At just 23 years old, Bella Lam is proving that country music’s next wave isn’t waiting around for permission. With more than 49,000 followers on TikTok, over 100 shows a year on the road with Bella Lam and The Boys, and a fearless pen that turns heartbreak into high-voltage anthems, the Nashville-born, West Tennessee-raised artist is carving out her own lane in modern country.
Her latest single, “Take It Out On My Guitar,” is a hook-driven, guitar-forward breakup anthem that blends raw vulnerability with a rebellious edge. Co-written with Lauren McLamb and Chris Rafetto and produced by Matthew Morrisey, the track channels heartache into something cathartic, loud, and unapologetically powerful. It follows fan favorites like “Tears In My Tequila,” showcasing an artist stepping confidently into her next chapter.
In this Q&A, Bella opens up about the moment the song clicked in the writing room, the scars behind the strings, the influence of country’s fiercest female voices, and how she balances nonstop touring, songwriting discipline, and finishing her music degree. She also shares the inspiration behind her creative “Write It, Don’t Text It” breakup hotline and what she hopes fans feel when the final chorus fades.
You just released “Take It Out On My Guitar” on February 13th. What was the emotional spark behind this song, and do you remember the moment it really clicked in the writing room?
Yes. I have a book where I keep title ideas. I remember we wrote this at Lauren McLamb’s house. When we went over there, it was a real trip. It was in the same neighborhood that I lived as a little girl before I moved to Jackson. My mom took me past our old house and showed me where she would walk my sister and me.
I came up with the title “Take It Out On My Guitar” while listening to Taylor Swift’s “Lover.” We were sitting in Lauren’s living room, throwing around ideas. She was flipping through my title book, trying to find something to write about while Chris Raffetto picked at his guitar. We came upon my title, “Take It Out On My Guitar.” And all of us were struck by it, and knew that was our song.
The title alone is so visual and relatable. What does “taking it out on your guitar” mean to you personally, as an artist and as a human going through real stuff?
There’s a lyric in the bridge to “Lover” that goes “with every guitar string scar on my hand.” I remember hearing that line and using that as an influence on “Take It Out On My Guitar.” The scars on our fingers are the passion we put into our art, whether for better or for worse. In this case, for the worst possible way. This song is an ode to all the best badass breakup songs from the baddest female country singers that came before. Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, and Natalie Maines.
You co-wrote the song with Lauren McLamb and Chris Rafetto. What did each of you bring into the room that helped shape the final version of the song?
The songwriting process is very organic and collaborative. We were sitting around the living room with our guitars. We had the title and started tossing out different lines and melodies, playing off each other. That’s what’s so much fun about cowriting in Nashville. You have people with different perspectives, and there’s no judgment- everyone brainstorms, and you just go for it. Then you fine-tune and try different things. You can really let loose, and magic can really happen.
I told him I wanted lots of guitar and lots of rock/alternative elements to sort of embody the “taking it out on my guitar.”
How did producer Matthew Morrisey help elevate the track sonically? Was there anything in the production that surprised you once you heard the final mix?
Oh absolutely. Mathew Morrisey is a genius. He has worked with breakout artists like Lily Rose and powerhouse artists like Darius Rucker.
I was totally blown away working with him, but I feel like when I went in there, we totally hit it off. I remember before I went into the session, I told him I wanted lots of guitar and lots of rock/alternative elements to sort of embody the “taking it out on my guitar.”
He told me before the session that he was listening to his favorite punk/alternative albums for inspiration, and it shone through in his production. The bad-ass country girl vibe was there.
This song feels like a big, hook-driven country anthem, but it’s also very raw. How do you balance vulnerability with writing something that still feels powerful and fun to sing live?
The fun, anthemic breakup songs are my favorite ones to write and sing. Having a great hook and chorus really gets a crowd going. When you are playing a song with a great chorus, and you see the audience getting into it and singing along, there is nothing like it. Breakups are sad, but the songs that help you heal from
them are really fun. The “Before He Cheats” and “Better Than Revenge” songs are exactly those kinds of songs. “Gunpowder and Lead” and “Mama’s Broken Heart” are huge breakup anthems, and they have a “killer” message. I think really when writing them, you must be in the mindset that you are over it (even if you aren’t) and to sort of have fun with it despite the heartache. It’s very therapeutic.
