10 Things about Bailey Hefley
When did your love for music begin and how did you initially get your start becoming an artist?
I discovered music when I was barely 3. My first song was “Jesus Loves Me,” and when I memorized all the verses and sang them to my dad, while unable to speak fluent English, he knew something was different about that. I started singing at my school talent show when I was 5. And, by age 10, I was dragging my guitar to smoky bars for tips.
As you were writing your music, which artists did you look up to?
I have a wide variety of influences. But, when I first started writing as a teenager, I was heavily influenced by a guy who was mentoring me, named Bobby Pinson. He has an unmistakable way of telling a story in very few words. I became completely enthralled with learning how to do that.
What was the inspiration behind your latest single, “Gotta Find Out?”
Gotta Find Out was inspired by a guy who I was wanting to go out with, but wasn’t sure if things were going to pan out—I was very into him. The song has a positive message that we can all take something from. It says don’t worry about the outcome because we aren’t in control and I love that.
How would you describe your sound in three words?
Bold, Honest, Melodic.
Who is your dream collaboration?
I would love to collaborate with Halsey. Her honesty in her songwriting is incredible to me.
What message do you want listeners to gain from your music?
I want them to feel what I felt when I wrote it and more. If I’m not creating a feeling, then I haven’t done my job correctly.
What advice would you give others working towards a career in music?
Don’t give up. But also, don’t do it if you don’t want to give up a lot of other things. This career path takes insane amounts of work and focus. But, if you are passionate about it, you will thrive because it will all come from a place of desire to keep pursuing your dream. Also, having said that, maintain a balance even when it feels hard to, if you’re anything like me on the work ethic scale. Call your friends, go out and live your life too, because you only get one time around.
What does it mean to be a woman in country music right now?
I grew up in a time where it was great to be a female in Country and I looked up to women like Shania Twain and Faith. It’s no secret that women aren’t played equally in this genre, but I can see and feel that changing. Women are making more waves than ever, and speaking out on this. I’m proud to be one of them.
How has your songwriting progressed through the years?
In many ways, I’m exactly the same person and writer. And, in other ways, I’ve evolved. I would say I’ve become a better lyricist than I was at 15. It’s funny how I was actually writing very mature songs, based partially on imagination back then. And, then, as I grew older and experienced more, I started to write more heavily based on reality. I would argue that some of the material from imagination was more mature than some of the later songs, because for some reason, I had a tendency to imagine myself doing things later in life.
What can fans look forward to on the horizon from you all?
I have some surprises coming in 2021, and more singles to come in 2020. Go to my social media pages for updates. They are all under Bailey Hefley. I will also be doing live-streams on my social media pages.
Facebook:Bailey Hefley
Instagram: @BaileyHefley
Twitter:@BaileyHefley
Photos: Jack Guy