The Bandwich Tapes

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with country singer and songwriter Makenzie Phipps for a conversation about small-town roots, faith, songwriting, performance, and the experience of stepping onto one of music’s biggest television stages.

Makenzie grew up in Bluefield, Virginia, near the West Virginia line, and began singing in church when she was four years old. We talk about the support she still receives from her hometown, the transition from a small community to Nashville, and how years of performing taught her that singing the notes is only one part of connecting with an audience.

We also discuss the growth she has experienced as a songwriter. Makenzie explains how writing her own material changed the way she listens to lyrics and approaches storytelling, and why she wants listeners to believe and feel the story behind every song she sings.

A major part of our conversation focuses on her experience on The Voice. Makenzie shares the pressure of waiting for her blind audition, learning that only one place remained, and stepping onto the stage after nearly convincing herself she would not get the opportunity. Snoop Dogg turned his chair at the final moment, making Makenzie the last singer chosen for a team that season.

Makenzie also tells the story behind “Devil Ain’t in Hell,” her duet with fellow The Voice contestant Aubrey Nicole. The two wrote the song late one night while working on the show in California, later recording it with producer Grady Saxman at Saxman Studios. What began as an unplanned hotel-room co-write became a lasting musical connection and a new chapter in Makenzie’s career.
Key Takeaways
Growing up in Bluefield, Virginia, taught Makenzie to appreciate community, support, and the opportunities that come with pursuing music.
Music from the Episode
Devil Ain't in Hell - Makenzie Phipps
About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a music interview podcast hosted by Brad Williams. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with musicians, songwriters, producers, and other creative artists about their careers, influences, collaborations, musical craft, and the experiences that shape their work.

Connect with the Show

Email: contact@thebandwichtapes.com

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with singer-songwriter Celeste Marie Wilson for a conversation about songwriting, identity, performance, and the long road toward becoming the artist she always wanted to be.

With her debut album, Southern American Princess, on the way, Celeste shares how the project has become more than just a collection of songs. We talk about embracing Southern roots after once wanting to escape them, how poetry naturally evolved into songwriting, and why place, family, and storytelling have become central to her artistic voice.

We also spend time discussing the craft behind the music. Celeste talks about developing her voice over more than a decade of dedicated work, the importance of vocal health, recording in the studio with an open mind, and why collaboration often leads to performances she never could have imagined on her own.

Along the way, we dive into musical theater, songwriting influences like Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Janis Joplin, and Kristin Chenoweth, the experience of winning a Josie Music Award, and the thoughtful process of assembling an album that tells a complete story from beginning to end. It's an honest conversation about finding confidence in your own voice, both musically and personally.
Key Takeaways
 Celeste discusses how Southern American Princess became an exploration of Southern identity, heritage, and personal growth. 
 She explains why she considers herself a writer first and a singer second, with songwriting rooted in poetry and storytelling. 
 Musical theater helped shape her approach to live performance, from stage presence to visual presentation and audience engagement. 
 She shares her disciplined philosophy on vocal health, including regular coaching, fitness, and the protection of her instrument. 
 Recording sessions are collaborative, and she intentionally leaves her ego behind so producers, engineers, and musicians can shape the songs together. 
 Celeste reflects on winning a Josie Music Award and how trusting her instincts ultimately led her to opportunities in Nashville. 
 The conversation explores why album sequencing still matters and how a carefully ordered record creates a meaningful listening experience. 
Music from the Show
Marie - Celeste Marie Wilson
About the Show

The Bandwich Tapes is a long-form interview podcast in which I sit down with musicians, songwriters, composers, producers, and artists to explore the creative process behind their music. Rather than focusing on biographies, these conversations dive into artistic philosophy, collaboration, craft, career development, and the stories that shape the people making today's music.

Connect with the Show

Email: contact@thebandwichtapes.com

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with country singer and songwriter Trey Calloway for a conversation about authenticity, tradition, performance, and the responsibility that comes with carrying country music forward.

Trey grew up singing in church, where he learned early how music can bring people together. We talk about the influence of his Pentecostal upbringing, watching his father preach, and how those experiences shaped his instincts as an entertainer and his ability to connect with an audience. We also discuss the lessons he learned playing honky-tonks and working his way through the Myrtle Beach music scene.

Trey explains why he wants his music to remain unmistakably country while still sounding current. He reflects on the influence of artists including George Jones, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Loretta Lynn, and Merle Haggard, as well as the Southern rock music of Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band, and Molly Hatchet.

We also dig into Trey’s approach to songwriting. His songs explore working people, family, heartbreak, faith, redemption, and the lives he observes around him. Trey talks about drawing inspiration from conversation, writing about his father’s life as a construction worker, and trying to create songs that hold a mirror up to ordinary experience.

Trey also shares the story behind his recording of “Slide,” a song previously recorded by Gary Allan and written by Ross Ellis, Alex Kline, and Michael Whitworth. He explains why the song felt personal enough to become his own, the importance of honoring great outside songs, and why country music still needs strong relationships between singers and professional songwriters.

