"The first thing you want is for people to have a good time. If people have a good time together, a lot of their differences disappear. Most music comes from a certain time and place; and possesses a certain identity. The hope is for a song to embody an identity, but transcend it at the same time. The best country music, bluegrass, hip-hop, and blues music reaches well outside of its original audience."

Jesse & Noah: Down the Roots Hole

Jesse & Noah is a Nashville, Tennessee country-rock duo with roots in central Florida, consisting of brothers Jesse Bellamy and Noah Bellamy. Jesse and Noah were raised in Darby, Florida on their family's cattle farm and got an early taste of the touring musician's life, going on the road frequently with their father, David Milton Bellamy of the country-pop duo, the Bellamy Brothers. In 2002, Jesse and Noah moved from Tampa, Florida, to Nashville, Tennessee. Their debut album with Fort Worth-based Smith Music Group titled Nowhere Revisited was released in 2006. Their song, "You're the World", co-written by Jesse Bellamy and David Bellamy, was included on both the Nowhere Revisited album and the Bellamy Brothers' album Jesus Is Coming. Driven Back was released in August 2012 and featured the song "You Could Have Had it All". Brethren (Bellerophon Records) came out in May 2015, an EP of cover versions highlighting sibling harmonies in classic country music, including the Everly Brothers song, "All I Have to Do Is Dream".                                                                  (Photo: Jesse & Noah Bellamy)

Southern Usonia was self-produced at their home studio in Nashville, Tennessee and released October 2016. Rolling Stone Country premiered a video for the single, "This Town Was Built on Heartbreak Songs", filmed at the Nashville Palace and featuring footage of honky tonks on Lower Broadway, and celebrity cameos from Tanya Tucker, T. G. Sheppard, Ronnie McDowell, Deborah Allen, and the Bellamy Brothers. Like the classic sibling duos who preceded them, Jesse and Noah Bellamy share an uncanny communication as singers. But unlike many of them, they do mostly original material. Unlike many who do co-write, they follow the Lennon/McCartney model; each builds a foundation, then gives it to the other for the final polish. They’ve also shown a willingness to explore, to the point that maybe country isn’t even the best description of what they’re doing these days. True, their musical roots show throughout their album, Neon Pike (2018). But what grows from those roots spills across genre lines. Along with fiddles and steel guitars, it’s powered by thundering drums, shredding electric guitar and hefty doses of Americana, rock ’n’ roll and elements that are harder to categorize. Jesse & Noah will be releasing new music soon.

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the American Roots music influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

Jesse: Playing music has allowed us the opportunity to travel and experience the world.

Noah: When you're playing American Roots music, you represent a certain culture. Traveling the world and playing music can help you to see yourself the way others see you. Hopefully, you gain some awareness and perspective.

Where does duo's creative drive come from? What do you hope is the message of duo's music and songs?

Jesse: Creativity comes from multiple sources as an artist you just try and follow down whatever rabbit holes it takes you and discern any message it’s trying to give you.

Noah: We have two writers, so there is a little bit of a competitive element, but we’re always trying to make each other's songs better. We’ve been more into story songs lately. Hopefully people identify with the stories and characters in the songs. It’s all about creating a connection.

Which meetings have been the most important experiences? What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Jesse: Met Steve Earle once at the Belcourt theatre in Nashville. He told me, “Enjoy the show” and I did!

Noah: We were very lucky to get to meet some of the legends who are no longer with us. Merle Haggard, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Waylon Jennings, Vern Gosdin. They were very unique individuals. I don’t remember any specific advice, but the takeaway from meeting all of them was probably: be yourself…at all costs, be yourself.

"Creativity comes from multiple sources as an artist you just try and follow down whatever rabbit holes it takes you and discern any message it’s trying to give you." (Photo: Country-rock duo Jesse & Noah)

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

Jesse: Recording with our band at Johnny Cash’s cabin.

Noah: The first time playing with Nashville session players. I had met some of them and watched them work, but being on the floor with them was a different experience. Having Paul Franklin play my licks back to me was quite an experience. Growing up, Dire Straits “On Every Street” was one of our favorite albums.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

Jesse: There’s always good and bad music in any era and sometimes it even takes a few years to figure out that some of that bad music was actually good music all along.

Noah: Well, at the moment, I miss full-capacity live shows. We all took it for granted before the pandemic. We hope live music will make a full recovery. For the sake of the whole world, it must.

Why do you think that the Nashville music scene continues to generate such a devoted following?

Jesse: Music is a big chunk of Nashville’s history. There’s no other place on the planet like it.

Noah: Nashville's music scene is different from most others, it's multi-generational. It has more to do with passing down traditions than rejecting them. New York, Los Angeles, and London have scenes that come and go with micro-generational trends. They’re all ready to kick you out when you turn 30. Nashville remains consistent and appeals to a wide demographic of people.

"When you're playing American Roots music, you represent a certain culture" (Photo: Jesse & Noah Bellamy)

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want it to affect people?

Jesse: Hopefully it transcends any socio-cultural implications and gets directly to the heart.

Noah: The first thing you want is for people to have a good time. If people have a good time together, a lot of their differences disappear. Most music comes from a certain time and place; and possesses a certain identity. The hope is for a song to embody an identity, but transcend it at the same time. The best country music, bluegrass, hip-hop, and blues music reaches well outside of its original audience.

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really want to go for a whole day?

Jesse: Any Prince show.

Noah: Probably Dallas in 1936 to watch Robert Johnson record. I think many guitarists would agree with me.

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