Bailey Bigger - Joni Mitchell Energy, Broken Futons, Beautiful Tunes
Don't miss Bailey Bigger's Post-Show Inspiring Interview...
In this heartfelt episode, Americana artist Bailey Bigger opens up about the realities of life on the road.
As an independent musician, Bailey shares the often-overlooked challenges of touring—from sleepless nights on broken futons to the struggle of finding comfort in unfamiliar towns.
Yet, amidst the hardships, she brings an undeniable joy: connecting with fans in places she’s never been before. ❤️
We sat down with Bailey right after her show to dive into her journey, discussing her unique influences (hello, Joni Mitchell vibes!) and how her voice and artistry have evolved, drawing from her Memphis roots.
Her passion for creating music is truly inspiring.
🎸 Why listen?
This episode isn’t just for music fans—it’s for anyone chasing a dream.
Bailey’s commitment to her new album, Resurrection Fern, and her devotion to fans is powerful.
Join us for a raw and refreshing look at the life behind the songs. 🎙️
Learn more about Baily Bigger here: https://www.baileybigger.com/
AND follow Americana Curious on Instagram for the latest interviews and the behind-the-scenes with your favorite artists! https://www.instagram.com/americanacurious
Transcript
Coyote Red.
Bailey Bigger:Why do you live with me?
Bailey Bigger:You can go anywhere you like, see what you want to see.
Ben Fanny:Welcome back to Americana Curious.
Ben Fanny:This is Americana Curious Raw, and I am one of your co hosts, Ben Fanny.
Ben Fanny:Normally Zach's with me, but he is not here in Charleston, South Carolina, at Thomas Market, because you get Bailey Bigger, who is recently relocated to Charleston.
Ben Fanny:And we're so excited.
Ben Fanny:We just heard her finish her set and y'all, it is like you're hearing like a, like Joni Mitchell 12 string guitar.
Ben Fanny:Just so intense and enjoyable and incredible songwriting.
Ben Fanny:So I want to ask you this question here.
Ben Fanny:What's a story from your past or from your touring that might surprise listeners?
Bailey Bigger:Oh, my gosh.
Bailey Bigger:That is such a hard question.
Bailey Bigger:I'll be real transparent about touring in general and my experience with it.
Bailey Bigger:I'm bad at touring.
Bailey Bigger:This sounds bad.
Bailey Bigger:I don't really like it, only because I'm like such a homebody to the core that, like, traveling is so hard for me.
Bailey Bigger:When you're like, going for.
Bailey Bigger:And this is kind of a universal experience.
Bailey Bigger:I feel like a lot of people relate to this with touring of like, you don't know where you're waking up the next day.
Bailey Bigger:You're sleeping on random couches and, like, it's just really hard on the physical body.
Bailey Bigger:So I struggle with touring a lot and I think that's something that people don't talk about enough, you know, because it's really normal.
Bailey Bigger:And yeah, a lot of people struggle with it, especially when you're like, in this kind of level that a lot of us are at and this like, Americana scene of like, we don't have two tour buses yet with a queen bed and like, you know, but can't really make enough money to buy hotels every time.
Bailey Bigger:So it's kind of like roughing it a little bit.
Bailey Bigger:And so it's always this battle of like, is it worth it?
Bailey Bigger:But it is worth it once you play the show and you finish and you get to like, meet all the people who know your music that you've like, never even been through that town before.
Bailey Bigger:And it's really mind boggling every time just how much you can reach, like, being an independent artist.
Bailey Bigger:So I don't know if that's like a great answer, but that's kind of.
Ben Fanny:What is the craziest place that you had to sleep on tour just to rough it.
Bailey Bigger:I'm going to get in trouble for this one.
Bailey Bigger:I'm not going to say where, but it was at a house of somebody that I know and I Slept on like a futon, like a pull out futon.
Bailey Bigger:And I like got comfortable finally.
Bailey Bigger:And then the leg underneath it like broke and slipped and I just like slipped over sideways and was like wonky, like totally sideways.
Bailey Bigger:Broken leg on this futon.
Bailey Bigger:And I was like, well, guess the blood's rushing to my head tonight and I'm going to stay right here.
Bailey Bigger:And so in that moment, I was like, we're going to get a hotel next time.
Bailey Bigger:Like, this is just not.
Bailey Bigger:I'm just going to.
Bailey Bigger:I'm just going to lose the money.
Ben Fanny:I love it.
Ben Fanny:Really.
Ben Fanny:Less people know, like, you know, it's like you go to Bailey's Spotify, it sounds so professional.
