It's an unusually hot October day and I'm sitting by the soundboard at xBk in Des Moines, waiting to chat with Bebe Stockwell. She's running a little late and her band is setting up. The stage is small, but they've made it their own, with a flowing white curtain and customized bass drum. After a quick bit of listening to how the music sounds in xBk, courtesy Kylie Minogue and Gorillaz, Bebe Stockwell comes over and introduces herself to me. This isn't how it goes. Typically you're brought back to a green room by someone else to meet the artist. So for Stockwell to come find me to introduce herself — that was pretty cool.
If you're unfamiliar with Bebe Stockwell, I have a feeling that will soon change, and I encourage you to catch up to her quickly. If you're a fan of Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers and Regina Spektor, I guarantee you that Stockwell will capture your ears and maybe even your heart as well.
Hailing from Boston, but now living in Los Angeles, Stockwell got her start early, writing songs when she was just 8 years old. Her style is unique and is best described as blending genres, and I'd say she falls somewhere between folk and country/pop, with some soul thrown in. The mix of genres and sounds works in Stockwell's favor, and her songs work well both musically and lyrically. The shining start of the music though is Stockwell's voice. She has a beautiful, soulful timbre, which at just 24 years old is a bit of a surprise, as she sounds wiser and older than her actual age.
At the time of this interview, Stockwell was on her longest tour yet, and it also happened to be her first headlining tour.
"It's been good. It's been a lot, and it's been new. I'm learning new things about myself. It's definitely a journey — a lot of travel, which I'm not used to!"
She shared a bit about one particular band routine she's developed on the road.
"We like to meditate (before the show), hold hands and then we all shout: "let's f*cking go!"
Stockwell kept the conversation flowing naturally, and we discussed her New England roots and how her family helped shape her music and songwriting.
"I think that Boston has a lot of music lovers, and my family was always playing music — like Madonna, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra. I listened to a lot of Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch and Brandi Carlile; a lot of mixture in the house that I grew up in."
That early exposure to music prompted her to start writing music at just 8 years old, but she didn't play her first show until much later.
"I never thought I would be a performer. It's kind of crazy to me, because it just wasn't something I was drawn to, going up onstage and performing. I loved writing and I loved singing, but the stage didn't happen until a BMI showcase. That was my first performance in front of people. To warm up I went to Pete's Candy Bar in Brooklyn and just performed with a group of random people in front of like four people, and it slowly helped me get ready for the stage."
Stockwell has steadily been releasing new music throughout 2026, following her 2025 debut album, Driving Backwards. Her latest single, "Nothing Good is Easy," shows noticeable growth, and evolves into one of Stockwell's most epic tracks. It features a crescendo of drums and a string segment that truly swells with emotion.
"I work with a producer named David Baron — his son Oscar plays strings. He came downstairs and started playing, and I wanted to feel this epic release of letting go, which on guitar feels like that, but with the strings it really just makes it feel so good."
The lyrics of "Nothing Good is Easy" are as heartbreaking as they are beautiful, and almost therapeutic.
"It’s quite in the house tonight /
I still see us in the kitchen light /
I kissed you just to end a fight /
Didn’t I /
And my bags have been packed for days /
Gotten used to how my tears taste /
But you know I never do the things /
I said I would cause /
Nothing good is easy /
Nothing easy is good"
Those lyrics prompted me to ask Stockwell about the therapeutic nature of music, and she had this to say: "One song is therapeutic, and then I think of the story about what happened, and I think 'this feels so good to sing.' I like to tell stories. That's my favorite thing. I love to listen to stories and read stories."
Storytelling is key in Stockwell's music, and when it comes to influences and one song that truly helped shape her as a songwriter, her answer was clear.
"'Gloria,' by The Lumineers, because it's a song that has so much momentum, yet its so peaceful and his voice just cuts through. I really respect that. That song has always stuck with me."
The music industry can be intense, and for singer-songwriters it seems like there needs to be a special ingredient to break through. When I asked Stockwell about what advice she would give to up and coming songwriters, she offered a heartfelt response.
"I would say the most important thing is to find your people," Stockwell shared. Then added: "I think that finding collaborators is really important — people you can vibe out with and show your music. Pick people that make you comfortable and safe."
When asked what the future holds, Stockwell kept it simple.
"The future holds me going home," she said with a laugh, "And putting out more songs and doing more shows and writing more songs."
