Bailey James
Feed the Band
Feed the Band
Bailey James
Patrick L.
If you asked me a month ago what a girl barely in her teens and I had in common the list would be extremely short. That was until I met our latest member of the Southern Fellow family. Bailey James is mature and looks at life with the eyes of someone three times her age. My parents once told me they had a 40 year old trapped in a child’s body. I imagine Bailey’s parents had a similar thought at some point in time. She does like old things, from houses to music, but it’s Bailey’s approach to life that is making her a successful music artist.
Bailey James has an amazing work ethic. She puts 100% into the craft of making music, all while being homeschooled. This is a heavy workload, but Bailey meets it with grace. If she is not in the studio or playing a venue, Bailey takes time to connect with her fans in a real way. She often pulls her fans in on live videos and sends notes of encouragement to those who need it. Bailey James does all of this, while still being a teenager. That’s a balancing act I wish I could do.
Hard work does not get you all the way in the music industry. You really need an “it” factor. For Ms. Bailey James, that comes from her soul. She knows how to tap it and pull out that rich molasses voice of hers. Her voice really coats your ears and finishes with a sweetness that brings so much goodness. Her voice is not the only thing she pulls from the depths of her soul. Bailey uses songwriting like a mirror. She reflects personal experiences and those of others the way a mirror reflects light. A prime example of this is her single “The One”. In this song, Bailey reflects on her emotions after her brother’s suicide. She takes her love, sadness and confusion and shines it back at us in a beautiful song that fills the soul.
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It is an honor to have Bailey James as our latest member of the Southern Fellow family. There is a cheesy side to her that can be found in the middle of the interview. Bailey inspired the cheesiest mac and cheese recipe we have ever done. Also make sure to enter our giveaway at the bottom. Here is our interview with country music artist Ms. Bailey James.
Tell us about your road to Nashville.
I started singing when I could talk. My first memory of music was singing Johnny Cash “Walk The Line” and “Folsom Prison Blues” in the car with my father. Country music was the first music I was introduced to, and it really shaped me. I didn’t think it was possible for me to become a singer until I heard Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.” I became obsessed with the way she could emote, and move people with her music. At that time I was being trained by an opera singer. We decided to make a small EP of a few covers including “Crazy” by Patsy, “Blue” By Leann Rimes and “Memory” from Cats. We took it to a few record labels in Nashville, and of course they all turned them down, but that’s where it all started. From there, I would go to Nashville for a week every month until I was 14 years old, and then moved to Nashville.
If you could not play music, what do you think you would be doing?
I’m honestly not sure, probably something artistic. I love painting and writing poems. I also would still be in Pennsylvania and going to public school there. Crazy to think about.
What does success look like?
Success looks like the moment someone tells you how your song affected them. Success looks like a random person singing the lyrics to your song,people looking up to you and looking at you as a true artist. That’s success.
If you came with a warning label, what would yours say?
Handle With Care 🙂
We are always developing recipes here at Southern Fellow; when writing music, what recipe do you use?
I usually start to play around with my guitar, plug it into the speaker and find a riff or chord structure I like. Then I base my song off the vibe of that. That’s how it usually happens. Or I’ll have a random idea hit me, and I have to stop everything I’m doing.
Connect with Bailey
What would you do if you had all the money in the world?
I would build a Victorian house with a wraparound porch.
What is your first fond memory of food?
Steak, and potatoes. That’s my first fond memory.
There are many young women that may not feel they fit a particular mold when they dream of being a music artist. What advice do you have for these women?
I don’t think there is a “mold.” I think that if you have the talent, the artistry, and the drive, nothing should stop you.
“The One” really pulls at the heartstrings. What’s the story behind it?
“The One” was written for my brother. This was a song I wrote from start to finish in about 30 minutes. My brother passed when he was just 18 years old, 3 years ago, to suicide. That was just all the emotions I was feeling afterwards pulled into a song. It’s super personal, and I’ll have people come up to me after a performance, and tell me their stories about losing someone. It’s really a healing process for the both of us. The song took on a life of its own and I love that we were able to release this for the fans earlier this year.
What are some small things that make your day better?
Music, Amy Winehouse preferably. I love being at home and watching movies too. I’m definitely a homebody.
Try this inspired recipe!
What does the coming year look like for you?
Lots of touring, and a lot more music coming out. So excited!
If an alien race came to earth what would be the first lesson on humanity you would teach them? Why is that lesson important?
I would teach them to work with one another. I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s actually so important.
If you could write with anyone, living or who has passed on, who would that person be?
Kurt Kobain
Tell us about your work with The Jason Foundation.
I started working with the Jason Foundation mainly because I saw the way my brother had been struggling with depression. I was so lucky that they took me in with open arms and I became their National Youth Advocate, alongside other artists like Rascal Flatts and the Charlie Daniels Band. When Zane passed, it was even more important that I was involved, so I could raise awareness for other families so they wouldn’t have to deal with what we dealt with. That’s a hole we can never fill. But I can prolong his legacy by talking about his story.
Is there anything else you want your family at Southern Fellow to know?
I just want to say thank you for doing this interview with me and being so kind. I want to tell all the fans out there to follow me on social media (@BaileyJamesGang) to stay up to date and see what goes on in my life every day.
That is Bailey James. She is an amazing woman with a beautiful soul. She also wants to share it with you. You can find her music on your favorite music service including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and YouTube. I would recommend adding her to your favorite playlist as well. Bailey even has a new Christmas song out. Check out her soulful cover of “Please Come Home for Christmas”. You can find it on our Spotify Christmas playlist. Thank you for checking out our Feed the Band series. We have more music and recipes on the way!
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