“Take It Out On My Guitar” follows singles like “Try Harder”, “Move On,” and “Tears In My Tequila.” Do you see these songs as chapters of the same story, or snapshots of different moments in your life?
I think I’d categorize them as chapters from two separate books. “Move On” and “Try Harder” feel like a prequel to me. I was so young, and I’ve grown so much as an artist and performer since then, but they taught me so much about the process.
“Tears In My Tequila” and “Take It Out On My Guitar” are definitely another chapter. They are Bella Lam, five years later. I’ve been writing and playing so much more. First open mics and restaurants, then bars and clubs, now touring different cities. I’ve been writing with more and more people, so it’s totally a different chapter now. Five years from now, I’m sure I’ll be making music, but hopefully I’ll continue to evolve.
You’ve launched the “Write It, Don’t Text It” breakup hotline, which is such a creative way to involve your fans. What inspired that idea, and what have the messages taught you about what your listeners are going through?
Reddit stories are very big on the internet right now. In fact, I find myself mid-doom scroll listening to them. I think this was a fun way to take that and use it to involve fans in my release. I think that people take breakups hard and want to talk about them. I just gave them a place to do it.
Their stories have taught me that everyone goes through heavy heartache; it comes with giving your heart away. I just hope that the release of “Take It Out On My Guitar” can give them a bit of comfort, despite that.
Hearing fans’ unfiltered emotions can be heavy. Has listening to those voicemails changed the way you think about your responsibility as a songwriter or storyteller?
I’ve laughed my butt off at some of the stories that have been so funny. Some are so sad; I’ve cried for days. Some of the stories… just downright shocking! It takes an emotional toll listening to their stories. Especially since these messages come straight from the heart. At the same time, I am so blessed that my fans trust me enough to share their deepest secrets and intimate thoughts with me and to let me share them with the world. I never realized that as a singer-songwriter I could have such an effect on others. For me, songwriting has always been cathartic. Putting my feelings and emotions out there in a way that exposes me, but lets it all out. But at the same time, I had always hoped that someone would love the music and maybe some people would identify with what I was going through at the time.
You’ve built a huge audience on TikTok while also touring over 100 shows a year. How do you balance creating content online with staying grounded in live performance and songwriting?
There is a craft and discipline to everything. I write a song a day, whether it’s a good day or a bad day, because songwriting is a craft. Some songs are good, and most are awful. I do it as an exercise, like going to the gym. TikTok and social media are how I get to show my fans a different side of me that they might never get to see. What happens behind the scenes. How the sausage is made, so to speak. Sometimes it’s a vlog about traveling to a show, sometimes it’s just goofing off with the band.
Live performance is where it gets real. It’s hard to fake it when you are three feet away from a fan. They can hear your pick hit the strings, your voice right out of your mouth, the cymbals from the drums, and they know when a string breaks and you look them right in the eyes. It’s as real as it gets.
Speaking of touring—you play constantly across the Southeast with Bella Lam and The Boys. How has being on the road shaped you as a performer over the past year?
Touring can be tough. At this point, all of us are roadies, so there’s that. The stamina of playing 3 to 4-hour sets makes your voice and body overall more fit. Especially when you consider that you set up, sound check, do the show, tear down, travel, and do it all over again the next day. It can be grueling, but I love it. You learn how to take care of your voice, but at the same time, it gets stronger too, and more dynamic. Your shoulders get strong. Your audience interaction gets better and more genuine.
My dad is a talented pianist and guitarist. He taught me to play guitar …
You’re a multi-instrumentalist. Which instruments do you play, and how does switching between them influence the way you write or arrange songs?
