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Evan Nicole Bell
Bell performing in 2022
Bell performing in 2022
Background information
Birth nameEvan Nicole Bell
Born (1997-02-15) February 15, 1997 (age 27)
Texas, U.S.[1]
Alma materDuke University (BA)
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • multi-instrumentalist
  • producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • piano
Years active2022–present
Labels
  • Hummingbird Records
Websiteevannicolebell.com

Evan Nicole Bell (born February 15, 1997) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. She received notable attention in August 2022 following a viral X video showcasing her singing and playing "Crosscut Saw" by Albert King.

Bell's voice has been described as soulful, sultry, smoky, and powerful.[2][3] Called an "especially gifted singer, songwriter, and guitarist",[4] she plays the electric guitar, classical guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and piano.[1]

Bell's debut extended play (EP), Runaway Girl,[5] was released in January 2024 to critical acclaim. It charted at No. 31 on the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association (IBBA) Most Played Album Top 40[6] and was featured on the Peabody Award-winning radio program King Biscuit Time, the longest running daily radio show in the United States.

Life and career

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Early life and education

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Bell was born in Texas[1] and grew up in Columbia, Maryland.[7] She is a graduate of Duke University.[8]

Bell started playing acoustic and classical guitar in the eighth grade and electric guitar at age 21, when she was gifted an Epiphone Les Paul by her mother.[9] Described by Blues in Britain Magazine as "an old-in-spirit head on young shoulders", she grew up listening to Motown, soul, gospel, and funk.[10] Her upbringing and her interest in African-American history and music theory contributed to her passion for blues and roots music.[1]

Career

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2021–2023: Online presence

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In August 2021, Bell uploaded a video of herself covering "Crosscut Saw" by Albert King to YouTube and Facebook to participate in Play Music on the Porch Day. One year later, in July 2022, the video was shared by a large blues account, where it received over 250,000 views, increasing Bell's Twitter following from 12 to 10,000.[9]

Following her first viral moment, in October 2022, Bell was invited to perform a special Live Session for Public Radio Music Day by NPR Music member station WTMD, who called her "one of the most exciting newcomers on the Baltimore scene".[11] She performed her original music and covers of songs by Koko Taylor and Tracy Chapman. Her performance was one of six chosen from hundreds across the nation to be featured on the front page of NPR Music.[9]

2024–present: Recording career

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Bell released her debut EP, Runaway Girl, on January 11, 2024, to critical acclaim. Music reviewer John Kereiff wrote "[Bell's] advanced finger-picking, electric guitar riffs and sultry voice are sheer bloody magic [...] the sound is breezy, expressive, taut and exciting [...] exceptionally well produced".[12] Keys & Chords Online Music Magazine wrote "it's truly a skill to play the blues in a way that resonates with a mainstream audience, and [Bell] succeeded with brilliance".[13] Writer Esther Kessel-Tamerus wrote "Evan Nicole Bell is a name to remember".[14]

Bell has a significant international audience; her music is in rotation on radio stations in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Poland, Belgium, France, Spain, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and the Netherlands. Her songs were featured by blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa in playlists highlighting "the best" blues, blues rock, and soul blues music.[15]

Music style and influences

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Blues & Rhythm Magazine called Bell "a highly talented multi-instrumentalist".[1] When recording, she sings background vocals and plays every instrument on her songs, excluding drums.[16] When live, she performs with a seven-piece band.[17]

Bell's guitar playing has been described as "fiery",[5] "Hendrixian", and "searing".[3] Her music has been described as a mixture of soul, blues, pop, funk, rock, R&B, jazz, and Americana.[3][4] Online soul music magazine SoulTracks wrote that Bell "mines and embraces the rich history of soul, blues and Americana while at the same time making it decidedly her own."[4]

Bell is a mezzo-soprano.[16] She has cited Koko Taylor[1] and Jimi Hendrix[14] as musical influences. Her vocal and guitar style has been compared to Tracy Chapman, B. B. King, Amy Winehouse, and Sade.[12]

Discography

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Extended plays

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Title EP details
Runaway Girl[5]
  • Released: January 11, 2024
  • Label: Hummingbird Records
  • Formats: Digital

Personal life

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Bell is a documentary photographer and has shown two exhibits of her work.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Stephenson, Mike (Nov 2023). "Blues Youngbloods: Evan Nicole Bell". Blues & Rhythm Magazine (380): 10. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Live Sessions: Evan Nicole Bell". NPR Music. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Clarke, Graham. "What's New". Blues Bytes. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Patryk, Robb (10 August 2022). "First Listen: Introducing Evan Nicole Bell". Soul Tracks. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Marinus, Peter (14 February 2024). "Review: Evan Nicole Bell – Runaway Girl". Bluestown Music. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Most Played Album Top 40 – January 2024". Independent Blues Broadcasters Association. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  7. ^ Hemphill, Corin (20 April 2018). "Evan Nicole Bell: Documenting through photography". The Durham Voice. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Duke Senior Evan Nicole Bell Wins CDS's Julia Harper Day Award". Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. 9 May 2018. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "Evan Nicole Bell: Public Radio Music Day Session". NPR Music. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  10. ^ Richardson, Clive (January 2024). "A Shot of Rhythm & Blues". Blues in Britain Magazine (265): 44. Archived from the original on 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  11. ^ "WTMD hosts live, local music all day long Oct. 26 for Public Radio Music Day 2022". WTMD.org. 19 October 2022. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  12. ^ a b Kereiff, John (22 January 2024). "The Rock Doctor's Hot Wax Album Reviews – Week of Jan 22". Gonzo Okanagan. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  13. ^ Verhaege, Philip. "Evan Nicole Bell: Runaway Girl". Keys and Chords Online Music Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  14. ^ a b Kessel-Tamerus, Esther. "Übersicht Über Die Albumrezensionen: Papooz, Evan Nicole Bell, Ludovico Einaudi Und Mehr". Maxazine. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Viral sensation Evan Nicole Bell to perform debut concert in Catonsville". BmoreArt. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  16. ^ a b Verhagen, Jos (20 January 2024). "EP recensie: Evan Nicole Bell – Runaway Girl". Blues Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Evan Nicole Bell Debut EP 'Runaway Girl'". Keys and Chords Online Music Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Senior Evan Nicole Bell Named Duke Chapel C. Eric Lincoln Fellow". Duke Today. 20 March 2018. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
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