Ahead of her run of support slots for international pop superstar Ed Sheeran, Kaylee Bell has shared her first single of 2023, “Boots ‘N All”.
Bell recruited ARIA Award-winning duo MSquared (Michael Paynter and Michael DeLorenzis), Lindsay Rhimes (Kane Brown), and Emily Hatton to make the barnstorming song.
It’s a typically driving uptempo number from the country music favourite, dripping with savvy confidence. Bell firmly has her tongue in her cheek on the playful song, considering the expectations placed on a future partner.
“Boots ‘N All” is quite the departure from Bell’s previous single, “Christmas Tree Farm”, which was a festive cut for Spotify Singles at the end of 2022.
And the release of her new song couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment, with Bell just one day away from supporting Sheeran on the New Zealand leg of his mammoth world tour.
Alongside UK singer-songwriter Maisie Peters, Bell will provide a country tinge to Sheeran’s arena shows at Wellington’s Sky Stadium on Thursday, February 2nd, and Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday, February 10th and Saturday, February 11th (more information here).
In preparation for supporting such a renowned global name, Bell sought out the advice of Six60 while supporting the Dunedin band last year.
“Matiu (Walters) came to meet us before our show and to say hi etc,” she told Stuff. “It was a really amazing example of how you look after your supports. We felt a part of that your and I thought it was a really respectful thing he did.”
Following these shows, Bell will then head to Australia to perform at two country music festivals – Goulburn and Gippsland – in April.
Having just returned from Tamworth Country Music Festival last month, Bell is clearly ready to make up for the disappointment of losing out in the battle rounds on The Voice Australia last year.
And with plans to visit the iconic Nashville to record her new record – her follow-up to 2021’s independently released Silver Linings – 2023 could be one of the biggest years of her career to date.
Kaylee Bell’s “Boots ‘N All” is out now.
