S4: E7: Bailey Rae - Oklahoma Girl & Gypsy Cowboys

Bailey Rae

Sat, Feb 25, 2023 10:29AM • 57:06

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

people, bailey, texas, artists, super, song, hear, sing, listening, backstage pass, oklahoma, grew, studio, country, mom, music, tick tock, randy travis, voice, dad. Oklahoma, Bailey Rae, Bailey Rae Music, Gypsy Cowboy, Oklahoma Girl, Backstage Pass Radio, Backstage Pass Radio Podcast, Randy Hulsey, Randy Hulsey Music, Randy Hulsey Podcast, Music Interview, Best Music Podcast

SPEAKERS

Bailey Rae, Randy Hulsey, Adam Gordon

Randy Hulsey  00:00

Today I will chat with a singer songwriter that has been performing since the ripe old age of 13. Hey people, it's Randy Hulsey with backstage pass radio, and I have a good one for you today. My guest is a Texan by way of Oklahoma. She released her first single when she was a teenager has shared the stage with country legends and was also a contestant on a very popular television singing contest. Go ahead and dial the sound in and we'll chat with Bailey Ray When we come back.

Adam Gordon  00:28

This is backstage pass radio, the podcast that's designed for the music junkie with a thirst for musical knowledge. Hi, this is Adam Gordon. And I want to thank you all for joining us today. Make sure you like subscribe and turn the alerts on for this and all upcoming podcasts. And now here's your host of backstage pass radio. Randy Halsey.

Randy Hulsey  00:54

Bailey, thank you so much for joining me. It's great to see you and welcome.

Bailey Rae  00:58

Well, thank you. Thank you for having me on. This wouldn't be so much fun.

Randy Hulsey  01:01

I know. I think we've had this on the schedule for a little while now. So it's finally come to fruition. And but I think I came to you by way of Instagram, I stumbled across you on Instagram and started listening to the music instead of oh, I have to have Bailey on so here we are. Oh, here we are. Yeah.

Bailey Rae  01:18

So one of my favorite social. Yeah. Don't tell the other ones. But

Randy Hulsey  01:22

I know. And you know, and you know, what's interesting is I think from an artists perspective, it I think it seems to be the most popular for the musician to be on. Right? Would you agree with that? Oh, yeah,

Bailey Rae  01:35

some degree also tick tock is like taking some of these artists that you would have had no idea who they were, and then taking them to record deals, to having them being signed. And it's just, you know, some of the coolest stuff ever, but it's definitely changing. The world is changing at the moment. And I think it's definitely gonna go more to the Tick Tock side of things, but I'm gonna stick with all Instagram as long as

Randy Hulsey  02:00

well, you know, that there's good and bad to all of them. Like, I mean, there's, I guess you can do what do you call it reels on on Instagram. But, you know, once the snowball effect starts happening, like tick tock, you got to jump on that as an artist, like, I haven't a tick tock page. I do nothing with it. Like, because I'm not really. I mean, I guess I could do more to promote backstage pass radio, but I can see where the artists would really get on there. And like play clips of songs, and some of them, you know, do silly things. But you know, it's really all about becoming a household name at the end of the day. Who's Bailey Right? Oh, yeah, I know who she is like, I see her doing tick tock, and all this other crazy stuff, walking the cat and the dog and who knows, right? It's just all over the place.

Bailey Rae  02:50

I had a musician friend tell me one of the smartest things that I've ever heard. It's more tick tock. He's pretty popular on tick tock has got some great followers and some likes and stuff. But he said it's more of like a Trojan horse situation where you have to, like, grab their attention by comedy, or something completely different. And then be like, well, bam, hey, I'm a musician. Listen, my songs. Yes. Just kind of like Trojan horse says yes. And that's a great analogy. And it was one of the smartest things that I that I heard. And while I was like, I'm gonna have to use that. Yeah. But I I refer to myself as probably one of the oldest sold at the age that I am. I am just not going to tick tock but I have to for what I do. It's just part of the game.

Randy Hulsey  03:37

It's a necessary evil for sure. Right? It's a necessary

Bailey Rae  03:40

necessary evil. I have about two videos on there. So.

Randy Hulsey  03:45

Okay, so you have like, you have like three minutes worth of content that we can go see.

Bailey Rae  03:50

If you have three minutes of time to spare. Go watch the video.

Randy Hulsey  03:53

Well, the great thing about that for the listeners is if the three minutes of video sucked, you don't have to waste a bunch of more time of your life. You watch the two videos. I'm sure I'm sure they're great. I'm only I'm only being Randy right now. Nevermind. Nevermind. Randy. Well, we we talked we talked a little bit about that earlier today about just kind of being old souls because you said well, you know, we're having bad weather up in southern Oklahoma, northern Texas and I am not working my student canceled or some students canceled. And I said, Well, you know, we could do this earlier because I like to be in bed by 830. You said yeah, I get I get it. I get it. I'm young, but I'm an old soul too. I like to I like to be in bed by nine. So

Bailey Rae  04:42

when I'm not doing gigs, I am asleep at nine o'clock.

Randy Hulsey  04:46

You know, I'm an early guy and it's weird because a lot of musicians are night owls, and I've never been the night owl. So it's really not uncommon for me to be in the studio that may say Right now at 434 30 on a Saturday morning, I've done more before a lot of people wake up than they do all day, right? Because I'm up at 430. And, you know, by eight or nine o'clock, I've already done like four and a half, five hours worth of stuff. And it's nice and quiet. And I don't know, there's something about the evening, like, late at night, my brain just wants to shut down. I'm just my brain is not wired for the light night anyway. So we talked a little bit pre hitting the record button that you're coming to me by way of kind of southern Oklahoma right, talk to the listeners a little bit about where you grew up. And you also have a place in Texas. So talk to us a little bit about that.

