On the Record with Poppy Reid

In this episode, Kaylee Bell opens up about the long road behind her so-called “overnight success” from growing up in New Zealand where country music didn’t exist on the radio, to becoming one of the region’s biggest modern country exports.

She talks candidly about spending nearly two decades grinding without guarantees, being told releasing a tribute song could be “career suicide,” and why trusting her instincts even when the industry pushed back changed everything. Kaylee breaks down how songs like Keith and Cowboy Up came to life, what interpolation really means, and why fan connection now matters more than gatekeepers.

Beyond the music, this conversation goes deep into the realities of being a female artist in country music the double standards, the business side no one teaches you, and the pressure to look perfect while holding everything together. Kaylee also shares her deeply personal health journey, years in and out of hospital, being told she might never have children, and the emotional shock of discovering she was pregnant right as her career reached a new level.

This episode is about resilience, risk, self-belief, and redefining success on your own terms proving that you can chase big dreams, speak up, become a mother, and still do meaningful, creative work.

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Follow Poppy :
https://instagram.com/itspoppyreid/

Follow Kaylee Bell :
https://instagram.com/kayleebellmusic/

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https://instagram.com/itscuriousmedia/

Jacob Banks makes music that feels ancient and futuristic all at once. His baritone carries the weight of gospel fire, while his production moves between West African rhythms, UK garage, blues grit, and cinematic soul. Born in Nigeria, raised in the UK, andoriginally trained as a civil engineer, Jacob didn’t pursue music seriously until 21 — but every chapter of his life has shaped the artist he is today.

In this episode, we will visit Village, the 2018 debut album that explored identity, survival, heartbreak, and belonging. A record that has now crossed 300M+ streams world wide, Village marked Jacob’s rise from early SoundCloud uploads tosold-out international tours, FIFA soundtracks, major sync placements in Lucifer, Suits, and Netflix dramas, and a reputation as one of the most distinctive storytellers of his generation.
Across two albums, an EP, and a three-part anthology, Jacob has continued reinventing his sound — but today, we go deep into the creation of Village : the emotional palette,the risks he took, the stories behind the songs, and why the album still resonates seven years later.
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Follow Poppy :
Instagram.com/itspoppyreid/
 
Follow Jacob Banks :
Instagram.com/mrjacobbanks/

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Instagram.com/itscuriousmedia/

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If you love songwriting, pop history, creativity, or personal reinvention, this episode is for you

Shelly Peiken is a two-time Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum songwriter whose music has shaped the soundtrack of pop culture. She’s written some of the most iconic songs of the last 30 years including “Bitch” (Meredith Brooks), “What a Girl Wants” (Christina Aguilera), “Almost Doesn’t Count” (Brandy), and countless others recorded by Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, and more.
In this episode, Shelly opens up about:– Her 10-year struggle before her first hit– The unexpected moment that inspired “Bitch”– Writing hits in an era before social media– The shock of hearing her song on the radio for the first time– Why modern pop has become a “wordplay competition”– How streaming destroyed songwriter income– The fight for songwriter rights and transparency– The rise of AI in music and why originality is more important than ever– Her creative shift into writing musicals--------Follow Poppy :Instagram.com/itspoppyreid/Follow Shelly PeikenIntsagram.com/shellypeikenFollow Curious MediaInstagram.com/itscuriousmedia/--------
If you love songwriting, pop history, creativity, or personal reinvention, this episode is for you.

Nothing but respect for Ocean Alley for this.....#OceanAlley #FiredTheProducer #BehindTheMusic #CreativeDifferences#MusicIndustryTruths #BandDecisions #ArtistJourney

#OceanAlley #ChasingTrends #StayAuthentic #TheTruth#MusicIntegrity #ArtistMindset #CreativeFreedom