing in our lives. What was the process of making this particular song, the story behind it?
Caitlin: I wrote “Love Before Me” on a train while thinking about how we all move in and out of love and from it, pull different experiences and outcomes. We all have our love stories, our own journeys or different paths and I think for that reason, we all have our own unique kind of love as well. It is a powerful human emotion that we carry in some way within us, and it can at times throw us off balance. The act of falling in love, especially, can distract us from where we are, what you we doing and where we want to be. Sometimes that can be a good thing, and other times, not so much.
MWN: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions. To finish the interview, is there anything you want to tell the people that have supported your music?
Caitlin: I can’t and will never be able to express my gratitude enough to the friends and family who have supported us along the way. It’s you who keep us going and keep us inspired and it’s a pleasure to play music that brings you whatever it is that you want or need to get out of it.
Keep up with the band by following their social media below:
Official Site
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Songkick
YouTube
SoundCloud