Key Takeaways
Trey believes country music can honor its history while still sounding fresh, modern, and personal.
Growing up in a Pentecostal church taught him how to communicate with an audience and make music feel communal.
His years in the Myrtle Beach music scene taught him how to lead a band, manage production, run a show, and treat music as a business.
Moving to Nashville required Trey to start over, accept a smaller role, and rebuild his career in a more competitive environment.
Trey approaches songwriting as a way to observe people and turn conversations, family experiences, and everyday struggles into songs.
Many of his working-class songs are inspired by his father, who spent his life in construction and other forms of physical labor.
Recording “Slide” reinforced Trey’s belief that a singer does not have to write a song to deliver it honestly and make it feel personal.
Music from the Episode
Slide - Trey Calloway
About the Podcast
The Bandwich Tapes is a music interview podcast hosted by Brad Williams. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with musicians, songwriters, producers, and other creative artists about their careers, influences, collaborations, musical craft, and the experiences that shape their work.

Connect with the Show

Email: contact@thebandwichtapes.com

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with brothers Jesse and Noah Bellamy to talk about their outstanding new album, The Sunshine Shop, and what it means to build music around family, trust, and years of playing together. We discuss why recording with the same band they tour with gives the album its live energy, and how they found a studio environment that captured their sound without overproducing it. 

Our conversation naturally turns to family harmony, and the unique connection siblings share when they sing together. Jesse and Noah reflect on growing up surrounded by music, the influence of classic country, rock, soul, and gospel, and how artists like The Louvin Brothers, The Everly Brothers, Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, Marty Robbins, and Don Williams continue to shape their musical identity. 

We also talk about life in Nashville, navigating the music business as members of the Bellamy family, and how their goals have evolved over time. Rather than chasing record deals or industry expectations, they've reached a place where they can simply make the music they believe in and let the songs lead the way. 

Along the way, we discuss memorable collaborations on The Sunshine Shop, including appearances from Tess Frizzell and Riders in the Sky, their songwriting process as brothers, and why they're already looking ahead to the next record while continuing to let this one find its audience. 

Key Takeaways
 Jesse and Noah intentionally recorded The Sunshine Shop with their touring band to preserve the chemistry and feel they had already developed on stage. 
 Family harmony comes naturally, but years of performing together refine phrasing, blend, and musical instincts. 
 Their influences stretch well beyond traditional country, drawing from soul, gospel, classic rock, and artists like Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Marty Robbins, and Don Williams. 
 Nashville—and the music industry itself—has changed dramatically since they arrived, leading them to focus more on artistic independence than industry expectations. 
 Collaborations with Tess Frizzell and Riders in the Sky grew out of genuine relationships and mutual respect for country music traditions. 
 Rather than scheduling formal co-writing sessions, both brothers write independently and allow the strongest songs to emerge naturally. 
 They're already preparing material for their next album while continuing to refine older songs through live performance. 
Music from the Episode
 I Told a Lie — Jesse & Noah Bellamy
About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast where I sit down with musicians, composers, producers, and artists to explore the stories behind the music. Rather than focusing solely on career highlights, these conversations delve into creativity, collaboration, musicianship, songwriting, recording, performance, and the experiences that shape an artist's musical life.

Connect with the Show

Email: contact@thebandwichtapes.com

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with singer, songwriter, producer, author, and visual artist Kelly Lang for a conversation about creativity, confidence, country music, and the experiences that have shaped her life and work.

Kelly and I begin by discussing the many forms her creativity takes, from songwriting and recording to painting, producing, and creating videos. She talks about learning to move between those disciplines, the freedom that comes from no longer being afraid to fail, and the challenge of navigating social media without letting a single negative voice outweigh the support of an entire audience.

We also discover that Kelly and I share an unusual part of our musical histories: we both appeared on Star Search. Kelly reflects on competing as a young artist, navigating unexpected changes during the show, and why she is grateful that her experience took place before social media became part of every televised performance.

Kelly also shares stories from growing up around Conway Twitty, whose road manager was her father. She remembers hearing Conway test new songs for family and friends, sitting beside the stage as audiences responded to him, and realizing at an early age that she wanted to create that same kind of connection. We discuss her song “Goodbye Darlin’,” written in Conway’s honor, and the songwriting lesson she learned from Harlan Howard: say as much as possible with as few words as necessary.

Our conversation also explores Kelly’s growth as a producer, the confidence she has developed in the studio, and the emotional perspective that comes from experience. Twenty-two years after a breast cancer diagnosis, Kelly says she is less interested in chasing fame and more interested in creating music that helps someone through a difficult day. She also introduces her album Jealous Green Eyes and the single “Never Met a Man I Didn’t Love.”

Key Takeaways
Kelly sees songwriting, painting, producing, and video creation as connected parts of a larger creative life.
Her experience on Star Search taught her to adapt quickly, perform under pressure, and trust herself at a young age.
Growing up around Conway Twitty gave Kelly an early understanding of songwriting, performance, and the connection between an artist and an audience.
Harlan Howard taught her to write directly and use as few words as possible while preserving the song’s emotional meaning.
Kelly has become more confident about expressing her musical ideas and making final production decisions on projects bearing her name.
Life experience has deepened the way she writes and interprets songs, giving her greater empathy and emotional perspective.
More than two decades after her breast cancer diagnosis, Kelly now measures success by whether her music moves, encourages, or helps another person.
Music from the Episode
This Too Shall Pass - Kelly Lang
About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a music interview podcast hosted by Brad Williams. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with musicians, songwriters, producers, and other creative artists about their careers, influences, collaborations, musical craft, and the experiences that shape their work.

Connect with the Show

Email: contact@thebandwichtapes.com