BY LESLEY HASTINGS

Since relocating to Nashville from Pennsylvania straight after high school to follow her childhood dreams, Bailey Taylor has lost no time in releasing a string of impressive singles showcasing her talents as both songwriter and artist. 

Listing Kelsea Ballerini, Carrie Underwood and Carly Pearce among her inspirations, it was her late uncle Bill who was her childhood role model. A world-class performer and man of strong faith, it was at one of his annual Christmas shows when 8 year old Bailey realised she wanted to follow in his path. 

With a fast- growing fan base, this artist on the rise is definitely achieving her goal of releasing music her listeners can connect to, as Bailey says “If the songs I release make even one person smile or helps someone through a hard time, then I did my job as a songwriter“. 

2024 has been a particularly exciting year so far for Bailey both personally and professionally, playing CMA Fest for the first time, continuing to release new music, including the most recent the stunning 3-track EP “Now I Do”, and getting married just a few weeks ago! 

I was lucky enough to grab some time with Bailey to have a chat via Zoom and what a fun and interesting conversation it was! 

LH Thanks so much for your time today, Bailey….what a whirlwind you’ve had recently, have you come back down to earth yet?

BT It’s a beautiful day here in Nashville, we just got home two days ago from our honeymoon in Barbados so it’s time to adjust to reality. I feel everything happened so fast, the week between the EP release and the wedding was a complete blur but it’s been a fun time and I’d do it all again.

LH With the same groom I hope? 

BT (laughs) so far so good, so yes! 

LH So let’s chat about the EP, which is appropriately subtitled “The Wedding EP”, obviously the release was timed to coincide with your big day but was it all written and recorded a while back? 

BT Yes, I feel like I was writing a lot of love songs, especially after I got engaged a year and a half ago. I knew I wanted to release a wedding EP, and those three were the ones that kind of stuck out to me. But the “Now I Do” song, we went into that write not even having the wedding on our minds and my best friend Kaylin came up with the title …. and I was like “that’s just perfect for the wedding EP”! 

LH Yes, you also released “Heartbroke” a few months back, another beautiful love song .

BT Yeah, I knew I wanted  the EP to be three songs, “Heartbroke” was one of the options so I threw it out as a single . 

LH So, the EP has been out nearly a month now, have you had time to look at the reaction it’s getting from listeners? Is it resonating as you’d hoped?

BT I’m finally finding time to go through comments and see how it’s doing. And it’s been really good releasing it at the time I did, it’s wedding season so a lot of people can relate. And I‘ve already had a couple of people ask me if I can sing the father and daughter song (“Son You Never Had“) at their wedding or maybe do a different version as the bridge is very specific (I have two older sisters). A lot of people have been listening and relating which makes my heart happy. 

LH I was going to ask you about that song! What was your Dad’s reaction the first time he heard it? Were you there with him? 

BT Yes….he is a cry baby, a good “girl dad”, just an emotional, sensitive guy which is what I love about him. I actually wrote that song before my engagement because when we started talking about marriage I knew I wanted to write a song to play the day we did get engaged, whenever that would be. So I played it for him that night and he bawled like a baby. But he hadn’t heard the version that is out now, I changed a few lyrics, added piano (or my producer added piano!) until the wedding and our father/daughter dance so he was a wreck and it’s a memory I’ll cherish for ever. I’m so excited to get the video back, I have plans to put it to a music video type thing. 

LH You touched on the arrangements there, I wondered how much input you have when it comes to that side of things. I love the gentle, pensive feel to the EP and to a lot of your music which focuses the listener on your gorgeous lyrics.

BT I grew up listening to music a lot and I’ve always had an ear for what I want. I get involved to the point that I say what I’m hearing, I’m very good at that, but my producer is very good at taking what I tell him and making it accessible. Like you said, the lyrics are so meaningful so I didn’t want to overpower them and I think he did such a good job with making that happen. He’s great! 