Bailey Rae  05:41

Yeah. So I grew up in southeast Oklahoma. It's a super, super tiny farm town called Roberta. And it's about 15 miles southeast of the ramp, but I'm super, super close to the river. I can get to Texas in a flash, but I teach. I'm a music teacher. I teach vocal lessons, I teach guitar lessons and all that good stuff. I teach in Memphis in Texas at a vocal studio, and that right there in downtown Denison and have a blast with those kids. But i That's why I'm kind of I'm split between the two. I live in southeast Oklahoma, but I do most of my stuff in in Texas, and I work in in Denison. So. Don't tell Oklahoma but I like Texas a lot more. Like the worst Oklahoman ever but

Randy Hulsey  06:27

how funny. You think about that comment because there'll be time for us to strip that out. If you decide that you don't want to leave that in there.

Bailey Rae  06:35

That probably won't be the best.

Randy Hulsey  06:38

It's like why did my fan base just go down in Oklahoma? What the hell's up with that? I'm kidding. I was gonna ask you did you want to plug the studio where you are? I don't know if you want to do that or not. But if you're taking on, you know, people that you you give voice and guitar to a please feel free. I mean, this is your platform, right? Yeah.

Bailey Rae  06:57

So I, I grew up in a vocal studio, which we'll probably touch on that a little bit later. But I grew up in a vocal studio, I took vocal lessons, and I would not be where I am today without the help of the help of that vocal studio. The vocal studio is Shonda Rhimes entertainment. And I have been teaching probably for about two years now. And I have some I have some great kids. And we're always looking for new ones to come on in. And we have like studio shows that we do sometimes on the weekend. And the kids have a lot of fun with it. So you're getting that learning experience. Plus, you're getting the community of the studio, because we have a lot of kids, we have probably 40 kids between the three teachers. So it's more of a, you learn. And you come in every week, and we have a vocal lesson or a guitar lesson. And we have fun and we teach. But you also get the sense of community with all the other girls and the boys. And it's just a lot of fun and a lot of fun doing it.

Randy Hulsey  07:58

And you mentioned that you teach voice and guitar. Correct.

Bailey Rae  08:03

I teach guitar and ukulele I usually start I have my six year olds, I start them on ukulele and then we move up to guitar and it's a big deal for them to take guitar lessons. And I teach a little bit of everything. You know what I've tried to learn, fiddle to teach and that lasted about a day. So I couldn't do it. I was like, this is this is it for me.

Randy Hulsey  08:22

Why is that? Why did heart attacks? Why do you think you couldn't do it? What why?

Bailey Rae  08:27

I don't know. Maybe I just don't have the patience now that I've learned guitar and that's like the I like I worked so hard on learning guitar. Okay, I just don't think I could add it anything else. I was like, okay, that's, that's for me. I'll be guitar player, right? That's okay.

Randy Hulsey  08:42

Now, did you formally Were you ever formally trained in voice or did the voice come natural, to you like for and the reason I asked that is because from the sixth grade through my senior year in high school, I was always in the choir. Right. So I had that, that background of proper technique, you know, from the diaphragm kind of thing and learning music, music theory, you know, learning a little bit about sight reading and things like that. Did you have the same background? Or did you never have any formal training as a vocalist?

Bailey Rae  09:16

So I started in church with my mom and my mom, I could sing she did all through high school college through her early adult years. Like she just loved to sing. And so I found that love from her. And she kind of handed me a microphone when I was probably about eight or seven or eight in church. And so whenever I did find out that I did really like to sing. That's when I went to the vocal studio. I took lessons for probably eight years before I decided okay, I think I'm okay. And I think I can go teach now. So I actually still take vocal lessons whenever I feel like I need a tune up because not everyone's going to be perfect and sometimes you need a little bit of a tune up. So I kind of go And I learned something new every time I get paired with my teacher. Her name is Shonda. She's the owner of the vocal studio. I learned something new every time so something I didn't know.

Randy Hulsey  10:10

Well, I was I was gonna say years and there's still things you don't know. Yeah, for sure. Well, there's always room to learn and I was gonna say if somebody that as great a vocalist as you are needs a tune up. Oh my God, I don't even know what I need, right? Probably need a whole bunch of

Bailey Rae  10:30

true. Oh, but sometimes it's good just to go in and and learn just a little bit more. And now I can I can soak in that information and, and go teach it to my kids as well.

Randy Hulsey  10:41

Well, I have to I have to put you on the spot and because I know you're going to like your mom here. Yeah, you should be because I'm sure you're gonna give your mom the link to the show and say Mom, you got to listen to my interview with Randy. I'm sure so I'm gonna ask the question. Well, with your with your mom listening. Who's the better singer? You are mom? Oh, mom, for sure. She said, Are you lie on? Come on. Be honest. She

Bailey Rae  11:02

retired. Oh said she retired because I started singing. But she still sings like an angel. And it she doesn't do it anymore. I don't think as much as she would like to. But she still seems like an angel was sure, would it? And I was where I am

Randy Hulsey  11:18

sure. But would you? Okay, I'm gonna rephrase the question, then would you say you're more of a technical singer than she is like, Is she more of just the around the house kind of singer,

Bailey Rae  11:28

she probably does regret not taking vocal lessons because she has an amazing voice. And that's something that I had, she unfortunately didn't have. And so she wanted me to have that opportunity to get vocal lessons and be taught the way that you know that we should be taught how to sing properly and use all the correct thing. So I was very fortunate that she didn't do that for me. But I'm sure if she could go back, she would take some vocal lessons, I'm sure

