Imagine being able to say you performed at the famed Bluebird Café, at CMA Music Festival, at Country Radio Seminar (CRS) and at the Wildhorse Saloon. Imagine winning a talent contest hosted by a radio station (92.5 XTU) and then sharing a stage with Darius Rucker, Kelsea Ballerini and A Thousand Horses.
Now imagine doing all that by the time you are 14-years old. Well Bailey James can, because she has done all that and more!
Check out our exclusive Q&A with James below to find out more about this amazingly talented teenager:
CN: Let’s start by telling us a little bit about yourself. When did you realize you wanted to be involved in music/singing? Which artists – country or not – have you looked up to? Are there any current country artists that you are inspired by?
BJ: I have been singing since I could talk. My dad sang a lot of Johnny Cash, George Jones and Hank Sr. to me from the time I was my baby. I loved Hannah Montana and Taylor Swift fan when I was younger. I still love Miley and Taylor. I was 10 when I tried out for my first school talent show. I was completely blown away by how I was received. My first demo was of “Blue” and “Crazy” when I was 11. Now, 3 years later, I have “Run Girl” charting on the Music Row Country Breakout Chart. Top 80 here we come!
Music is my passion. It is the one thing that feels so natural to me in my life. Since picking up guitar about two years ago, I find the melodies come very easy now. I love that when the guitar is in my hands I really control the entire delivery and not just the vocals. You can emote with a guitar as much as you do with your voice.
I love all music. Country, rock, pop, rap, and opera. Yep, opera! One of my vocal coaches was a former opera professional. Country and more specifically, traditional country is where my heart and my voice feel most at home. My dad got it started, but I found Patsy, Dolly, Tammy, Loretta, etc. on my own. Patsy Cline is my all-time favorite. She is the bar that I have set for myself. That is what I work towards.
I do draw from all genres though, but usually from past artists and not present artists. Other artists that I love to listen to and cover are Elvis, Whitney, and Janis. Current artists that inspire me Chris Stapleton, Margo Price, Miranda Lambert, Lana Del Rey, Brandy Clark, Kacey Musgraves, Brothers Osbourne, Adele and Taylor Swift.
CN: You recently released your new single “Run Girl.” Can you tell us a little bit about the background of song? What was the process like to write with Julie Downs and Steve O’Brien? What was behind the music video?
BJ: My folks are blue collar people that earned every dollar they have. My mom owns a daycare with 250+ kids. She originally started that daycare from watching a couple kids out of her home many years ago. My dad has risen up through the landscape company he works for and currently is responsible for all commercial sales in the Nashville market. I mention all this because I am a product of my home. I will only be as successful as the work and drive that I put into my music. “Run Girl” is about drive, determination and hard work. Dream as big as you want, but it won’t come to you. You have to “Run Girl” to achieve those dreams.
I have written at least 15 songs with Steve. Steve is just a great human being. He makes you feel comfortable. He values all ideas. He is super funny in a silly way and he has a knack for drawing the best out of me. This was my first time to write with Julie. She is so beautiful and sings like an angel!
As for the video, my music producer and video producer, Jeffrey Teague of Artist & Repertoire LLC, is responsible for the treatment. I loved making the video. It was a lot of fun. What is best about making a video is no matter how much you think you understand the vision and even though you are in the middle of the filming, the end product is always full of very cool surprises.
CN: There are some amazing covers on your YouTube channel, especially Carly Pearce’s “Every Little Thing.” How do you choose which songs you’ll cover? Is there an emotional connection, a vocal one, or perhaps both?
BJ: I choose songs that I really enjoy. It could be because of the melody and/or lyrics. Either one can connect with me. It also depends on my mood when choosing. There is no science to it. Live for the moment and emote like heck.
CN: You’re an artist ambassador for The Jason Foundation, alongside the legendary Charlie Daniels and Rascal Flatts. Unfortunately the occurrence of suicides, especially amongst teenagers, has been on the rise in our society, but thanks to organizations like The Jason Foundation and ambassadors like you, so has public awareness. Can you talk about your work with the foundation, how important it is to know the possible warning signs and to reach out to someone in their time of need?
BJ: My involvement with The Jason Foundation began with me watching the battle that my brother went through daily to be here. Depression and anxiety are so difficult to understand and treat. They can be very mild or in my brother’s case very debilitating. My brother had the heart of a lion. He battled every day to have a normal life. There was a long period of self-harm and depression. Zane was like a soldier. He got up every day and every day he went to war. It was ugly, scary and hard. The difference between Zane and a soldier is that Zane didn’t sign up for this war and he didn’t know the enemy with whom he battled. I joined JFI because I wanted to help kids realize that suicide was a tragedy and that their battle with depression was not a weakness. It is a disease, but there is help out there and people that understand the battle they are going through. On May 25th, my brother’s war ended. Selfishly I want him here with me, but I find great relief in knowing that his heart is finally at rest. I live now for him as much as I live for myself. The work that JFI does is important. Its goal is to prevent teen suicide, but it also helps those families that have had to face a suicide as they have with my family. I don’t want another person to go through what my brother did, and I don’t want them to have to go through what I have. That said, my work with The Jason Foundation is more important than ever.
Awareness is step 1. If you even have the most remote concern that someone is struggling, reach out and talk to someone you trust. It can be a parent, a teacher, an adult friend that you trust.
CN: Your family recently moved from Pennsylvania to Nashville. How does it feel living in Music City? As a teenager, what are some of your favorite things to do in Nashville? Will you be attending high school? How are you able to balance your school work with your career?
BJ: I love Nashville!!! For the first time in my life when I do that which moves me most (sing country music), I feel like I am home. I miss my friends, family, the snow, the Jersey shore. I love southern hospitality. I love fried pickles and sweet tea. I love that you can go to a writers round every night and listen to some of the best music anywhere. I am going to try and attend high school as long as I can. I need to! How else am I going to continue to write great songs without inspiration. I imagine it won’t be long, and I will have to turn to home schooling. It seems like there are more and more commitments everyday.
CN: A majority of your fans are 16 and younger. How inspiring is it knowing that your younger fans look up to you? How does it feel to be a young female in the country music industry today?
BJ: It’s is the best feeling in the world when someone comes up to me and tells me I listen to “Run Girl” every day or your music is all over my playlist. I was bullied when I first started singing. Try and imagine singing classic country music in area that has only 1 country music radio station (Philadelphia). I was also bullied for the birth mark on my chin. It hurt, but I gathered it all up and used it to fuel me instead of tear me apart. I want everyone to know that the world is what they make of it. If you believe enough in yourself and work your tail off, you can achieve dreams.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
BJ: GYPSY – My soul is as free as the wind, as old as the Earth and as wild and unpredictable as Mother Nature. << I think I may have to write a song now… ☺
CN: Lastly, what’s next on the horizon for you?
BJ: Every week somebody new approaches me with real cool opportunities. I have personal goals, and they build on each other.
–Save Lives
–Play the Opry
–Number 1 Single
–Country Music Entertainer of the Year
I want to achieve all of those items before I turn 20. Crazy?
With all you’ve accomplished so far, you’re not crazy at all Bailey.
For more information on Bailey James, visit: www.baileyjamescountry.com.
For more information The Jason Foundation, visit: www.jasonfoundation.com.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).