Ben Fanny:And it's easy to envision people around the world listening to you, but you're like, I gotta pay the bills.
Ben Fanny:Like touring, like, I'm not staying at the Ritz, you know, it's.
Ben Fanny:And it's so important, I think, for listeners to support the artists that they like.
Ben Fanny:So you will, you will tour, you will come out and keep writing music.
Ben Fanny:And y'all, tonight we got to hear some of Bailey's new songs coming out.
Ben Fanny:So knowing that that album is coming out and I know you do have a tour that you're planning, what are you going to do this time so you don't have to sleep on the broken futon?
Bailey Bigger:So this time I actually, I'm making enough money at the main show to like get a hotel that night.
Bailey Bigger:So that's really exciting.
Bailey Bigger:But my partner's going to go with me and we have family in Austin as well, so that's super helpful with like a nice house and so a lot of it's kind of working out.
Bailey Bigger:I almost like plan the tour around, like, making sure there was comfort where I was going because I can't play my best if I'm not comfortable.
Bailey Bigger:You know, if I get in this place, in this headspace of like, I just want to go home, I can't do this.
Bailey Bigger:Then, like, I'm not playing great shows.
Bailey Bigger:And so that's really important to me.
Bailey Bigger:And like, you know, I don't think it's really putting me back at all or putting me behind.
Bailey Bigger:I think it's just helping me excel even further by, like taking care of myself and prioritizing that.
Ben Fanny:Yes.
Ben Fanny:Playing a long game with your music.
Ben Fanny:Now I gotta ask, do you get compared to Joni Mitchell a lot?
Bailey Bigger:All the time.
Bailey Bigger:All the time.
Bailey Bigger:She's the number one person I hear all the time.
Bailey Bigger:And my dog's name is Joni, so it makes Sense.
Bailey Bigger:Yeah, I love Joni Mitchell.
Bailey Bigger:Yeah, she's great.
Ben Fanny:She's so.
Ben Fanny:Favorite Joni Mitchell song.
Bailey Bigger:Gosh.
Bailey Bigger:Either.
Bailey Bigger:I love you, Turn me on.
Bailey Bigger:I'm a radio.
Bailey Bigger:I cover that one a lot.
Bailey Bigger:It's really fun to play.
Bailey Bigger:And then I also.
Bailey Bigger:The last time I saw Richard at the end of Blue is, like, such a deep cut and just so beautiful.
Bailey Bigger:Yeah, that's my favorite.
Ben Fanny:Wow.
Ben Fanny:And, yeah, y'all, it's.
Ben Fanny:It's really incredible.
Ben Fanny:So it has the.
Ben Fanny:Has the Joanie influence, but it's got a lot of other stuff going on in there.
Ben Fanny:I don't want to go too long in this raw interview, but when did you discover that you had that range and that voice, and it seems like you could generate it so effortlessly?
Ben Fanny:I'm.
Ben Fanny:I know it takes effort, but it seems like you're just really just chilling out out there as music and the sounds coming out.
Ben Fanny:So when did you discover it?
Bailey Bigger:You know, I think as I've gotten older, my voice has gotten stronger just by, like, singing more and more and more.
Bailey Bigger:And that muscle strengthens.
Bailey Bigger:Obviously.
Bailey Bigger:When I was younger, I got compared a lot more to, like, Nora Jones or Alison Krause, because I was a lot wispier.
Bailey Bigger:And then, yeah, as I've gotten older, I think I've just.
Bailey Bigger:That muscle's gotten stronger, and I challenged myself with the style of music I would sing, and I really kind of took influence from being in Memphis and trying to kind of, you know, pull that soul out from me that I had that I knew I had in me.
Bailey Bigger:And, yeah, I mean, I tell people that.
Bailey Bigger:I think when I'm on stage or just performing in general, I sort of channel something that's, like, not even, like, I don't know what it is, but it's just, like, I, like, become, you know, this version of myself that I don't really know how to recreate naturally.
Bailey Bigger:It just happens when I'm.
Bailey Bigger:When I have a guitar in my hands, you know?
Ben Fanny:Well, y'all, if you're not intrigued, then something must not be right about you, because when you see her perform, you'll see what I mean.
Ben Fanny:So turn off this interview.
Ben Fanny:Go check out Bailey right now and look for on tour.
Ben Fanny:Thanks for coming on.
Ben Fanny:Americana.
Ben Fanny:Curious.
Ben Fanny:Raw.
Bailey Bigger:Bailey, thanks for having me.