Randy Hulsey  11:54

I can promise you and I and I and I'm gonna go out on a limb to say that you're too young to have kids and to be married. Right? I'm making that assumption. But But what I was going to say, in all honesty is that your mom loves that you were afforded that opportunity and just to hear you sing, she I promise you as a parent, she could care less how great she sang, right? That's just the way we are as parents, you always want your kid to be better than you so to speak. And the whole reason why I asked you about the to put you on the spot about Mom, it was really more tongue in cheek than anything. But I remember an interview years and years and years ago. And I don't know if you've ever heard of a famous guitarist by the name of Joe Bonamassa. But he's a famous blues player. Familiar. So he was a guitar prodigy back when he was 13 years old. And he was doing this interview with somebody and his dad was a guitar player. That's kind of where he found the love and kind of fell in to the guitar much like you're singing, you know, you hear your mom, you were inspired by that. You pick it up. And they asked him they asked Joe, are you a better player than your dad? You know, now this guy is played all over the world with greats like Buddy Guy and BB King and all these guys. And he kind of he's like, he kind of dances like he's still a young kid, right? He's like, 13, and he's kind of dancing around the question. He's like, Yeah, I'm a little better than my dad. He just didn't he didn't want to admit it. But you know, it is what it is. You know, some sometimes you start like, You and mom or Joe and his dad start at this level. And some people are just blessed with talent in certain areas and it just it skyrockets and you never know who has that or what but Yeah, she'll love the fact that, that you got all the voice lessons.

Bailey Rae  13:45

Yeah, I think I think she loves that. She did a like a duo with my aunt. And they would go around and sing in classic country songs. One of their favorite ones to do was you ain't woman enough Loretta Lynn, and they would sing that together. And I was at a show in my mom's hometown. She actually grew up in northern Nebraska. And so I was in my mom's hometown doing a show and my aunt was there and I made them come and save me and it was they were mortified. But it was the funnest thing.

Randy Hulsey  14:15

They did it right. But they were it was great, but they did that right? Yeah. Well, good for you for getting it. Yeah. Well, you kind of speaking of growing up in Oklahoma. You talked about your mom singing I think I think you do come from a musical family. Right? Is dad musical too? Or was it just mom and dad

Bailey Rae  14:33

love my dad is as much as my heart can give. He is not a musician. He cannot sing. love him dearly. But he grew up his side of the family. I come from a rodeo family is actually what I came from. My dad was a saddle bronc rider. My granddad was in the rodeo. My great granddad was in the rodeo and they were all around cowboys. I'm sure you know what that means. But they were just all around cowboys, and I kind of got at that side of dads rodeo jeans, I love horses. I love being outdoors. I love. I love being on a horse. I love doing all that. But I also love singing and my mom comes from kind of a second family. I have a few family members that do sing on our side, but it's a good mix of both.

Randy Hulsey  15:14

Yeah, so so they're not so it's safe to say that they're not instrumentalists. They're you know, dad, dad sings but he can't carry a tune in a bucket. Right? And mom's mom is angelic sings. Oh, he said that about my family. Dad and my brother really didn't have much by way of musical talent, but they're certainly talented in areas that like, I have no clue. You know, Dad's really handy. My brother's more of the artists kind of guy right. And I don't have those talents. So we all we all have our little forte, if you will.

Bailey Rae  15:46

Oh, got something. Yeah, sure.

Randy Hulsey  15:48

And what's it so so being cowboys and kind of coming from that rodeo family was was country always kind of the choice of genre around the house? Or did it ever venture out to to rock or r&b or anything like that? Talk to the listeners a little bit about what you kind of grew up on in the house.

Bailey Rae  16:07

So I always laugh because I got my dad's truck and you knew that it was going to be Chris Ledoux Don Williams, Merle Haggard, like you knew what you're getting into Stephen. Okay. Dad's truck, Hank Williams, Jr. You know, all the good stuff. You got into mom's car. It was REO Speedwagon.

Randy Hulsey  16:26

She was like, it

Bailey Rae  16:27

was just everything. It was kids. My first concert was a kiss in Def Leppard calm, very cool because of my mom. So she just she listened to all of it. She listened to like my dad. But I think that I just loved that so much growing up. And I knew, just by listening to it, it was just always kind of like I just knew, like something deep inside me was like, that's what I want to do. And I think I've tried to carry on what I've loved from the beginning, my traditional country roots because I grew up on Merle Haggard. I grew up on Waylon Jennings, like those were my favorite people growing up and so I try to carry on traditional roots with my music as I progress as I get older, I still try to take that with me because that's what I grew up on. And I feel like there's a place for for that traditional country sound and Texas country music. Absolutely. I feel like Texas country is so wide right now open with every kind of, there's different branches of Texas country music

Randy Hulsey  17:24

variations, for sure. Yeah,

Bailey Rae  17:26

I think there's a place for traditional country music. And I'm hoping to just keep, keep carrying that.

Randy Hulsey  17:31

It was it would be cool. It would be cool, though, to hear a traditional country singer like yourself, at some point in time release a single of something rock and roll, you know, because you grew you grew up hearing that you know what I'm saying? And a vocalist of your caliber, you could pull that off where maybe some others are, you know, they're great singers, but maybe they can't but that would be cool to do something a little more on the on the edgy side from you instead of traditionally. Yeah,

Bailey Rae  18:01

that would be super cool. I think that's the point I am at the point I'm at right now is trying to experiment with my sound, but still taking that traditional country route. So maybe there's like, there's got to be a middleman somewhere. Have more of like the Texas country rock but have fiddle with it. You know what I mean? It make it there's got to be a middle somewhere. I'm still trying to find that middle. may lie.

Randy Hulsey  18:24

Well, well, and you're you're young you'll you can experiment and weave in and out of different I mean, genres and styles and all that and you'll figure it all out. I was gonna say earlier, when you were telling me about your dad being an all around cowboy, and we were then we started talking about what were you growing up listening to the first thing that came to mind was Chris Ledoux. Right. And then you could right off the bat, you said we were listening to Chris Ledoux. And it's like, you know, what a greater statesman than Chris Ledoux rodeo cowboy and musician like, you know, he lived both lives, right?

