Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Belle.
Hi Hannah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I grew up and still am a Baptist preacher’s daughter in south Mississippi. I come from a long line of musicians on my mom and dad’s side of the family, but my dad, the Baptist preacher, was once in a rock’n’roll band back in the 60s & 70s. I like to say that I was born with music in my DNA. I began singing before I could form sentences, and I walked around with a Talkboy tape recorder to record all of the songs I heard in my head.
Since dad was a preacher, I always had a stage to sing on, and since he too had the music bug, we started a family gospel band. We performed all over Mississippi at the local churches. I played a red tambourine and sang my heart out! My music passion only grew, and as I grew older, I learned to play a few instruments and began to try my hand at songwriting. The songwriting did not catch on immediately, and I had to work really hard at it.
I wrote my first song as a freshman in college and continued writing from there to where eventually I was able to record a full original album. This would be my first original album, but I had one record under my belt as a Christian Country Artist. While in college, I began performing with a band at local fairs and festivals and my name began to grow. I released my first country single to radio in 2011 and hit the road traveling all around the southeast region to support it.
Since then, I have continued to write and record, and now have 2 full albums and an EP under my belt, and 1 more full-length album to be released this year. I am recently signed to Willow Sound Records and am excited to be on the journey with a creative team who truly believes in me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road. As an artist, nothing is easy! From getting radio airplay to booking gigs, it is always a struggle, especially if you do not have a major label behind you. Luckily, I have made great connections over the years and have always had the wholehearted support of my family.
When things seemed to be falling in place and the gears were really turning, my dad’s health brought us to a screeching halt. In 2016, he underwent open-heart surgery. We thought that would be the worst of it, but just a year later, he was diagnosed with cancer and given 6 weeks to live. My whole world came crumbling down, as my dad was a huge driving force behind the majority of my success.
For two years, we devoted our time to helping him recover, and he did! But, with those 2 years off, so much had changed in the music world. It was almost like we had to start all over… and we did! Things again were starting to pick up, and then you guessed it… the pandemic hit. Tons of shows had to be canceled, the recording of the album had to be postponed, and again, we were at a standstill. Though it hasn’t always been easy, I continue to strive toward my goal of making a living as a full-time musician.
Since the world has opened up again, I have built upon some connections made earlier in my career and am working to better myself as a songwriter and performer. The wheels are turning again, though it might be slow. I know what I am meant to do and will continue to push forward no matter what is thrown my way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a songwriter and a podcast host. I believe in the power of words and how they can impact each and every human on earth. That’s why I do what I do. I write songs to inspire others, motivate them, to make them feel connected to someone else.
We, humans, thrive on connections and my number one goal as an artist is to establish that connection whether it be through my music or my podcast. I am known for being extremely positive and writing what I feel. Everything is not always going to be sunshine and rainbows, but I like to try to put a positive spin on whatever I do.
I am most proud of the work I have done with my songwriting. In 2017, I was honored as a nominee for the Songwriter of the Year at the Nashville Universe Awards. There is no greater honor than being recognized for something that you have created.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I have learned a lot from the Covid crisis. As I mentioned earlier, humans need connections and even though it was a dark time and a lot of isolation took place, I feel we humans realized the importance of connecting with each other.
It allowed us to slow down and truly realize what is important in this life and that we don’t have long here on this earth. I was thankful for social media during this time because it allowed me to continue to perform and connect with fans all over the world.
I sure did miss performing live, but I had more time on my hands to work on my craft as a songwriter and better myself as a human.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.hannah-Belle.com
- Instagram: Www.Instagram.com/hannahbelle322
- Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/hannahbellemusic
- Twitter: Www.twitter.com/hannahbelle322
- Youtube: Www.YouTube.com/hannahbelle22
Image Credits
James Isaac Jones Photography and JB Lawrence
