In Conversation with Bailey Baum
Photo Credit: Skylar Steinberg
[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about yourself, who you are, what you do?
[BAILEY:] I’m Bailey Baum and I’m a singer and songwriter based in LA. I grew up in a big family of 6 kids in Dallas, Texas. As soon as I graduated high school I decided to move out to LA at the age of 18. I’m 24 now. I’ve been singing since I could talk and I was always passionate about turning it into a career. Growing up my family was always very supportive and my parents even made me a makeshift stage in my room where I would constantly practice singing. I was constantly putting on shows for people when they came over whether they wanted to hear me or not, haha.
Since moving to LA I have met some incredible people, many that I’ve been able to collaborate with in one way or another and my whole world has opened up. My music and my creative style have changed significantly over the years through meeting new people and every last experience I’ve had. I finally feel like I’m fully coming into my own as an artist and my visions are coming to life in amazing ways, I’m lucky to have found a really talented creative team that helps me execute every idea to the fullest. I started releasing music in 2017 and now, 4 years later, I just released my first EP and I’m working with so many amazing upcoming artists and writers, and producers and am looking ahead to my next creative project.
[UNPUBLISHED:] When did you first start singing and writing music?
[BAILEY:] I started when I was 5 or 6 years old. I was in my room and sang in the mirror and thought to myself “I think I can sing?” and then showed my family and started singing all the time. It was kinda always a part of me and who I am. I never had a moment of discovering my genre and I think I’m still figuring that out as I go. I’ve just always done what felt right to me and never quit. I think my music is always evolving and you just grow with yourself and everything you feel.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about your debut EP “Over it”.
[BAILEY:] The whole EP is a process of falling for and then eventually getting over someone (hence “Over It”) and all the feelings you go through during that time. It’s easily the most vulnerable I’ve ever been. It came together over the course of several months of feeling so many different things and I just translated all of that into the music. Every song is truly what I felt on the deepest level during a time of getting over someone.
Photo Credit: Skylar Steinberg
[UNPUBLISHED:] What track are you most excited for people to hear from the EP?
[BAILEY:] I think “Take Me All The Way” because it was so much fun to make and it just makes me so happy every time I listen to it thinking back to the recording process. I also have a super exciting surprise coming with this track so I can’t wait to share that with everyone.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What was it like creating your EP in comparison to just releasing singles?
[BAILEY:] It wasn’t much different at all because during the time of recording all of these songs I didn’t know which ones I was going to put on the EP or save for later projects or singles. I like to collect ideas over a period of time and just experience as much as possible and then take the trip to my producer in Oklahoma or Nashville and just write and record a bunch of songs at once.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What was your writing process like?
[BAILEY:] I was traveling to Oklahoma and Nashville to collaborate with songwriters and producers to share my story through these songs. It was a long process but we took our time making sure everything was perfect. Each song elicits the very raw emotions that I felt during the process of that relationship and I know this is something anyone can relate to. I want this project to be a reminder that we all go through the same difficulties and low points when getting through a difficult relationship- you’re never alone and every thought and feeling you have through all of it is totally valid.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How do you want people to feel when they listen to your music?
[BAILEY:] As all music is, this project should be subject to whatever emotions the listener is feeling at that time. And for that reason, the meaning of this project can be ever-changing. Some may listen to it and feel feelings of falling in love, happiness, being carefree, young, crazy etc. Other people might listen to it and feel empowered to make a decision in a relationship that they’ve been cycling through for a long time. And someone else might listen to it and feel sad, brokenhearted, or even lonely. I felt all of those different emotions throughout the making of this project so I know it can be perceived in all of those different ways.
Photo Credit: Skylar Steinberg
[UNPUBLISHED:] Who are your biggest musical inspirations?
[BAILEY:] My main musical influences now and from a young age have definitely been Lana Del Rey, Kacey Musgraves, Christina Perri, and The Beatles and I also listen to a lot of A$AP Rocky and The Neighbourhood.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Who is your dream collaboration?
[BAILEY:] Definitely The Neighbourhood. I listen to their music nonstop and absolutely love their writing style so I can’t imagine how fun it would be to work on something together.