Bailey Rae  18:58

My parents always laughed because I was probably the only four year old that knew Copenhagen. But that's what I loved. I loved Chris Lu from you know, the time I was three years old, getting in my dad's truck and it just hearing dad's stories and then hearing the same stories kind of reflect on Chris's songs. Yes, I loved it. I loved every minute of it. And that's what I tried to do and some of my songs because dad tells me the stories of him on the road and him. He was he was pretty dang good. You wrote in the PRCA for a long time my uncle went to the NFR three times NFR qualifier just good cowboys, right? So I kind of like to take some of their stories and see if I can place it in a song. Absolutely. Because I think that is some of the coolest like backstories of a song when they actually come from either you or a family member or right. Yeah. So I definitely try to take some of their stories. Now some of them are too easy for me to even try to deal with right you know, I still try to take every little bit of information I can from them because they're just great guys. And yeah, just kind of as a reflection on my music, my music coming up,

Randy Hulsey  20:09

you're right. And it is authentic. And I think people will connect with that authenticity. I don't badmouth artists at all, because everybody has their own style. Everybody does their own thing. But there are some country artists that are way too 20 For me, and they really don't even talk like that. But they can sing that way. But to me, it's like I say, I liked the song. But it's just it's too much. It's not authentic. It's not authentic country to me. And this is somebody coming from a non country background, I was a rock and roll guy. So we pick up on things like that much like, I guess, if you're not really a rock and roll singer, and you try to do that, then people detect that too. But I think that's cool that you can take dad's stories of the road. And people that really pay attention to the lyrics and get inside the song. They'll pick up on that love and that authenticity from you. And they'll connect with music more, I think.

Bailey Rae  21:04

I think that's that's what we're definitely trying to do. Because like I have, I have an older sister. But growing up, she got the brunt of dad being gone a lot for being gone at rodeos. And so I'm in the midst of trying to write a song about you know, him being gone. We were trying to think of like, Daddy's Little Girl Daughter, the rodeo something, you know, something different to kind of put a different spin on it, because it's a cool story. And I think people would love it. And there's, there's a, there's a place for it. And I'm trying to figure out where that place is. Like I said,

Randy Hulsey  21:36

we get busy. We want to hear it get busy. Now I want to hear. So I know, I know. Back at the end of the pandemic, probably right at the tail end, I guess you got into a pretty popular singing show on NBC. Talk about the show, right? Tell the listeners what the show was, and how do you go about getting on to some type of show like like that, right?

Bailey Rae  21:58

So I was, I was very, very fortunate. The show was the voice. I was very fortunate that my vocal teacher. She's my vocal teacher, my mentor. It's actually my boss now. Like I said, her name is Shonda Raines and she somehow I have still have no idea to this day, how she got me a private interview. But she did. So I was very blessed to have a private interview with one of the casting directors. And the season was just a little bit different. I know, when you go audition the first time you do your audition, they say thank you so much. We will give you a call and then you'll possibly be called back for executives. This was smack dab in the middle of COVID. I don't think they were trying to fly people out back and forth. It was just too dangerous. I actually got called that two weeks after my interview and they said, Okay, you're gonna come to LA and you're gonna do your blind audition song. So like, I didn't come back for executives that was just shoved on the stage. They were like, Okay, here you go. I was very blessed, though, for this opportunity. But when I got to LA, it was crazy. It was you know, during the pandemic, it was just, it was a lot to take in. I was super young. I've grown from this experience, but it was a lot as 1819 Year Old Bailey to take in. So I went to LA they gave us vocal teachers they gave us you know, we had a great band rehearse with everything was great. We got to practice our blind audition song, it was all fine and dandy. Get up on stage. John was the only team left, which is completely fine. I think I ended up where I needed to. He turned his chair around within like seconds of my song is still the biggest compliment I've ever gotten. But I ended up on John Legend's team and was told from the get go by Kelly and like, they were like, Oh, you're gonna be on Team Kelly. You're gonna be on Team like you're gonna be. But John would never let me go. So it was a it was a very great compliment. And it's still one of the best experiences that I've had. I've grown a lot from that experience being so young, and LA in TV is a lot to take in at that age. So it was, it was a big step for me, but I would not be where I am right now. Without that opportunity because it helps so much with social media numbers. It helped with Spotify numbers it helped with it just got me a good fan base to start out with. And I had been I've been doing this since I was 13 years old and playing gigs I've been I've been putting in the work and I've been doing what I love since the ripe age of 13. So it was good exposure for me to get the fans that I'd been needing since the age of 13. It just it helped me a lot in that aspect. But I came home from LA top nine was super cool. The whole experience was great. I came home started touring with my band and I finally put a band together. That was one of the steps that I needed to take for my career. Got some guys together and just still doing the work today. Yeah, it's been almost

Randy Hulsey  24:59

like I'm wondering if the maybe it was because of the pandemic, like you said, I'm not sure. But you know, when you look at shows like American Idol, you see 500 million people lined up outside that go into to audition. Under normal conditions, let's say take the pandemic out of the whole thing. Do you think the voice would have kind of been the same way? Or? Or is it the same way? Or do you even know? Not that it even matters? I was just kind of curious.

Bailey Rae  25:30

Yeah, and it's, it's good information for people who want to go in and try out for this. For a TV show like that. I have audition for American Idol left, this is horrible for me to say I kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. So I decided not to go back. But it was a lot, it was a lot to kind of go through that day, it was a lot of hurry up and wait, which is normal for any audition. But I got there. And this was probably maybe a month after I auditioned for the voice. Or before I auditioned for the voice a month before I got there. It was so many people standing in those lines. And I had a wristband, which is one of the things that you can get if you have connections, and my vocal feature had connections. So I had a wristband, so I had to wait a little bit. But the amount of people there was insane. It was aligned in lines and lines and lines and lines. And so I went up with four other artists standing in a line. We did like 30 seconds of a song. And they said, Well, you're not what we're looking for today. Have a good day. And so it was like it was if you've ever heard of cattle, it's kind of what it felt like it was hardened cattle. So um, and I know, that's TV, like, you know, it's one of the things that happens, but I think the voice is kind of similar. Again, I had a private audition. But I think that it's just lines and lines of people waiting for their turn. I think there's like they do maybe do it different now because it's all online, and like virtual interviews and stuff. But it's kind of the same thing. I believe. I think that's just TV in general.

