Interview with singer/songwriter Kris Bell

1.What inspired your passion for music and who has been there supporting you from the beginning?

As far back as I can remember, music was a part of me.  I would sit and listen to my parents’ old records and 8 tracks through headphones and sing along as best as I could.  When I was 4 years old, I saw a video of KISS and Ace Frehley was shooting lasers out of his Les Paul during a guitar solo.  I knew that’s what I wanted to do and for three years, I begged my parents for a guitar.  They bought me a classical when I was seven.

2. How do you feel about people downloading music rather then buying physical copies?

Although I prefer CDs and physical albums, digital downloads are continuing to overtake CD sales and from what we’re hearing, this year will be the end, or close to the end of CDs being the dominant music platform.  When you can hold your whole music library on your phone or “The Cloud” and can access it from anywhere and anytime you choose, it just makes sense for the music industry to move towards full digital distribution.

3.How do you feel about the music industry today?

The music industry is probably going through more changes today than ever before.  With so many large labels crumbling and being sold or merging with others, it’s hard to grasp who’s still stable.  Artist Development is gone, and has been for a while.  Independent bands and artists need to take on the responsibilities of booking, promoting, funding, branding, and all aspects of their career in order to move forward in today’s music industry.

4.Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Hopefully on tour packing arenas and supporting my family through a successful music career!

5. Do you think singer/songwriters are the best interpreters of their own work or do you believe some cover versions can be better then the original?

I think it depends on the listener more than the songwriter.  ”Whipping Post” by the Allman Brothers Band is one of my favorite songs of all time and we play that song in our sets a lot.   There are always people coming up to us after a show saying that they saw them live back in the day and we did the song better!    I would never consider myself to be on their same musical level, but its great to hear from the fans that feel that we’ve done the song justice.

6.Who have you always dreamt of working with and why? How would you go about accomplishing this?

I’ve always wanted to work with Eric Clapton.  He’s been one of my biggest musical influences and has stood the test of time as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter since before I was born!  Hopefully one day I’ll have the opportunity to invite him on stage much like Joe Bonamassa did at the Royal Albert Hall.

7.As you are starting out your career in the music industry what steps do you plan on taking to reach your goal?

I’ve been working in the music industry since I was 19.  My goal has always been the same; make a sustainable income writing, recording, and performing the music I love.  I’ve been in a few bands as a guitarist, but as a frontman and main songwriter, its different.  It’s my name and with that comes the responsibilities of promotion, booking, branding, marketing, funding, everything.  Sitting down with my band and manager to discuss and devise a realistic business plan about where we want to be by the end of the year and beyond is the first part of achieving our goals and that’s what we’re focusing on right now.

8.Have you found that as you are starting out your career in the music industry there are aspects that have taken you completely by surprise. If so, what are they?

No, not really.  I try to stay current with what’s changing in the industry.  You can’t plan for everything, but keeping up with social media and what other artists are doing to gain exposure is a good way to help prevent falling behind.  It’s a tough business and you can’t expect success and then be surprised when it doesn’t happen right away.  It takes time…

9. What is the greatest thing about working in the music industry? And what would you change if you had the opportunity?

For me, meeting and connecting with other musicians and music lovers who share the same passion for music as I do.  I’ve made a lot of friends over the years that’ve inspired and supported me to do my own thing and pursue my dreams in this business.  If could change anything?  Hmm.  I guess it’s the old saying…”I wish I knew then what I know now”!

10.If you could have asked anyone for advice when you were starting out. Who would you have liked to ask?
 What would you have liked to ask?
What would be your answer now?

If I could’ve asked anyone for advice when I was starting out it’d probably be Ronnie Van Zant.  He did things his way, not the way others wanted him to.  He truly believed that he, his music, and his band were the best around and they would kick your ass on stage in just fifteen minutes.  That’s Rock ‘n Roll!

11.From your experience in the entertainment industry what advice could you offer people looking to get where you are today?

The one thing I would say is to work your ass off.  Practice, promote, write, record, tour…it’s up to you to make these things happen.

12. What courses/classes would you recommend someone take if they want to be a professional in the music industry?

Depending on what you want to do in the industry would dictate what classes, courses, etc. you should take, but as much knowledge as you can absorb about the business is always a positive thing.  Growing up, I took classical guitar lessons for five years before ever buying an electric.  I was in choir all through Jr. High and High School and also took a Guitar course as well as Advanced Choir.  I went to Jr. College and studied Music Theory, while taking more guitar lessons on the side.  I would sit for hours practicing solos out of music books and learn them note for note.  I also bought and read books like John Brahaney’s ” The Craft and Business of Songwriting, Bobby Borg’s “The Musician’s Handbook”, and a ton of others just to learn as much as I could about the music business.

13.How many years were you fighting to get to where you are today and what was that time in your life like?

Its been an up and down ride for me, and it continues to be, but I’m determined to succeed.  So many times I’ve been right on the cusp and then for some reason, it just doesn’t work out.  It’s difficult not to get discouraged in this business where there’s so much rejection, but it’s all about patience and perseverance and I have a lot of both.

14.From your experience so far, what have you found to be most challenging? And how are you dealing with it?

The most challenging for me is being one person doing multiple people’s job.  Being an independent artist means you are the booking agent, the PR Rep, the Label, the Publisher, you’re everything.  Scheduling studio time while booking gigs, while promoting for upcoming shows, while calling and emailing for interviews and write-ups, on top of writing and rehearsing.  It’s a constant course of action that you have to take and be mindful of.  There’s always something that needs to be done.  Having The Lowry Agency has definitely helped lighten the load a little, but it’s still an all day, everyday/night, full-time job.

15.Share with us your proudest moment in your career so far?

My proudest moment so far was performing on stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Trump Taj Mahal Hotel in Atlantic City New Jersey in June of 2006.  It was a VH1 Decades Rock Live concert taping and I played on six songs, rockin’ out right next to Gary Rossington and Ean Evans!  Sharing the stage with Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr., 3 Doors Down, and Bo Bice during “Call Me The Breeze” and  “Sweet Home Alabama” in front of a sold out 16,000 seat arena was just amazing and the accomplishment of a lifelong dream.  It was a special night, one that I will never forget.

links and recommendations

photo gallery