FEATURE:
Spotlight
that I hope to interview soon. Bellah Mae is someone that is getting a lot of love in the U.S. and U.K. She was raised in the U.K. but not resides in Nashville. An incredible artist who fuses Country and Pop, her recent E.P., Keep It Peachy, is one of the very and most strikingly finest of the year. I love the aesthetic and the colour scheme. The cover puts me in mind of something from the 1950s or '60s. In terms of those old adverts. Maybe an America print or magazine piece. There is something utterly engrossing about Bellah Mae. Watching her in her videos and she has this pull and talent that would transfer to the small or big screen. I do think that she has a possible acting career ahead. Though she will want to concentrate on music. I am not sure whether she is coming to the U.K. at some point. She is a magnificent artist that everyone should know about. Keep It Peachy a perfect six-track release where every track lands. It is a big moment where Bellah Mae has released an E.P. and there is a lot of attention coming her way. Where does she head next? I want to start with some biography about an artist that I would love to hear more on mainstream U.K. radio, as she is a wonderful songwriter:
“Growing up in the UK, Bellah began writing songs at the tender age of eight, inspired by her father teaching her how to play guitar and her grandfather, a rock and roll session musician, introducing her to the rock classics and country music. Bellah also honed her skills as a vocalist, with 11 years of training as a classical soprano following shortly after. She later started traveling to and from Nashville at age 18 through mentorship by Dolly Parton's manager, feeling immediately at home in Music City.
However, the 2020 pandemic then shook up her career path, prompting Bellah to remain in London. Pouring her heart into her music, Bellah got to work writing songs, combining infectious melodies and razor-sharp songwriting with the vivid storytelling that defines country music. Fans took notice of Bellah’s unique sound and her willingness to be vulnerable about her love life, with track “Boyfriend Of The Year,” in particular, igniting a fire for the budding songstress, with her catalogue of songs quickly reaching over 100 million streams”.
There are some interviews with Bellah Mae that I want to include here. We get to learn more about a British artist making big waves in the U.S. This Entertainment Focus interview is interesting. Quite a few artists in the U.K. dream of relocating to Nashville, but sometimes it does not work out. I think fellow Brit Country-Pop artist Twinnie is based out there. It can be difficult to adapt. However, it seems that Bellah Mae has settled. Whether she has plans to put roots down and spend her life there, or whether she will move around to other parts of the U.S. Perhaps New York or L.A. will call one day. Though Nashville is perfectly set up regarding inspiration and venues that can house and showcase her:
“At what point did Nashville start to become part of that dream? Because I know you first went out there around 18, and that’s quite a big leap from the UK. What sparked that connection, and what made you feel like, “This is where I need to be”?
Yeah, it’s quite a funny story because it wasn’t this calculated career move at first, it really came from something quite personal and, honestly, a bit unexpected. I was completely obsessed with Hannah Montana growing up, like, properly obsessed. That whole world of music, performance and living in Tennessee just got into my head really early, and I became convinced that was where I needed to be. It sounds almost silly now, but at the time it felt very real to me.
The actual trip happened when I was about 18, and it came about because my mum emailed Dolly Parton’s manager out of the blue. Somehow that led to us getting the opportunity to come out, and we flew to Nashville together. I remember landing and just having this immediate, almost overwhelming feeling of familiarity, like I already knew the place. It wasn’t even a question in my mind, it was just, “This is where I’m supposed to be.” And I think what struck me most was how alive everything felt creatively. Everywhere you went, there was music happening, people playing, writing, collaborating and it just felt like the kind of environment I’d always needed without quite realising it.
At that point, I didn’t move straight away, but something had definitely shifted in me. I went back home with this very clear sense of direction that I hadn’t had before. It was like, “Okay, now I know where I’m heading.” Over the next few years, I kept coming back, building relationships, learning how the songwriting culture worked and gradually figuring out how I could fit into that world. So when I eventually made the move properly, it didn’t feel like a leap anymore, it felt like the natural next step in something that had already started the moment I stepped off that plane at 18.
I’ve always wondered how British artists adapt to that environment, because culturally we’re not always the most emotionally open, whereas Nashville songwriting really thrives on that kind of vulnerability. Did you find that challenging at all, or did it actually suit you?
Yeah, I love that question because it’s so real and it’s something I became aware of almost immediately when I started spending proper time in Nashville. There’s definitely a cultural difference. As Brits, we tend to be a bit more reserved, a bit more guarded with our emotions. We don’t always say exactly what we’re feeling straight away and there’s often a layer of humour or understatement over things. Whereas in Nashville, especially in songwriting rooms, it’s the complete opposite. People are very open, very direct and very willing to go straight to the deepest, most personal parts of their lives without hesitation.