I have always been a singer from the time I could speak. Of course, being Asian American means I started with piano when I was about five years old. My dad is a talented pianist and guitarist. He taught me to play guitar, and I guess that’s the next instrument I learned. When I was little, his friend used to come over to the house, and they would jam. He was the drum line teacher at a local high school and an amazing drummer in his own right. He gave me drum lessons. We had a band where I would play the drums and sing.
As far as songwriting goes, I frequently write on my guitar, it’s a Gibson Hummingbird named Kitty. I take her everywhere with me. She has a great tone, and I just love her. I’ve written several songs on the piano. We have a grand piano in the kitchen at my parents’ house. The mood and tone are just so expressive. Also, when I’m thinking about arrangements, the piano lays it all out.
Sometimes when I’m feeling silly, I write a ditty on the ukulele. I’ve written several great ones on that. It makes me feel so happy.
You were born in Nashville and raised in West Tennessee. How did those environments shape your musical identity, especially as an Asian American artist in country music?
I’ve always been exposed to different types of music: the soul music from Memphis, country music from Nashville, and now the bluegrass of East Tennessee. Not only that, but my family exposed me to a lot of music. My dad is from upstate New York and was always listening to Metal, Classic Rock, and Psychedelic music. My mom, being from right outside Nashville, is an authority on all things classic country; she literally lived it when all of Tennessee was a small town. My grandfather loved classical music and played violin and piano for me when I was young. They taught me that, in order to grow as an artist and songwriter, you need to listen and take inspiration from everything. They helped expose me to so much music: taking the family on trips to see Elton John in Las Vegas, Iron Maiden in Nashville, Billy Joel and the Foo Fighters in Memphis, Broadway shows, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. And of course, we were always going to Memphis and Nashville. And they taught me to immerse myself in different types of music. To learn about the music, about the roots of the music, and about the musicians and traditions behind the music.
You’ve already crossed off performing at the Bluebird Café—an iconic milestone for songwriters. What did that moment mean to you, and what’s still at the very top of your bucket list?
Playing at The Bluebird Café was amazing. The whole experience is just like you said, an iconic milestone for songwriters. The ambience. Being inside the great walls where Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks were discovered, and playing on the same stage where Kathy Mattea and Keith Urban performed, was just incredible.
There are other stages I would die to play on. The Bridgestone in Nashville, Madison Square Garden, and The Sphere. The top of the list is The Grand Ole Opry! It’s the Mother Church and The Home of Country Music.
You’re finishing your music degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga while juggling touring and releases. What’s been the biggest lesson in time management—or self-belief—that you’ve learned through that balancing act?
My planner is my best friend. I’ve never been a super organized person when it comes to time management, so I’ve learned a lot about it recently. I think that first off, making sure I write everything down. If I just leave it in my brain or my messages, it will get lost.
I also have a great support system; my friends and family are understanding if I don’t get to see them so often, and my professors are super supportive of my career. A big shoutout to everyone over at UTC’s music department for being such a big support, Go Mocs!
When fans listen to “Take It Out On My Guitar,” by the time the song ends, what do you hope they feel?
Well, I hope they decide not to text their ex first off.
On a more serious note, I hope they really enjoy the song for what it is: a down-home country banger. I hope they share it with their friends. I hope they enjoy listening to it because they like the music, the singing, and the lyrics.
I also hope that the lyrics mean something to them. I hope they realize that one breakup doesn’t determine their worth. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. It might hurt now, but they are strong and beautiful, and they’ll get through it.
Finally, for young artists watching your journey and thinking, “Maybe I can do this too,” what advice would you give them about turning emotion into art instead of letting it hold them back?
Don’t hold back. I know a lot about feeling like something is impossible. I was a preemie, born so early that I was in the NICU with a breathing tube. This led to me having severe speech impediments and poor fine motor skills. To this day, I still hold my pen funny, and if you listen carefully, I still have a tiny lisp.
I used to feel like performing and releasing music like I do now was impossible but look at me now. I’m living my dream playing music every day. So, to anyone reading this feeling like something is holding them back from their dreams, you never know until you take that jump. Don’t give up, don’t back down, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. If you love it enough and if you put in the work, you can.
