Meet Isabelle Martinez-Amos of Belle Gray

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabelle Martinez-Amos.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I saw Cody Simpson at Center Stage Atlanta and I was absolutely infatuated by him. He was playing guitar and dancing at the same time and honestly, I thought that looks like something I could do. Around the same time, my volleyball career in school started going downhill because I tore my rotator cuff. So I knew that I needed to find something new to do. I started only taking guitar lessons. By a twist of fate, I was blessed with the most amazing mentor and guitar teacher who opened up the world of music for myself.

Justin Cain believed in me and gave me confidence. One day in lessons, I was humming a guitar part and he freaked out and he said, “Holy Shit! Can you sing?” and I said, “I don’t know, I have never tried.” He then literally forced me to sing and I had never felt more embarrassed in my life. But at that moment I saw the look on his face and I knew something just clicked. About a week later, he made me perform with him in front of an audience. From that moment, it is really all just history. Sadly he passed away on December 17th, 2015 unexpectedly but left me with his knowledge and his love of music.

When I turned 18 I got 2 tattoos for him. One being his day of passing and the other his last text to me which said, “Be Diligent”. Every time I play… I play for him. Two years ago, I started taking lessons and songwriting from Jan Smith at Jan Smith Studios in Atlanta, Ga. I am currently with her and I could not thank her more for everything that she has done for me. She truly takes the Mother role in the music business and being one of her Mama’s Babies means the world to me.

Now 3 years later, I am up in college in Nashville playing music and attending Middle Tennessee State University. I am studying Psychology but I am working so hard on making my music career take off. I feel like there is something so close to me for really being able to do music full time. Other than writing and playing gigs all the time and doing homework, I am of course being a normal and wild college student.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I feel like any road is anything but smooth, but somehow that is always beautiful to me.

My Senior year two of my best friends committed suicide within a week of each other. No doubt, that has been the hardest thing I personally have gone through and have seen my other friends go through. I feel like when you see those sort of disasters on Twitter or Instagram…you never think those things will happen in your circle. Although when it does, they leave an absolute gaping hole in your life. I want my music to help people that struggle within themselves in that way not feel alone. Feeling alone is one of the worst feelings and I think that contributes to most of the hurt in our world.

A personal physical struggle that I experience recently was having my tonsillitis and strep for about seven months straight during my first semester of college. Not only did that put a damper on my freshman partying, I could barely talk and sing. Having to take that long from gigging and playing tended to take a toll on me. I guess you could say I felt a little on the lost side. I recovered from surgery and Mama Jan helped me get back to where I was and even better. Now since I am just now getting heavily back into it, I honestly never want to lose it again.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Belle Gray – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I have never considered myself a business, but that sounds pretty fancy. I like the sound of that. I am simply Belle Gray. I perform solo, I play guitar and sing. Many people say that my voice is a “powerhouse” and I have a sort of edge to myself. Everyone that has ever taught me or listened to my songs can’t pinpoint what genre I am, honestly, I can’t either. I sing acoustic but have rap like rhymes and rhythm in my newer songs I play live. I honestly think I can go from pop, rap, to alternative. I think that is what sets me apart from others, none of my songs sound the same.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Currently, I am looking for artist development and management. I feel like all I do is that extra push and then all of my plans for the future could come true. I wouldn’t be mad if I saw myself on tv or selling out venues. I feel like I could handle the stress that comes with being famous. Although if that doesn’t happen, my end goal is to just be happy with my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bellegraymusic.com
• Phone: 770-864-8083
• Email: officialbellemusic@gmail.com

Image Credit:
Lola Scott Art (www.lolascottart.com)

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