Following on from our review of ‘Cold Country’, from Rob Bellamy and The Rebel Hearts, we spoke with Rob himself.
What was that moment like when you decided to go all in on music after hockey?
There wasn’t one clean moment—it was more like a slow burn that finally caught fire. Hockey had been my whole identity for so long, but deep down, I felt ready for a change. At that time, I had been playing music and writing songs for about seven years, but it was never my sole mission. I knew that I wanted to pursue music and see what I could do with it. That feeling started to outweigh everything else.
At some point, I just came to terms with it and turned all my focus and motivation towards music and songwriting. So I bet on myself the same way I did when I was chasing hockey—except this time, there were no coaches, no system… just me, guitar, and the unknown.
You moved to Nashville without knowing anyone. What do you remember most about those early days?
Honestly, how uncomfortable and exciting it was. I was entering a world that I really knew nothing about and was immersed in a town that had the best of the best. Seeing how good the musicianship and songwriting were when I moved there, I knew I had so much work to do. I knew it, but it didn’t make me second-guess my decision. I just used the characteristic that I learned as a hockey player, and started the grind. I felt alive because of it. It was a new challenge, and I had a reason or a north star if you will, to get up every day and pursue something. I didn’t have connections, didn’t have a safety net. I was just showing up to writer’s rounds, shaking hands, trying to earn my place in rooms where nobody knew who I was. There’s something powerful in that. It strips you down and helps you become a stronger person. You either get better or you quit. Those early days taught me resilience in a whole new way—like starting over as a rookie again.
How has your background as an athlete shaped the way you approach music now?
Everything about how I approach music comes from hockey.
Discipline, consistency, being part of a team, showing up when you don’t feel like it— that’s the difference. A lot of people wait for inspiration. I treat it like training. You show up every day and put the work in whether it’s there or not.
And mentally, too—I’ve been through pressure, failure, highs, lows. That carries over on stage and in the studio. I don’t shy away from the challenge—I lean into it.
How did the Rebel Hearts come together, and what made it click between you all?
It wasn’t forced—it just kind of happened naturally. Our guitar player/producer, Drew Yount, was the music leader at a Church my mother-in-law goes to in NH. My wife and I usually go with her when we are up visiting. I heard Drew play and sing and was extremely impressed. I would talk to him after the service about music, which led to him telling me that he had a studio and if I was interested, record some songs with him. I took him up on it, and after hearing my songs, he felt passionate about starting something. He brought James, our Drummer and Zach, our bass player, into the mix and away we went. We are all family men with a heavy desire and passion for music. We believe in what we are doing and the sound we are creating. When we play together, it doesn’t feel as much polished as it does real. We are excited to see where the songs and live shows can take us.
What inspired “Cold Country,” and what does that kind of winter life mean to you?
James our drummer, had some cool ideas and I took it and ran with it. “Cold Country” is where we are from. It’s not just weather—it’s a mentality. I grew up in Western Massachusetts and know what it’s like to get through the darkness that the winters and cold weather can bring. It never really bothered me because I was always in the hockey rinks, and it really just became part of my DNA. The people who are from this area are gritty and thick-skinned, and I think the cold has a lot to do with that in terms of building character. It builds a certain toughness in you. People may complain about it, but a lot of people still get up every morning and work in it. The song is about pride. Pride in where you come from, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
The song has a real intensity to it—how did you build that sound in the studio?
We wanted it to feel like a storm rolling in. I feel like the guitar riff at the start brings you in right away. A lot of the sounds came from layering—big drums, driving guitars, and letting things feel a little raw instead of over-polished. We didn’t want it perfect… we wanted it alive. We wanted to make it feel like it could be played in a movie like The Revenant or The Grey. We wanted it to feel cinematic and gritty, and I think we accomplished that.
Your vocals feel especially raw on this track—what headspace were you in while recording it?
I wasn’t trying to sound perfect—I was trying to feel it. This song deserves a lot of emotion and grit. When I stepped in to record, I was thinking about all the people who deal with these types of elements and weather conditions. I wanted to deliver something that they could resonate with and make them feel proud of where they are from, just like I am. I think there’s a lot of beauty in being an artist in terms of song development. Its an exciting challenge to navigate into the sonic layers of what a song needs. Some songs that I have written will be treated a little more delicately than this one but the contrast of different songs and different sounds is what I feel like makes an artist interesting.
What was it like filming the video out in the woods of New Hampshire?
It was freezing, but it had to be for this. I think it was like 20 degrees out, but the fires helped a little bit. Honestly, it felt like home, and it just felt right. Cold air, quiet woods, and a stillness that New England so often provides—it puts you in a certain headspace. There are no distractions, just you and the elements. We didn’t have to fake anything. The environment is the story. You can feel it in the footage. Jon Berecz and Chris Constantine did a great job filming and editing.
What can fans expect from the full project?
This project will be a variety of different feels and sounds. There’s grit, revenge, vulnerability, heartbreak, hope, and pride of where we are from.
It’s not just one sound—it moves. There’s a lot of inspiration in the project from artist that have inspired the band and me, but through that found a personal identity that all ties back to honest songwriting.
What does it mean to you to see people connecting with your music?
I don’t want to say that it’s the only reason I create music, because I really just enjoy songwriting and creating something out of nothing. But having people resonate and really align with your words and sound is a huge honor. At the end of the day, without a fan base and without people helping push the music, you don’t have a shot in hell. We spend so much time chasing something and putting so much work and effort into songs that don’t guarantee anything. So when someone hears a song and says, “that’s me,” or “I feel that,”—that’s the win. It helps me know that I am on the right path.
Anything else you’d like to share with fans?
Just that I’m all in on this. I have been chasing music now for 10 years, since I retired from hockey. Played so many places and met so many great people. I put in work every single day in pursuit of a song that is worth being heard. The road hasn’t been easy. I have slipped into days of serious doubt and wondering if what I am doing is worth it because I don’t have a crystal ball, and I don’t know what will come of all the time put in. But in saying that, no matter what, I always come back to the music. I just hope that people give the songs a chance and become part of the journey because I know that the best songs are yet to come, and I am going to do everything I can to get them recorded and released. It’s a tough game being an independent artist. You have to do absolutely everything yourself. The thing that keeps me going and motivated is people who latch on and believe in what’s being built.
I’m not chasing trends, I’m not trying to fit into anything—I’m building something real, one song at a time. There have been people on the ride since day 1, and I don’t take that lightly. This is just the start of a new beginning. If you’re reading this and haven’t heard the songs, give them a chance. If the few we have out don’t resonate with you, I guarantee that some we have coming will. Thank you for being a part of this.
Watch the music video for ‘Cold Country’ below, and find out more about Rob Bellamy and The Rebel Hearts online on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
