Callaghan Belle – Dear Detroit

By starrymag | March 28, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I used to call it “Blonde Rock n Roll” because I thought that sounded cool. But I truly have no clue what that means. [laughs] So, instead I’ll call it dark pop that tells a story.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) The Beatles, Lana Del Rey, Kelly Clarkson, JoJo, The Pretty Reckless, Troye Sivan, Dolly Parton, Led Zeppelin, Aly & AJ

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Dear Detroit.”

 

A) I wrote “Dear Detroit” after a meeting at The Beverly Hills Hotel where I’d been told that my music needed to be “more about guns.”  It was ignorant advice coming from people in such a privileged environment. But it inspired me to write about the internal battle that takes place when you move away. When I first came to Los Angeles, Detroit was still my home. I didn’t feel like I truly fit in either city. So, this is a song about feeling homesick for a sense of belonging.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I’m so excited that people have connected to the song because it came from such a vulnerable, personal place in me. I think they relate because we all feel like we don’t belong sometimes. We all get homesick, we all lose that feeling of security sometimes.

 

Q) When can fans expect a music video on the way for the song?

 

A) The music video will be out later this month! I can’t wait to share it.

 

Q) You’ve written songs for JoJo and Colbie Caillat. What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

 

A) I write both the music and lyrics! In my experience, a song can happen so many different ways. If I’m writing on my own, there’s no process. The music and lyrics happen all at once. Inspiration hits and twenty minutes later there’s a song. When I’m collaborating with other writers there’s more strategy— ideas are passed back and forth, it’s a different kind of magic.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) I produced my first EP by myself. So, I guess you could say too much of a hand? [laughs] At the time, I was being told to find my sound by so many different people, but nobody felt inclined to help. So, I finally decided to give production a try. Once the sound was established a friend of mine did some final tweaks and that was that.

 

Q) Your music has been featured on “Extinction” and in Bye Bye Man. What does that mean to you?

 

A) It means so much. There’s nothing like sitting in a film and hearing your song come on. The writing credit for Bye Bye Man was especially meaningful because it happened so quickly when I moved to Los Angeles. It was my first time working on something like that, so the fact that it made it into the film just left me beaming.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Callaghan Belle performance?

 

A) I aim to put on an intimate, fun show. I want everyone to feel comfortable and heard. Especially with smaller venues, the vibe can be really therapeutic and soothing. Besides that, I’m typically barefoot and wearing flowers.

 

Q) Will there be a full EP or album coming in the near future?

 

A) Yes, my first EP Sovereign is coming out later this year.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you? 

 

A) Performing at Hotel Café was pretty magical. You can truly feel the history in venues like that. I feel like I’m always saying this, but there’s nothing I love more than a story. So, playing in a “story-filled” venue feels really epic. I would love to perform at the El Rey Theatre someday. Do some shows in New York. Madison Square Garden, anyone? [laughs]

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) Ryan Tedder, Lana Del Rey, Savan Kotecha, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson… I honestly have so many ideas for collaborations.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) My friend just recently got me into Terror Jr. Her lyrics are so raw and honest and I really appreciate that. I also love Sasha Sloan—her songs tell a story, which again, I’m here for. I also love what Maren Morris has been releasing lately. “Girl” is a song every girl needs to hear.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) Like everyone else, I have a complicated relationship with social media. [laughs] I love being able to share my life with my fans via social media—whether that’s sharing successes, little insights into my time with my friends, poetry and quotes I love. But it’s also important for me to share the vulnerable stuff sometimes. If someone in my family is sick or if I have a broken heart, I’m not going to hide it. I don’t like to portray sunshine and rainbows when I’m going through a tough time because it’s just not realistic. I want my socials to feel like a safe space for people, not an ideal they have to live up to.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) This is going to sound sappy— But thank you. This has been such a wild, occasionally frustrating ride. But you stuck with me and believed in me. And that’s all I could ever ask for. I hope I can do the same for all of you with my songs.