LH I’m totally obsessed with “Looking At Houses” At the moment…what can you tell me about that write? I love the pictures it paints.

BT I wrote that with three good friends, we were talking about the real estate down here which is insane! My fiancé and I were starting to look at houses and talking about when the time comes and we are able to afford my dream, and all the memories we’ll be able to make. I’m so excited to think about that time with him and our future together. So that was a really fun one to write, I feel it’s not too far down the road to have that song come to life. I picked that one for the EP as “Now I Do” is like the present and “Looking At Houses” is the future us. 

LH Had you done much co-writing before you moved to Nashville? 

BT I guess I started songwriting at thirteen/fourteen and I had a dear friend of the family back home who also wrote so I would write with them every now and again. But when I moved I really got into it, it’s all that happens here! I love bouncing ideas off other talented human beings and seeing where they can take a song! Sometimes on a first time write it doesn’t work out, the chemistry’s just not there, but sometimes it’s great and you get to know each other through the other writes you have. It’s definitely a learning pattern. 

LH Do you have dream co-writer you’ve yet to work with? 

BT I love Carly Pearce, Kelsea Ballerini…anyone I look up to and hear on the radio and think “hey there’s a good song”. It’d be a dream to write with any one of them. 

LH We mentioned your dad earlier on, and I know your family are very important to you, so was it tough leaving them behind when you relocated? 

BT Yes, I graduated high school in June and moved here in September of 2018 and it was a very hard decision. It probably took me two years to actually be ok with living this far from them…eight and half hours driving for an eighteen year old on her own feels like a world apart. I was a homebody growing up.  And my (now) husband…still feels so good saying that!!…did four years long distance that was also hard. Everyone I loved was back home. But he moved here two years ago which made things easier. It was hard but I knew I had to do it, I needed to be here and that’s what kept me going. 

LH One of the dreams you’ve realised since your move was playing CMA Fest for the first time this year, and coincidentally one of the Country Lowdown team Mark Dare saw that set and was super impressed! 

BT Yes that was a full circle moment, I’ve been here nearly six years and each summer I’d go to CMA Fest and see the upcoming artists, and the big ones, and it’s been a dream to be on the other side of it and be on stage. It was a proud moment, a little milestone, I’m where I need to be and making my way to where I want to be. 

LH Did any of your family see you?

BT All of them!! I have the best support system so having them here was great and made it all the more better. 

LH Do you have a bucket list venue to play?

BT Definitely The Opry or The Ryman…you’ve made it if you play those! And I’d have to say probably Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, definitely one of my hometown Stadiums or Arenas as I feel the people I grew up with would be there, and then maybe Titans Stadium here as it would be really cool to see all the people I’ve grown up with in the last five years in the industry. Those two would be really special. 

LH And looking ahead to the rest of 2024, what are your plans for new music and shows?

BT I’m going to let the EP ride throughout the Summer, and as I mentioned I plan to take some of my wedding videos and make little music videos. Then I’ll probably have a Fall release and maybe a Christmas one….last year I was letting my Christmas album still sink in to people’s ears but this year I want to release a single, not sure if it’ll be an original or a Christmas remake. And I’ll be writing for next year. 

I’m meeting with my cousin here next week who is in the industry but also good at just keeping me in line, helping me plan what I want and need to do. We need to line up the shows I want to do and start to plan out next year. I’ve been in a wedding planning bubble so haven’t been able to do much planning for my career but I’m excited for that. I’m hoping to get everything online this week. 

LH Excellent, I’ll look out for all that. And hopefully we may see you over this side of the pond one day too?

BT I’ve never been but I hear wonderful stories so I’d love to. 

LH Thanks again for this great chat! I wish you all the best for both your marriage and your career. And for your looking at houses of course.

BT It’s been great talking to you! 

Stream “Now I Do (The Wedding EP)“ here https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/baileytaylor/now-i-do/

Keep up to date with all Bailey’s news at https://www.baileytaylormusic.com/

where you’ll also find links to her socials.