But interestingly, for me, that didn’t feel uncomfortable: it actually felt like I’d found the right environment. I’ve always been quite an emotional person, even as a kid. I used to get called ‘intense; a lot because I had all these big thoughts and feelings and didn’t really know where to put them. Songwriting became the place where I could process all of that, and then when I got to Nashville, it was like walking into rooms where that kind of emotional depth wasn’t just accepted, it was encouraged. People were like, “Yes, let’s go there, let’s talk about that properly,” and that was really freeing for me.
I do think there’s still a part of me that’s very British in how I approach things. I love our dry humour, I love that slightly stubborn, understated way we communicate, and I think that actually brings something different into the room as well. Sometimes I might phrase something in a more subtle or indirect way, and that can spark a different kind of idea creatively. So I don’t feel like I had to lose that part of myself to fit in. If anything, it’s about balancing the two: bringing that British perspective into a space that’s very emotionally open. I think that combination has actually helped shape me as a writer, because I can tap into both sides: the deep honesty that Nashville thrives on, and the slightly more nuanced, observational way that I think comes from being British.
Let’s talk about ‘Keep It Peachy.' The title feels really sunny and optimistic, but there’s also a suggestion of something deeper beneath that. What does that phrase mean to you in the context of this project?
Yeah, ‘Keep It Peachy' as a title really sums up where I am right now, both as an artist and just as a person. On the surface, it does feel very bright and optimistic: it’s colourful, it’s fun, it’s a bit playful, and that’s definitely a big part of me. I think people often see me as quite smiley, quite upbeat, quite positive. But what I love about that phrase and about the imagery of a peach itself, is that there’s more going on underneath.
A peach is sweet and soft on the outside, but at the centre there’s that stone, that core, which is a lot tougher, a bit more grounded, a bit more real. And that’s how I see myself as a songwriter. A lot of the songs on the EP might sound fun, catchy or light at first listen, but when you really sit with them, there’s usually something a bit more honest, a bit more vulnerable, or even a bit gritty underneath. So the title felt like the perfect way of capturing that duality: who I am on the surface versus what’s really going on at the core.
I also love the phrase “keep it peachy” in terms of what it represents emotionally. To me, it’s not about pretending everything is perfect or ignoring difficult things, it’s more about resilience. It’s about going through life, through relationships, through all the ups and downs, and choosing to keep moving forward with a sense of optimism. Like, things might be messy, things might hurt, but you’re still saying, “I’ve got this, I’m going to keep going.” That mindset is something I’ve really leaned into while making this project.
And I think that’s why the EP feels quite cohesive to me. Even the sadder songs or the more vulnerable moments are still presented in a way that feels accessible and, in some way, hopeful. I never want to make music that leaves people feeling stuck, I want it to feel like something you can take with you and come out the other side of whatever you’re going through. So ‘Keep It Peachy' became this kind of guiding idea for the whole project: feel everything, be honest about it, but keep your head up and keep moving forward.
Finally, in today’s industry, how do you balance being a songwriter first with the realities of social media, which has become such a huge part of breaking an artist?
Yeah, I think it depends on which side of me you’re asking, the songwriter or the artist, because I do see it slightly differently from both perspectives. If you’re asking me purely as a songwriter, then no, social media isn’t the most important thing. The most important thing will always be the song itself: how honest it is, how it makes people feel, whether it connects. That’s the foundation of everything I do and I don’t think that should ever change.
But if you’re asking me as an artist trying to build a career in today’s industry, then social media is undeniably important. It’s just part of the landscape now. I don’t really view it as this negative thing or something that takes away from the music, I see it as a tool. The reality is, the industry has always required you to find ways to get your music in front of people. Years ago, that might have meant spending 250 days a year on the road, playing small venues and gradually building an audience face-to-face. That’s still a valid and amazing way to do it but now you also have the option to reach thousands, even millions of people, in a matter of minutes through something like TikTok”.
The penultimate interview I am including is from The Honey Pop. You might be new to her music and reading this is your first exposure to her. I would encourage everyone to listen to her music and watch the videos. This is a complete artist who has made big steps since her earliest tracks. Someone who I would love take to major festival stages in the U.K. A spot at Glastonbury or Reading and Leeds one day? She is worthy of taking to some of the most prestigious stages in the country:
“You began writing songs at eight and then picked up guitar at 11, with your dad as your first teacher—does playing still bring him to mind?
I think playing guitar will always remind me of my dad. He taught me every chord that I know how to play, and he bought me the guitar that I use the most. When I’m touring or playing live shows, I’m using my guitar he bought me. It brings me a lot of happy memories of him!
‘Kiss My Levi’s’ is such a fun subversion of the classic phrase. If we were drafting the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants reboot, what’s your ultimate stance on the standing-on-business jean—skinny, wide-leg, or flare?
I’m just a big fan of denim in general. I love lots of different types—very unpopular opinion, I still do love a skinny jean from time to time. But I do like all jeans I don’t think there is a style of jean I’m not into—maybe culottes I don’t wear that much. But I will say my favorite at the moment is like a little bootcut—just a little, nothing too crazy. They’re tight at the top and a little bit loose at the bottom, and they’re kind of doing just everything I need them to do at the moment.
