Based in New York City, Ilan Bell is an indie singer-songwriter who has generated widespread anticipation for his debut album, American Love. Joining forces with Grammy award-winning producer Paul Falcone (Jay-Z, Beyonce, Tom Odell) as well as indie bands TOLEDO and Vern Matz, Ilan Bell delivers a series of understated ballads alongside more anthemic tracks that callback to the 60s and 70s while still pushing the sonic envelope. As a writer-producer, Ilan Bell has been called upon to write and produce for several artists whose work appears regularly on film and TV. He also played a leading role in helping launch the largest songwriting camp in New York City history.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Ilan Bell, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What drew you to the music industry?
Nothing really drew me to the music industry, but rather I was drawn to the music. I’ve been writing songs ever since I was a kid and I just kept doing it. Somewhere along the way, the industry just sort of happened.
What is the funniest or weirdest question that you have ever been asked in an interview?
I always think it’s funny when I get asked about relationships—or better yet who a song is about. It’s a little bit like a asking magician to give away the secret to a trick.
Your latest song is 'Through It All'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
It was a really hard one to write, so it took over a year to finish the lyrics. I just really wanted to find the right words. So, I had dozens of verses and a few choruses. Eventually, I just sat with them and forced myself to be decisive. But I still kept four verses in the song. That’s a lot.
What are your songs about?
I’m not sure I can pinpoint one thing, but I think that at least this album tried to look at America through some of the people I’ve fallen in and out of love with—hence the title, “American Love.” There’s not much more I want to giveaway because I think that part of the fun is making sense of the lyrics and I wouldn’t want to deprive the listener of that.
What is the most trouble that you ever have gotten into?
Oh man, let’s go off the record for this one…
If you could date any other musician, who would it be and why?
My friends could answer this one for me cause they all know I’m obsessed with Phoebe Bridgers. She’s wildly talented and always seem to tune out the noise of the industry. She writes without compromising on anything. It’s not an easy thing to do and I respect her immensely for it.
If you can have your fans remember one thing about you, what would it be?
I’m less interested in anyone remembering me than I am in people remembering my songs. If anyone remembers the lyrics when I’m gone, then it’ll all have been worth it.
When were you generally fulfilled in your position as an artist?
I think some artists live to perform, but I’m not really wired that way. It’s the writing that does it for me. Making songs out of thin air—there’s just nothing quite like it.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
If you really want to give music a go, just know what you’re getting into. Chances are it’ll most likely take at least 3-5 years to build something even remotely resembling a career. But if you’re willing to put in that kind of time and all the work that goes with it, good things will come.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m focusing on writing and producing songs for other artists for a while. Once I’ve cleared my head enough from the first album, I’ll start writing the second one. I’m not quite there yet, though.