Arkansas native Bailey Bigger is a country girl making a name for herself in the Memphis music scene – a University of Memphis Tiger who released her first album, Between the Pages, on the university’s Blue Tom Records just last year. To say she’s been keeping busy since then is an understatement – we got her to slow down just long enough to answer five questions. Check out her answers and save the date for December 3, when we’ll be live streaming the release show for her new EP Let’s Call it Love, out December 4 on Big Legal Mess Records.
1.What inspired you to pursue a music career?
There’s really no specific moment that inspired me to have a career in music, it just always was…if that makes sense. There was never a time in my life since I began playing and writing (around 9 years old) that I considered doing anything else. There was never a moment of “this is what I want to do,” I’ve just always done it and never thought that would change.
2. How would you describe your sound?
I think my sound is unique yet nostalgic. I grew up on music like Joni Mitchell, The Band, Gillian Welch, and artists like BB King and Robert Johnson. I want my sound to be timeless and never be able to distinctly tell that my music was from the 21st century.
3. How has Memphis’ musical history affected or influenced you as an artist?
Growing up in Marion, I definitely found inspiration in the slower lifestyle and landscapes, yet having Memphis so close to me, it really gave me an outlet to share. The musical history, and so much other important history as well, has really challenged me to work harder and to be a better and honest version of my true self, in the sense that I’m following in the literal footsteps of such life-changing people and culturally significant individuals.
4. What is your favorite project you’ve worked on and why?
This most recent project has definitely been my favorite record I’ve made. Working with these incredibly amazing musicians (George Sluppick, Al Gamble, Mark Edgar Stuart, Joe Restivo, Will Sexton, Jana Misener, Brandon Kinder) and having Bruce (Watson) produce, was just a humbling experience for me all in all. The music video for “Weight of Independence” was really a great time creating as well. I did that with One Four Three Productions, (Joshua Cannon) here in Arkansas around the farm. That was my first music video I’ve ever done and it was such relaxing and fun experience. The crew really was the whole reason for that, they’re amazing.
5. What do you hope your listeners feel when they listen to your work?
I hope my listeners feel touched. I hope they feel connected. Not just to me but to the rest of the human race, to nature, connected to every breathing thing on this planet. And to the mysteries of it. I hope my listeners can find some meaning in their world from my music.
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