‘Love Me Less’ sits in that really vulnerable space of fearing that letting someone see the real you will make them love you less rather than more. What’s fascinating is that in the first verse, you set him up as someone who loves your no-makeup face—he wants the real version of you—and then immediately you drop a very specific bra size he’s after, which completely reframes the picture. What was behind that contrast?
So the opening verse of ‘Love Me Less’ is just very specific lyricism. It opens with, “You say that you like me no makeup / Say you love a 34b cup / But I’ve got mascara and push-up on.” So that basically means at the start of a relationship—when even if that person is trying to tell you they love you the way that you are—you actually don’t fully know. So you say that you like me without makeup on, but I still have mascara on, so it’s not actually makeup-free, and you say that you like my bra size, and I have a push-up bra on, so it’s like—do you actually love me or do you love the version I’m showing you? I don’t know whether you would love me in the ways that you say that you do because I’m not showing you myself fully. And I just love how so, so vulnerable it is straight from the get-go of the opening verse because it just sets the tone of me taking off every layer and unmasking the whole idea of letting someone know you more.
You’ve been teasing songs that aren’t even on this EP yet, including one with a lyric about microdosing—how fun is it to drop a little lyrical spoiler and watch the internet react in real time?
One thing I will never change is teasing when I’m not supposed to—there is nothing like just loving a song of yours at that exact moment in time and not waiting until it’s agreed upon to be a single and just popping it online. That’s really how I started my career: I was just writing little songs a lot of the time just in my bedroom. I would just take a little video and put them online because, realistically, that’s what I’m doing on a day-to-day basis: I’m creating a lot of music. And so I just love to keep people involved in what I’m making at the time, even if it has no plans to come out right there and then. Also, nothing is off limits. If I were to want to put it out, we could do that. But I do love a cheeky tease!
And yes, that’s one of my favorite lyrics I’ve written in a while, “you’re always taking little mushrooms, it opens up your mind / Maybe this time you can microdose yourself into a better guy”.
I will end off with Fame Magazine and their conversation with Bellah Mae. This is an artist who puts so much care and attention into her work. Putting Keep It Peachy together. I mentioned the cover and how striking it is. There is this unity and thread. Maybe not a concept to the E.P., though it does have its own world and colour scheme. Will a future E.P. deal with darker reds and blacks or bright pink? A whole mood and emotional blend that matches the palette. The songs balancing sharp and sweet. Lots of humour and personality bursts through every song. Such a nuanced and enriching experiencing travelling through Keep It Peachy:
“Co-written across the full project and produced by Brett Truitt, JANEVA, and Steven Solomon, the EP blends banjo, pedal steel, polished pop detail, and Mae’s dry, quick-cut lyricism without losing its emotional centre.
The Solihull-raised artist sits between UK roots, Nashville craft, pop instinct, and punk-edged character. On Keep It Peachy, that mix clicks into place, with Salt and Sugar, Kiss My Levi’s, Boring Me Baby, and Fast Lane turning real-life stories into sharp, funny, emotionally loaded country-pop.
With over 100 million career streams, a growing US presence, and her CMA Festival debut ahead, Mae is moving into a bigger frame without sanding down the personality.
Keep It Peachy opens a new chapter with Sony Nashville. What did you want this EP to show about where you are now?
I’m super settled in the music that I’m making and the sound that I have and I think it’s finally feels exactly where I want it to be. It’s fun and a little flirty but still sensitive and soft.
The title plays with sweetness and resilience. How did that contrast shape the songs?
I truly love everything about the sentiment and imagery of a peach, I love how it’s sweet and soft on the outside but gritty and a strong pit in the middle and I believe that I convey that symbolism through all the songs by writing about real emotions and stories but often dressing them up in a witty or fun way.
You move between UK roots and country storytelling. When did that mix start feeling like your own lane?
I think ever since I started writing and creating so much in Nashville I feel very much understood and at home with the songs that I’m making, I think the people I collaborate with bring the best out of me and really get who I am and what I’m trying to make.
With the US tour and CMA Festival debut ahead, what side of Bellah Mae do you want this EP to bring to the stage?
I think the EP is fun and flirty and sensitive all at the same time. I’m just excited to feel like I’m exactly where I want to be, being super myself, with music out that I love and to keep doing exactly that”.
If Keep It Peachy is the closing of one chapter, what does the rest of 2026 and 2027 hold for Bellah Mae? I guess she is going to be kept busy with gigs. She has played the CMA Fest and had the time of her life. Looking at her Instagram, and you get a sense that Bellah Mae is very happy and is loving playing and recording in the U.S. Even though she no longer lives in the U.K., I hope she pops back here and plays some dates soon, as there are so many people who would love to see her perform. The mighty Bellah Mae is an exceptional artist who will soon…
CONQUER the globe.
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