Boston native Louie Bello is a country R&B artist whose latest single “Got it Bad” recently reached 244,000 streams on Spotify. He can be seen in locations from Nashville and Boston to New York and Los Angeles. He recently finished his first European tour playing in Spain, Portugal, London, Ireland, Iceland and Denmark. Louie also recently completed a short stint on the world’s only private residential ship, with 165 full-time residents from around the world.
Louie’s vocal chops grew out of an American story, as one might imagine: as if he were born of Doo-Wop, a teenage Louie sang harmonies with friends on Boston street corners. Since then, he has written theme songs for PBS, ESPN, landed a publishing deal with Sony, and had his original songs on television shows such as God Friended Me, Lincoln Heights, Keeping up with the Kardashians, and The Real World to name a few. some. Louie has taken the stage at many national music festivals such as Milwaukie Mile of Music Fest, Boston Fest, Red Gorilla Festival, SXSW and has recently opened for country stars Tyler Farr and Eric Paslay. Check out the interview!
Newly released, the single “Ain’t Tryna Be a Cowboy” is already becoming a huge hit on American radio. What were your expectations for this release?
Honestly, when we made this record we knew we had done something special. It was one of those days in the studio in Nashville that felt really good. You never know what will happen to a song once it’s done. You always wonder how people are going to respond, but me and Joey Deihl (the producer) had this great feeling.
Many of his songs have R&B roots, including the latest single “Got it Bad”. During that time, what’s the biggest improvement you’ve noticed between this latest release and “Ain’t Tryna Be a Cowboy”?
I think I finally figured out how to connect my two loves of Country and RandB, I think sonically it’s a great combination. Music is about experimenting and creating and this path for me has been an incredible experience in these two musical worlds.
Although his music has been very successful on radio stations such as IHEART and ODESSY, streaming is increasingly competing with broadcasters. Have you noticed this difference in audience with your songs?
Streaming opens up your brand to a lot more listeners, so it’s been a great tool in building the brand and connecting with fans. I think radio is still going strong and has its hardcore following that can help make or break your music.
You also recently finished your first European tour, visiting places like Spain, Portugal, London, Ireland, among many other places. How was that experience and what were the best moments you had in these passages?
I never thought this kid from the streets of Boston would see so many places in the world in my lifetime. My music opened my eyes to different cultures and experiences that changed me forever. I think one of the coolest places I played was in Ireland. We paid a local taxi driver to be our guide for the day in Dublin and he took us to hidden waterfalls and castles and even brought us to his home to eat with his family.
A very curious place that you performed and that few people get to know is the residential ship where you performed, which is one of the only ones in the world. What did you think of this project and what curiosities did you bring from this passage?
I got to see a totally different side of life when it comes to people, personalities, wealth and experience. I got to perform in front of some amazing groups of influential people while hanging out with even more interesting and influential people who steered the ship. Living on a ship on the open sea and getting to know all the different cultures of the crew and people on the islands we visited was amazing. I used all of that in my journey as a songwriter.
For those who are just getting to know you now, could you tell us a little more about your beginnings in music? Where do your musical origins come from?
My dad was the lead singer in a band in Boston and they were really good. He wrote songs and performed and worked two jobs at once. He gave up a shot at a record deal in Japan when I was born to stay home and be a dad. That sacrifice has always inspired me on my own journey. I started singing on street corners in Boston when I was 15 and wrote my first song when I was 18. I think that’s how my dad surrounded me and my sisters with so much music growing up that it gave me the feeling I get when listening to good music. I have had many ups and downs over the years that have led me to where I am today. Lots of sacrifices with friends and family and jobs. It was a bumpy road, but I wouldn’t trade it.
In addition to his original songs, his compositions have already been present