“My idea of good company, Mr Elliot, is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company."

"You are mistaken," said he gently, "that is not good company; that is the best.” 

- Jane Austen, Persuasion

When Brayden Bell and his guitarist, Andrew Jones, were singing the hook of his latest single, they came across a challenge that could only be solved by bringing the concept full circle.

“Good Company” is a note to self, to remember to reach out to loved ones and tell them how much they are appreciated. Bell wanted a song that reminds the listener to take a night off and spend it with their favorite people.

The song was inspired by Bell’s friends and loved ones - the people he can be himself around.

“Lately, I've been consumed with work, tasks, projects etc., and this song is a reminder that it's important to always carve out time to upkeep the relationships that mean the most,” he said.

When Bell and Jones were recording the lyrics “Thank God for good company”, it sounded pretty obvious that they had just doubled their vocals. It didn’t give the song the vibe they were going for. Bell got the idea to ask his friends to send in voice recordings of them singing the hook so he could mix those in instead.

It was challenging to get everyone to send over their voice recordings, but as Bell listened to each individual take, he realized that he had never heard some of them sing that vulnerably. It made the final product all the more special.

“Now we have a whole group of people singing it, and better yet they are all great friends of mine,” he said.

He refers to “Good Company” as a “melting pot in terms of genre”, taking inspiration from different forms of country and alternative music. He credits folk artists like Jack Van Cleaf and Field Medic for a nod to Americana tones while the guitar melodies provided by Jones brings the energy of DIY alt bands.

“I want to leave the listener in a different place,” Bell said. “Whether that's feeling nostalgic, inspired, energetic, happy or putting them in a questioning state. Even if it's just one line of lyrics that resonates with someone. That's my favorite part about music, so I try to give it back.”

From writing a song dedicated to loved ones, to adding said loved ones into the song, Brayden Bell took a note to self and made it a love letter.