When Guitar Girl Magazine first caught up with Bella Lam earlier this year, the Tennessee-born singer-songwriter was already proving difficult to fit neatly into any one musical box. Raised in a family where making music was simply part of life, Lam started on piano at age five, later learned guitar from her father, and even spent time behind the drum kit. Her musical education was just as eclectic: classic country from her Southern mother, rock and metal from her father, and a healthy dose of the sounds that surrounded her growing up in West Tennessee.
For a while, country wasn’t necessarily where Lam thought she would land. Her earliest recordings leaned more toward pop, and she has admitted that she once tried to disguise the very Southern accent that now feels inseparable from her music. Eventually, she stopped trying to outrun her Tennessee roots. The result is a guitar-forward brand of country that leaves plenty of room for the rock influences she grew up hearing.
Stream “Bootfirst” here: https://found.ee/bootfirst
A lot has happened since our last conversation. Lam is now performing more than 100 shows a year, has built an audience of more than 95,000, and earned three nominations for the 2026 Josie Music Awards. Her latest single, “Bootfirst,” also brought several firsts: her first co-write, her first time working with producer Lowell Reynolds, and her first recording session at Nashville’s legendary Blackbird Studio.
Co-written with Jessica Cayne and Kayliann Lowe, “Bootfirst” turns Lam’s tendency to jump into life without overthinking it into an infectious country anthem about taking chances. That idea has spilled beyond the recording itself, with an official line dance created by Madi Marie K—and even a little attention from Lainey Wilson.
In many ways, “Bootfirst” is an especially fitting song for an artist who has chosen to bet on herself. Lam is building her career independently, spending more than 100 nights a year connecting with audiences from the stage and pursuing a profession that, as she readily acknowledges, offers no guarantees.
We caught up with Lam again to talk about “Bootfirst,” making her first record at Blackbird, working with Reynolds, the family legacy behind her love of music, life on the road—and, of course, whether her beloved Gibson Hummingbird “Kitty” is still along for the ride.
The last time we spoke, you told Guitar Girl that your Gibson Hummingbird, “Kitty,” was your go-to songwriting guitar and went everywhere with you. Is Kitty still your number one, and did she play any role in writing or recording “Bootfirst”?
Yes! I still play Kitty for everything I do! She’s my go-to for every show, writing session, and if I’m honest, even when I’m just messing around, fiddling and picking in my room at night. It’s funny, in the co-writing session for “Bootfirst” Jess had her guitar, Kayliann had her piano, and I had Kitty!
Your dad taught you to play guitar and now performs in your band. How has your musical relationship changed now that you’re working alongside him as a fellow musician and bandmate?
Not much! He’s still my dad. We may argue a bit more now, because we’re so similar and we both care so deeply about my career, but it really is just working with my dad!
Your grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from China and encouraged his descendants to learn instruments and be well-rounded. Generations later, you’re the first person in your very musical family to make music your profession. Do you ever think about the fact that, in a way, you’re carrying forward something he started?
Oh, definitely! He passed when I was 12, but I really hope he’s looking down, proud of what I’m doing. Because he was so set on us being musical and well-rounded, I think he’s a big reason I’m pursuing this dream. I carry him wherever I go.
You’ve talked about initially resisting country music and even trying to hide your Southern accent when you sang. With influences ranging from your mom’s classic country to your dad’s rock and metal, what ultimately made you embrace country as the place where all those sides of you could come together?
I think really just realizing that country is who I am. I’m born and raised in Tennessee. I have the roots, I have the twang, and it really is who I am.
Let’s talk about “Bootfirst.” You co-wrote the song with Jessica Cayne and Kayliann Lowe. Where did the idea come from, and how did it develop during that writing session?
I like to come up with a list of titles before I go into a co-write. When I was sitting down to sort of brainstorm, I really was just kind of thinking about jumping in without thinking. I mean, it’s something I do a lot. I’m not joking when I say this, but as soon as that thought came up, “Heartfirst” by Kelsea Ballerini, came on. That’s where the idea for the song came.
The session with Jessica and Kayliann was the perfect place to write it too. It was my first co-write ever, a sort of “bootfirst” moment in itself.
“Bootfirst” has grown into something larger than just a song, with its message about embracing opportunities and taking a leap of faith. What has been your own biggest “bootfirst” moment—one where you took the leap without knowing how it would turn out?
My career! Choosing to pursue music in the way that I am is really scary. This industry is so hard to break into and make a career out of, but I really can’t see myself doing anything else!
“Bella has been an absolute treat to work with. I keep playing her songs for my friends and family, and we all agree — she’s fantastic. Songwriting – check, singing – check, and complete package- double-check,” shared Lowell Reynolds.
Bella has been an absolute treat to work with. I keep playing her songs for my friends and family, and we all agree — she’s fantastic. Songwriting – check, singing – check, and complete package- double-check.
~Lowell Reynolds
Your earlier recordings have evolved considerably from the music you made as a teenager to the more guitar-driven country sound we hear today. What did working with Lowell Reynolds on “Bootfirst” bring out in you that was different from your previous recording experiences?
I love working with Lowell because he’s just so involved in the process. If I do something he doesn’t like, he says it; if he has ideas, he says it. He has me dancing around and getting into the mood of the song, and he’s so hands-on and collaborative.
Was “Bootfirst” your first time recording at Nashville’s legendary Blackbird Studio? What was that experience like, and how did the song evolve from the version you brought into the studio to the finished record?
It was, and oh my gosh, was it amazing! The studio itself is stunning, and it was such a cool environment to work in. Everyone, from Lowell to the studio musicians, was so collaborative and exciting to work with! It really was just somewhere that felt easy to be creative in.
You perform more than 100 shows a year. How has spending that much time onstage shaped you as an artist, and does that live experience influence the energy you want to capture when you step into the recording studio?
It’s one of my favorite parts of what I do! Getting to see the fan reaction in real time is such an adrenaline rush! It’s so much fun to put on a show and entertain.
When I’m in the studio, I always want to create a song that people will love live just as much as they love the studio version.
You partnered with Madi Marie K to create the official “Bootfirst” line dance, which has taken on a life of its own and even caught Lainey Wilson’s attention. How did that collaboration come together, and what has it been like watching fans interact with the song in such a tangible way?
I’ve been a massive fan of Madi and her content for a while. I mentioned it to my publicist, Michelle, and about two weeks before the song came out, she told me that she had reached out to Madi and that she had sent a first draft of the Bootfirst Line Dance.
It was honestly the coolest thing to wake up to! Then when Lainey commented on the post, I thought I was dreaming. Genuinely checked and double-checked that it was actually her account. Like I said, it was the coolest!
Tell us about filming the “Bootfirst” music video and the intimate performance at Blackbird Studio D. How involved were you in shaping the visuals, and was there a favorite—or particularly memorable—moment from either shoot?
Both shoots were my lovely director Karl Weidmann’s creative vision! For the music video, I definitely had thoughts and ideas, like it absolutely had to be a summer pool party, but the storyline and the visuals were all Karl!
My favorite part of that shoot was definitely pushing one of our extras, Gavin, into the pool repeatedly. We just couldn’t get the take right, so we did it a good 30 times.
You’re playing more than 100 shows a year, building your audience independently, and celebrating three 2026 Josie Music Awards nominations. With the message of “Bootfirst” in mind, what’s the next big thing Bella Lam wants to go “bootfirst” into?
I think opening for someone on tour would be amazing! So if anyone’s looking, help a girl out!
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