Randy Hulsey  27:10

So if you if you had to, in retrospect, if you had to, if you got to do it all over again, not that you would or you would want to this is just a hypothetical scenario. Would you have wanted to wait until you were older to have the same experience? Do you think that would have been more impactful to you? Are you glad you had it when you did, and that was just okay with you.

Bailey Rae  27:33

I kind of go back. And but I was actually just talking to my mom about this the other day, because we were just kind of talking about like, you were so young. I had no idea what like, it sounds weird, but I had no idea what I was doing. I was 18 years old, 19 years old, didn't know what I was doing fresh out of high school, you know, trying to figure out what I need to do. But at the same time, I learned so much from that experience. And I grew to the person that I am today. So it's kind of I go back and forth a lot. But I think that I would have liked to wait. I would have liked. Like, maybe now couple years. Two years later, you know, I feel like that I would have had some growth, where I at least knew a little bit about what was gonna happen. Yeah.

Randy Hulsey  28:21

And what blows my mind away? Is there some kids that go on the shows that are like, and I don't? And I don't know, the youngest age, but it seems like some of them are, like 15 or 16. I mean, it's just, it's really young. Maybe they're not that young. But I know I've seen some 16 year olds on American Idol. And I'm like, yeah, some of you people haven't even reached puberty yet. Right. And you're and you're literally, you're literally out in no man's land and Hollywood, and you have to be overwhelmed like I would. At my age, I would be overwhelmed with all of them, right?

Bailey Rae  28:55

The person who won my season. His name was Carter Rubin, one of the sweetest kids I've ever met in my entire life. I think he was 13 or 14 when he won. And it absolutely blows my mind that is so much as a 13 year old, but he is he's doing great. Now he's robbing but it's a that's a lot. It's a lot of young to take and I think that that's the age limit is 13. Okay, 13 still, yeah, that's still that's super young.

Randy Hulsey  29:26

You're still wet behind the ears at that age. Hopefully you know, how to drive. Yeah, no, exactly. Exactly. Well, you are not only on John Legend's team, but you also, I believe, got the chance to perform with him at a show in Oklahoma where I talked to the listeners.

Bailey Rae  29:44

Yes. This was I guess, October of 2021. That's been forever ago. Feels like it was yesterday, but it's been forever ago but he was doing a tour and wanted to invite some of his past team members in their hometown comes of course Durant does not have anything as large as the BOK Center. He asked if I wanted to come to Tulsa and and do a duet with him. And I was absolutely in awe and we sang that Joe Cocker song, little help from my friends. One of the greatest sounds that I've had that crowd was absolutely humongous. If you've ever been to the BOK center in Tulsa, it's like probably the size of Dickies arena. If you've ever been there before and Fort Worth humongous absolutely humongous that I was gonna pass out as soon as that one.

Randy Hulsey  30:33

Yeah, cuz he called he called. He called you out on stage like he was he kind of set up the song and then introduce you and you come walking out. No pressure, no pressure, you get like, you know, it's not like you just joined the band on stage and you blend in. It's like, Hey, everybody. Look, here she comes.

Bailey Rae  30:50

Like Does anyone remember?

Randy Hulsey  30:52

Right? Oh, yes. Stop. Knock it off. Oh, no. So so does so does he call you personally and say, Hey, I'm playing the show. Would you like to come be a part of it? Or is it that all Hollywood? Mistake up my people? My people got in touch with your people? thing, right?

Bailey Rae  31:09

Yes. I actually think he reached me by email. Okay, all right, which is kind of a middleman. I guess. He just emailed me like if I ever needed anything. I think that if I messaged him, because we I messaged him on Instagram sometimes. So if I ever really needed anything, I think he would help out. Oh, I'm sure because that's just the guy that he is. And he's just a super sweet guy. So I think that if I ever needed anything that he would definitely be be more than happy to try to help as much.

Randy Hulsey  31:39

Absolutely. And you know what I found out I've had some great local artists on my show, and I have had some Hall of Famers on my show. And what I've discovered over the past 67 episodes, some of those people that are four times Hall of Famers like I had Jimmy fortune from the Statler brothers on my show, he's literally a four time Hall of Famer. I mean, it's like the guy next door like you've lived next door to this guy all your life, right. And you and I think a lot of people that don't get to sit down and talk to people like that. Don't think that they're people too. Like they're human, too. So when we talk about John Legend, I'm quite sure he's he's a nice enough guy, right? Yep. So

Bailey Rae  32:19

yeah, he's just just a just a great guy. And it's, that's always super, super helpful. When when they're like that, just so you remember that? You know, they're normal people. I've always been told, never meet your idols, but I've met mine. So far, no bad experiences. So

Randy Hulsey  32:35

that's good. Well, I think it's cool to point out that you finished in the top 10 That was in front of 40 plus 1000. Other vocalists that's kudos to you. That's, that's, that's an accolade in and of itself. I mean, that's awesome. Because I've been singing competitions, where, you know, you're singing, like, in the choir, you know, you go back to that whole choir conversation, you go to a URL competition, and you're singing against four other schools, which there might be 20 or 30 singers at each school. So let's just call it 100 Singers, right? And you're not really competing against them, but just to know the impact of being around 100 Singers, let alone 40 or 30 or 40 50,000 people right? It's pretty intimidating to most people and to place that high is super cool. So yeah, hats off to you. Awesome. I appreciate that. Yeah, and you have a single that was released not too long back I think it was 2022 and I wanted to share a clip of the song with our listeners. It's a song called Oklahoma girl. So let's take a quick listen to that and then we'll come back and chat Fair enough. Okay all right.

