Questions w/ Andrew Belle (part one)

The best thing about running this site is all the great artists I've had the chance to learn about and work with. This week you'll get to hear from not one, but two of those artists; Andrew Belle and Matthew Mayfield. Both have been "Artist of the Week", both have becomes friends of StSL, and (most importantly) both are amazing singer/songwriters that you need to know about! So, keep checking back all week long because there will be a new post every day!

Andrew Belle has been a very busy man lately. His first full-length album, "The Ladder", is right around the corner, he was recently named MTV's Best Breakout Chicago Artist, he just finished up the Fall leg of the Ten Out of Tenn (TOT) tour, and he'll soon be hitting the road again for the TOT Christmas tour. Somewhere in the middle of all that, he still found time to answer some questions for us. So enjoy part one of "Questions" with Andrew Belle...

StSL – What can you tell us about your upcoming full length album, “The Ladder”?

AB – I’m really excited about this new record – it was recorded in Nashville with producer/engineer Thomas Doeve and mixed by Vance Powell (The Raconteurs, Kings of Leon). There are 10 songs on it and we feel it shows a much broader spectrum of songwriting compared to the EP. I was definitely influenced by fellow singer-songwriters Landon Pigg and Greg Laswell.

StSL – A song of yours that I really enjoy is “Signs of Life”, off your EP of the same name. Can you share a bit about the story behind that song?

AB – Someone close to me was going through a very hard time w/ some personal issues at the time and I wrote that song as sort of a response to it. Things are much better now, but it was a pretty dark time there for a bit.

StSL – What inspires you to write?

AB – Honestly, every time I hear a song that I think to myself ‘Gosh, I wish I wrote that.’ i get on my keyboard or guitar and start writing. Also, I love exploring new instruments – a year ago I bought a keyboard and 2 months later I had my entire new record written. Something about the adventure of a new instrument inspires me to write more. I wonder what instrument I’ll try next – who knows, harmonica or something.

StSL – Having spent time in both the Chicago and Nashville music scenes, what have you found to be the biggest differences between the two?

AB – There seems to be a much larger artist community in Nashville versus Chicago. Practically everyone you meet is involved with music or the business in someway so it is great for collaborating and growing from that standpoint. However, because it is such an industry town, Chicago is much better for playing around town and building a fan base.

StSL – What have you been listening to lately?

AB – Radiohead. I’ve owned all of their records for a long time because I knew that one of these days I would appreciate and understand their music. Not too long ago, it all clicked in my head and I can’t get enough of it.

Visit AndrewBelle.com for more info, and be sure to check back here tomorrow for part two!