BELLE TATUM TALKS BOYFRIEND
"I’d kick myself forever if I didn’t try"

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.
An early dream for you was one of Broadway stardom, being a huge fan of dramatic storytelling through music. How do you relate to that old dream now. Is the theatrical drama something that lives on in your pop?
One way that theatrical storytelling lives on in my writing is definitely through “character”-songs and my ability to write about and step into made-up scenarios. I’m only eighteen, so that definitely limits the life experience I can draw from in my writing. I definitely utilized this technique while writing my latest song, 'Boyfriend', which is a story of a dramatic love triangle which luckily I have evaded so far in my life.
How did you start writing your own songs?
My mom had been telling me that I sounded so beautiful singing other people’s songs. And she was the one who pushed me to try writing my own. Naturally because it was my mother that made this suggestion to me and I was fifteen years old I did not want to do it. I was self conscious about sharing what I held so close to my chest. My feelings. All while simultaneously being far too proud to try something I would not immediately excel at. Such was my dilemma.
What did you write your first song about?
Since my mom wanted me to write songs so bad I decided to write one just for her, inspired by the story of my parents’ love, I could make my mother cry and get her off my back in one fell swoop. So, I wrote ‘Stephanie’ for her. As I sang to my parents I couldn’t help but notice their reaction to the song. It wasn’t very good but still they exchanged playful glances at the mention of my mom’s strict curfew, and of my dad’s unwavering pursuit of her. I wasn’t the best songwriter yet. Not even close! But if I could make people feel seen the way music sees me, that would be all I need to be content. So, that is all I want to do now.
What was it like leaving home to follow your dreams in Nashville, then only sixteen years old?
I grew up a very independent child and so I felt ready for more independence when I moved out at sixteen. This is not to say I was ready but I felt it, the door was wide open to me and it felt foolish not to walk through it. Especially when I was planning to attend a four-year college in the fall, but I was totally unsure why I was even doing so.
Music has always been my dream and my family and I both knew I’d kick myself forever if I didn’t try. It was an intense adjustment period, learning to be on my own for the first time, finishing up my college degree online, and feeling like a kid thrown into a world of adults. It was difficult. I had trouble connecting with people my age, who were in high school and living with their parents. It took time, but I found amazing friends, and the struggle resulted in some awesome music that I’m very excited to share with everyone.
What artists inspired you early on?
Taylor Swift is undeniably one of the people that inspired me to write. She created her own sound that is now so immediately recognizable, I really think she will be inspiring to people for decades to come. I also love Madonna and Kate Bush, I love the flair and the personality that bleeds from everything they do and the opulent glamour of their personas.
I adore Dolly Parton for this same reason, she does not seem to conform. And I think that is what people love about her, she inspires me with the knowledge that I don’t have to pretend to be someone else in order to make it.
What started this song, what inspired the story of 'Boyfriend'?
'Boyfriend' was a funny writing session. I am often inspired by media and film when I’m going through a season of writer’s block, and I was thinking about the interesting relationship dynamics I could write about based on the TV shows I was watching at the time. Shows like 'Gilmore Girls', and 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' specifically. I wanted to write something dramatic like a Miranda Lambert song about murdering an ex boyfriend. I brought this idea to one of my closest personal friends, Zoe Maughon, and we wrote the song together at a coffee shop.
What was it like filming your first music video for this release?
I had an incredible time writing the script for the video with my boss, Micah Otano, and one of my best friends in the entire world, Devyn Penrose. She is not a professional script-writer but she needs to be one. I will forever be thankful I got to collaborate with not only my wonderful boss, but my best friend on this project. The music video shoot was surreal. The amount of people that rallied to make it happen made it a very emotional experience for me. I was very grateful for the way my team showed up and worked tirelessly for this video to be awesome. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.
Do you have more singles coming soon?
I do have a couple of more singles dropping this summer, 'Dancing In My Room' will release June 20. They are some of my most fun, and, for lack of a better word, summery!
What will your upcoming album explore?
This album really is a coming-of-age story that is very true to my life and I can not wait to reveal it in parts to everyone, song by song.
Are you able to feel all the support from those listening to your music?
I feel so insanely grateful for the people that are invested in me and in my music, words can not describe. Before I started writing songs, I would excuse it to the people who encouraged me to try by insisting that I had nothing to say, at least that was until writing very quickly became my life and my main outlet. I am so thankful for the support that fuels me. And allows me the opportunity to keep going. I owe a massive thanks to my family and to my team who took a major chance on me. I also want to thank the people who listen who didn't know me but have decided to invest in my journey. Thank you. I am not a seasoned professional or a master of my craft yet. Sometimes I don’t notice that my guitar is slightly out of tune and it’s possible that I moved out of my parent’s house too early, all I know for sure is that I have my own stories to tell and I hope in earnest that you’ll stick around to hear more.