Bailey Rae  33:49

Across at all stay on listen to the horses Barney five got a ticket in mind better strong and dominant Oklahoma girl in a Texas state of mind just makes me Wigan remember all the things that my mama told me his arms around me. Everybody class see. Oklahoma girl in Texas schools

Randy Hulsey  34:38

that's real pure country sound in there. Bailey. I love the song. Great job on that. And it's like I have this vision. When I listen to the song I can just see a bunch of people on a dance floor cut and rug right like like that's, that's this vision that I have. Where? Where was the song cut? And who did you work with on the recording?

Bailey Rae  35:00

Yeah, so I work with split window studios in in Denison Texas is actually kind of funny I work right across the street from them. Super sweet guys, so I highly recommend them. I'm gonna give them a plug here that split window studios, they were just super easy guys to work when this was, I think our first single to do with them but not our first project we had a lot of acoustic videos because they do a lot of video. So like a lot of acoustic videos like anything that I needed for just harmony work like they were always they're just sweet guys. And so this was our first single to do with them. We were in the studio with him like last month. So plugging some some new stuff possibly.

Randy Hulsey  35:48

Don't get ahead. I mean, don't get ahead. I mean, we'll talk about I'm rushing you Sorry. Yeah, this is my this is my show. Bailey you don't make the rules.

Bailey Rae  35:58

But it was just a it's a fun project. It was a really, really fun project. My my band actually wasn't on this one. The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame band that was always on my stuff since my very first single in 2020. They have played on all my stuff. So they are there some really cool guys. I don't know if you've ever heard of Milo Dearing, I have not, he is he is the steel player for the Eagles. Okay. And so he plays on all my stuff. And he's part of the Hall of Fame band. And they're just really cool, guys. So they are who play on this single my band, like my traveling band will play out my next one. So I'm kind of excited to see the different sounds that we get, you know, Oklahoma girl versus what we you know, get from the next one. But this one was just a super fun, fun project. It's a fun song. It's just a it's a good dancing one. So I like it. Everyone likes it.

Randy Hulsey  36:53

I dig it. Yeah, for sure. For sure. And you so you talked about that a little bit earlier. You came off the voice and they said you got to put a band together. Right? Is the band that you have now? Is this the original band that you put together? Has there been a lineup change? Or is it complete attrition and everybody's brand brand new.

Bailey Rae  37:14

So I had auditions. This was like, as soon as I came off the voice, I had no idea what I was doing, thank goodness for my mentors because I would be lost. As soon as I came off the voice, I had auditions and I got some really cool guys, some super cool ones. And surprisingly, they were from my area. It's hard to find good musicians in the Texoma area. There's a lot of them a lot that you can they're just like not in the Texoma area. You know what I mean? But for what I was meeting, and they needed to be around me for main call for band rehearsal just so it was easier for everyone. I got some really cool guides and then we had a lineup change. We lost a guitar player. He went to school in Stillwater, we have a new guitar player, traditional country guy, one of the most country's guitar players I've ever heard in my life. So he fits in good. But we we have a lot of fun. We do a lot of traveling together. And it's good. It's always good when you can find guys that you mesh so well with because you're with them a lot more than you'd like to

Randy Hulsey  38:22

know exactly. And if you don't mind plugged the band who are the players and Where Where did you find these guys were like from

Bailey Rae  38:28

so my drummer, his name is Ethan Adams and he's from Durant area actually to dance with his sister. That's how I knew him. And then Alex Pitts is from Basel, Oklahoma. No one knows where that is super, super tiny town. And then Tanner Young is my guitar player. And he he actually has his own kind of solo career. He does a lot of I don't know if you've ever heard of old breads. Yeah. Blake's place in Tishomingo. Yeah, hang up does all reds and Tishomingo a lot. Check this

Randy Hulsey  38:57

out. Hold on. Sitting right here on my chair. How ironic, right? I was just in Nashville. I was just showing Bailey she mentioned all reds. And I was just in Nashville and I had a shirt in my studio here from all around. Yeah, I was just gonna say that I was sitting in a in the airport in Nashville and ran into there was a guy playing at Ole reds in the airport. And his name is Dennis Drummond. And he was also I think he was American Idol. I'd have to anyway, I got to talk to him and ask him if he'd like to do a spot on the show. And he's like, yeah, get in touch with me and I haven't reached out yet but it was kind of interesting. You know, you said already that shirt sitting right there next to me for like, three weeks now. I haven't taken up to my room yet. But anyway. Okay, so you were telling me about your your drummer who was who again mentioned his name one more time.

Bailey Rae  39:57

My drummer was Ethan Adams, my bass player. Is Alex Pitt and then my guitar player is Tanner Young. Okay. And so they're They're great guys. And we have a lot of fun. We I try to keep them as busy as I can sometimes in this climate, it's more of acoustic stuff. And but I try to keep them as busy as I can and make sure they're there. It's worth, you know what I mean? It's worth us leaving Oklahoma and, and making the trip. And we've played some great venues and some very supportive venues who have been willing to get us in the door, just so we can make a crowd there. Yeah, it's awesome when you can get venues who are eager to build with you. Like they'll have you on. And then they'll have you on again, and again, because they want you to build a crowd there, and they want you to have a good experience. It's great when you have venues like that. So that's been very helpful for us. The past couple of years is trying to find those venues. We played some great venues now. That's all absolutely great venue. So

Randy Hulsey  40:57

and we'll talk about some things that you have coming up, but I was gonna Oh, yeah, I was gonna say you cut your first single, I think when you were 17. And it correct me if I'm wrong. The song was called never been this lonely. Am I correct? They're way off base. Okay. All right. So since that release, you've of course gone on to record other great music, including the single that we just listened to Oklahoma girl. But you've also shared the stage with some pretty big name artists, as well talk to the listeners a little bit about some of the folks that you've had the opportunity to play with. And was there any one of them that was very memorable for you? Right? Is there one that stands out in your mind?

