Rising country artist Belles is on a roll. With over 70 million career streams and a new record deal under her belt, she’s proving that heartbreak can be a powerful muse. In an exclusive interview, Belles opened up about her emotional single “Broken In Boots,” the viral rise of her duet “Crazy as Me,” and what fans can expect from her upcoming acoustic tour.
A Visual Story of Heartbreak on Broadway
Belles’ newest music video, “Broken In Boots,” is set on the bustling streets of Nashville’s iconic Broadway. The contrast of lively crowds and the emotional weight of a breakup plays out visually as she walks the same streets where a past relationship began and ended.
“This song was inspired by a true story,” she said. “It was about one of my past relationships where we met, or, well, our first date was on Broadway. Then we ended up breaking up on Broadway a couple months later, and it was this really serendipitous moment of the beginning and ending of a relationship in the same place.”
One of the most poignant scenes was filmed in a two-for-one cowboy boot store, which was an unusual, yet deeply personal choice. “This fight kind of started while we were in that two-for-one cowboy boot store on Broadway. And it’s so crazy because, for a long time, that was such an awful memory for me.” Belles suggested to her director, Sydney, that they try filming inside the same boot store where the breakup had taken place. To her surprise, the store welcomed the idea. Returning years later to shoot a music video in the exact spot where the relationship ended felt surreal.
Shooting the video amidst the chaos of Broadway wasn’t without its challenges. “A lot of people were very confused, because [the director] actually wanted people to walk in front of the camera. That was part of the vibe, as if the camera wasn’t there. But so many people were like, ‘Oh, sorry!’ But we pulled it off.”
Watch Now
The Viral Success of “Crazy as Me”
While “Broken In Boots” dives deep into past heartbreak, her duet “Crazy as Me” with labelmate Blake Wood has taken off in a different direction, straight into viral territory.
“it’s been totally nuts. It was just one of those songs that I didn’t know what to expect,” Belles admitted. “But the first time I posted it, it just started blowing up. Now it has over 20 million views.”
The duet with Blake Wood came together in an unexpectedly spontaneous way. Belles had a recording session scheduled when someone at the label suggested she and Blake try writing a duet. The only day their schedules aligned was the day before the session, so they wrote the song in a single day and recorded it the very next. The process was so impromptu that they were still tweaking lyrics in the studio during the recording. “It was so last minute, but it turned out great,” she said.
Though there’s no official music video yet, they recently filmed a visualizer and are open to a bigger production if the momentum continues. Belles worked closely with her video director, who also happens to be one of her best friends. For the “Crazy as Me” visualizer, her director initially suggested having Belles and Blake Wood do some line dancing. But since both artists admit they’re not exactly the most coordinated (unless there’s a bit of liquid courage involved) they weren’t too excited about that idea. They even tossed around wild concepts like a high-speed car chase, but quickly realized that some of their more outrageous ideas would require a much bigger budget.
“Crazy as Me” Acoustic Tour
With momentum building, Belles is hitting the road on her Crazy as Me Acoustic Tour. The tour will include stripped-down performances across the country, giving fans an up-close and personal experience.
“I’m really excited for this one,” she said. “It’s an acoustic tour, so it’s so fun for me because I can really talk to the audience, tell all the stories behind my songs, and really just take my time and just have fun with it, and change up the set list to be whatever I want it to be,”
The tour kicks off in Nashville and includes several Texas stops, plus a hometown show in Omaha, Nebraska. Fans can also expect to hear new music. “I have so many brand new songs,” she added. “It’s going to be a lot of fun to see my people again.”
Support on the tour will include artists like Charly Reynolds, SJ McDonald, Johnny Gates, Elaina Christina, Averie Bielski, and Rachel Schumacher.
Tour Dates
- 9/8 – Nashville, TN – The Basement*
- 9/12 – Dunn, NC – Bird’s Nest Listening Room
- 9/13– Greenville, SC – Doc’s Tavern*
- 9/19 – Omaha, NE – Buck’s Bar
- 9/25 – Hollywood, CA – The Hotel Cafe
- 10/3 – Lake Orion, MI – 20 Front Street
- 10/5 – Madison, WI – The Bur Oak
- 10/12 – St. Louis, MO – Blue Strawberry
- 10/15 – Austin, TX – Cactus Cafe
- 10/16 – Houston, TX – McGonigal’s Mucky Duck
- 10/17 – Fort Worth, TX – The Cicada
- 10/18 – Conroe, TX – Red Brick Tavern
- 11/7 – Chattanooga, TN – Songbirds
*Full Band
A Family Legacy in Music
Belles’ path to country music was paved early. Raised in Omaha, Nebraska, she grew up surrounded by music. “My mom was actually in a pop harmony band with her three sisters. And my grandma was a jazz singer, so like everyone in my family sings. There’s always been a ton of music in my house.”
After touring fairs and festivals with her mom’s group, she eventually moved to Nashville at 19 to chase her own dream. “I love Nebraska, but I’m really glad that I moved here when I did. It’s just such a special city, and I just love being here with all the music around.”
Looking Ahead
With new music on the way, a national tour, and viral success to her name, Belles is carving out her place in today’s country music landscape. Her blend of vulnerability, strong vocals, and down-to-earth storytelling continues to connect with fans across the country.For more updates on Belles and her music, visit bellesmusic.com.