Bailey Rae  41:39

Absolutely. So as I mentioned earlier, I am friends with the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame band, and they play for a lot of traditional country artists. Like I've gotten to sang with David Frizelle, which is super, super cool. I've gotten to see him a Bill Anderson, I've gotten to sing with you know, some of these amazing, traditional country artists that I thought were only on my radio and it was great to see them, you know, in person. But the one that's probably been the most memorable Of course, I've opened for my Texas Country artists like Jake Worthington and flightline, Calvary and some really cool names in Texas country. But as I've mentioned before traditional countries where my heart lies, TJ Shepherd has been one of the greatest guys I think I've ever met. I was kind of lost when I came back from the voice. And he was my probably one of my biggest supporters through the whole entire voice experience. And I came back and he was just so supportive. He was kind of telling me, you know, what roads to take, what to do, what shows to get on, you know, some of that kind of stuff that you're just in awe of listening to TD shepherds.

Randy Hulsey  42:51

I was gonna say what a great mentor, right, what a great mentor.

Bailey Rae  42:55

He was just very, along with his wife, Kelly Lange. Also, Linda Davis, and her husband have been length Scott, if you know him as well, but they have just been all of them have been big, like big supporters and just very sweet people that I've met along the way. I'm gonna remember for my life, you know, just just great people. But I've gotten to open for some pretty cool people and I have sent for Randy Travis in his living room. Like, that's probably what it slips my mind all the time. And then I'll see him and be like yeah, it's just, it's really cool to kind of like look back at some of those memories. So

Randy Hulsey  43:36

I had a local artist on my show. Here. I don't remember what season Jeff was in but the artist by the name of Jeff Canada, and he's a big he's a big Randy Travis fan, and he has a may get this wrong. So if you're if you're listening, Jeff, I think it's a Gibson loved have is when he plays acoustically, right, and Randy Travis sign that. And he's so proud of that guitar. And I you know, I don't blame him. I mean, I grew up listening to Randy Travis. He's right. He's a wonderful songwriter, and wrote some really great songs over the years. You mentioned just a few minutes ago, you've made multiple references to the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame ban. Right. But I but I think it would not be fair to you if we didn't point out that you also received an accolade from the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. And it was for I think this was what back in 2001. Was it 21 Young Artist of the Year. Right. Well, thank you to the listeners about the accolade and what do accolades mean to Bailey Ray? As a performer deal, the love and the hate Um, could you live without him? I mean, everybody has a different stance. What's yours and then talk about the Young Artist of the Year award.

Bailey Rae  44:56

The the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame band is in Carthage The award that I received was actually in Fort Worth with the Texas Country Music Association. Okay. So kind of different things. But for education on that, sure, well, no, you're completely fine. But they have been great supporters of me, Texas country. And it's good when you can find a place where you feel kind of at home. And that's what the Texas Country Music Association has done for me just kind of kind of given me a place to be, I guess, all of these Texas country artists kind of come to the award ceremony. It's usually in like November, but I was very lucky to be 2021 Young, Young Artists of the Year, it's all by votes, which is really, really cool. But when you get up on this stage, you're like, heart is pounding so much, and you forget what you're about to say, and very heartwarming to see. Number one, a whole community of Texas country artists come together to support other Texas country artists, because that's why we're there. But to see my fans, and my friends and family get together in vote, so I can, so I can be named. Yeah, you know, I could have one of those awards was absolutely, absolutely heartwarming. And it just kind of shows the community that I've kind of been been stepped into within the neck within the last couple of years. So I'm very blessed for the people that I have surrounding me. And they really showed up because I was very blessed for that award. So it's very heartwarming to see though, for sure.

Randy Hulsey  46:29

It's funny, I'm sure we all to a certain degree wonder when something like that drops, who's going to show up for us? Like, am I going to have no friends? Or am I going to have 10 million friends like you never, you never know what the response is going to be? And it's yeah, that can be stressful in and of itself. It's like, Gee, is anybody going to vote for me? Right? It's kind of standing, right?

Bailey Rae  46:51

That's one of the most stressful situations. Because your your fans, your family or friends really have to show up for you. I've tried to be wise on what situations I've put myself in like that. But I've been very blessed over the years to have them kind of come together. Not really like community. I don't want to say that because that kind of sounds like a coal like the Balearic coal, you know. But that's not what I promise. So long as

Randy Hulsey  47:16

you don't move to Waco, you'll be okay. It's like,

Bailey Rae  47:20

yeah, I didn't plan on it. Anyway, we just stopped there just for in West for collages. Yeah, that's always dope in Waco. I've just been very blessed over the years to have people support me like that. And I think that's one of the things that I wanted to cover today is just how blessed I am to, to have people like that in my life. And in the fans that I've kind of, they're just tagging along with me through this whole experience. And me trying to figure everything out. So

Randy Hulsey  47:47

well, I can see why I mean, you're You're very sweet. You're personable, you're talented. And I can see why people would want to attach to that. Right. I mean, that's, that's an easy decision for people, I would think so. So stay humble, right? Because I think that'll, that'll be a great thing for you what's coming up by way of new music or tour that you can talk about like that you wanted to talk about that earlier? And I said, No, Bailey, you're not talking about that. Right? Now. We're gonna talk about that when I'm ready to talk about it. So tell us all about it. I'm excited to hear because I know I don't want to get ahead of you either. But I think you've got a certain show down here in my neck of the woods that I'm excited to hear about. So go ahead and tell the listeners I'm

Bailey Rae  48:25

just I'm super excited for what's to come this 2023 You know, year, whatever it may, wherever it may take me. But I've been in the studio recently, and can't really say much. I will be getting in the studio again. Pretty soon. So just I think the one thing that I wanted to mention we're just be looking out. We'll probably make an announcement pretty soon, within the next few weeks, months, hopefully, if everything goes as planned, but it can all change the blink of an eye. You never know honestly. But we're super excited to be back in the studio and and then for shows like tour wise, this weekend I'll be in Tulsa, which the next few weekends I'll be in Tulsa but I'm doing some really cool things like there's a PBR event in Tulsa that I'm gonna sing the national anthem at Oklahoma City Thunder has asked me to cool things nationally perform which is really cool to me. But I have a I have a band gig in in Fort Worth rhinestone saloon on February 18. I'm opening up for Josh Ward March night, which is super cool. That's like one of my favorite artists in Texas country right now. We're doing rodeo Austin and hopefully rodeohouston prayers on on rodeohouston we're going to try to get it this year. But that's been one of our fingers crossed venues so but I will actually be coming that way towards you guys. Pretty soon. I'm gonna have to look at the dates because I think it was

Randy Hulsey  49:53

I can tell you the name. It's February. It's February 23. So for the listeners in the Houston and Cyprus. surrounding Houston area Bailey will be at the rustic post oak on February the 23rd. That's a Thursday. So yeah, so if you guys can get out there and support that would be great. I'm going to pack this white guitar behind me that Bailey can see and show up. And I'm gonna force her to sign that guitar while I'm there. So

Bailey Rae  50:22

there will be no worse.

Randy Hulsey  50:24

Yeah, so love to like to see all the Houston people out in full force. Artists here for sure. Well,

Bailey Rae  50:32

thank you. Yeah, I'm super excited to be back and post oak. But we've got some super cool things coming up. And this summer we're hoping to get a I'm hoping to do a like a Texas, Colorado Wyoming tour. And I'll end with with Cheyenne Frontier Days, which will be super cool. That's been one of my bucket list. Things have come in from rodeo family having a rodeo Dad, that's gonna be super cool. So I'm super excited about that. But yeah, we're just we're trying to just be wherever we can, wherever that will take absolutely will take. Push and I guess pushing for us and just having a great time while we're at it. So

Randy Hulsey  51:07

absolutely. Where can the listeners find Bailey Rae on social media.

Bailey Rae  51:12

So social media, I have Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok. If you want to go watch my two videos that I have, take three minutes out of your life. But it's all Bailey rave music, and that's ra e music. Some people put a why it's okay, I'll forgive you. But it's also I have a website at Baylor a music.com got all my bands in town stuff and just where you can find me next. And it's got Spotify links and Apple Music links and YouTube links from you know, when I was like, 13, you can go watch some funny videos of me playing trying to play guitar when I was 13. So those are still somewhere deep down in there.

Randy Hulsey  51:49

I'll have to Yeah, for sure. And I'll and I'm definitely I have not seen the tick the two tick tock videos, but I promise you that that before tomorrow, this time tomorrow, I will have watched both of those videos. So you will have you will have at least two more views on your tic tock channel. Okay, that I can promise you. I wanted to ask you one last question. And I like to ask this of the artists because I really I like to understand the mindset. But what is Bally raise? definition of success? What what do you think it means? If you're successful? What does that success look like to you?

Bailey Rae  52:28

I get this question a lot. And it seems to change sometimes for me, because being in this business is not for the faint of heart at all. It's trial and error. It's yes and knows. And it's just a lot. Sometimes it's a lot of confusion and you sit down you're like, do I really want to do this for the rest of my life? Like what's what's going to happen with me. So I kind of go through phases for me right now. Success to me, for me beings, like if I want to say yeah, I'm successful, that would mean absolutely doing what I love making money while doing it. That is just like the definition of success for me. If I can play what I want to play, if I can sing my songs, have people listen to them. Maybe it's not Carrie Underwood's fan base, but if I have some people listen to my heart and soul poured out into the songs. If people come to the shows, whether it's 100 people, whether it's three people in the crowd, if people are showing up for me, if people are listening to my music doesn't matter the amount and I'm doing what I love, and I'm making money, it's just like a, just a little plus, sure. That is success. For me. I used to be like success is Miranda Lambert. I want to be Martin Lambert that is successful me. And that's still a version of success for someone and I understand that. But for where I am in my life right now and how just grateful I am that I was blessed with a voice to at least it's not like super unappealing to people's ears. You just kind of have to run with it. You know what I mean?

Randy Hulsey  54:07

I do. I was gonna say that the money certainly is a byproduct of what you do. We all need money to pay the bills and the mortgage and all of that good stuff. You kind of said it best, you know, just playing for people have have people want to hear your stories, your three and a half minute stories, touching people, you know, letting people connect to, to your music and and I like to hear the different responses from the artist. Every one of them says it in a different word. But it all comes back to I just want to do what I love and what touches people at the end of the day and everybody just says it in their own words. So I were kind of where your head was at.

Bailey Rae  54:49

No, that's that's a great question too. Because it's sometimes it changes just because it's like it can be frustrating. Sometimes it's business so I'm very glad you asked me that today because I needed to be reminded of why I love it so much. And just be like you said, being able to touch someone through a song is just absolutely incredible. And there's no words that can do the same thing. It's just when words fail music speaks I love that that quote. So. It's a good way of life. Yeah, I guess I can say that. salutely

Randy Hulsey  55:19

Yeah. Well, Bailey, listen, I wanted to thank you so much for the chat. You've been a joy. And I want to wish you continued success with shows and the music and I I will see you in the Houston area soon. So I'll have a pen in hand and I'm going to make your right so as always, I asked the listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the podcast. Also make sure to follow Bailey on all of her social media outlets, including her website at Bailey re, that's ra e music.com. And make sure to get out and support her in whatever city she's in. But more so especially in that Houston show that I spoke up. So we'll look forward to seeing you there. Again, I'll remind the listeners that you can find the show on Facebook at backstage pass radio podcast on Instagram at backstage pass radio, and on the website at backstage pass. radio.com. Thank you guys for tuning in. And remember to take care of yourselves and each other and we'll see you right back here on the next episode of backstage pass radio.

Adam Gordon  56:30

Thanks so much for joining us. We hope you enjoyed today's episode of backstage pass radio. Make sure to follow Randy on Facebook and Instagram at Randy Halsey music and on Twitter at our Halsey music. Also, make sure to like, subscribe and turn on alerts for upcoming podcasts. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to share the link with a friend and tell them backstage pass radio is the best show on the web for everything music. We'll see you next time right here on backstage pass radio