Nashville-based country artist and actress Kailey Nicole‘s latest single “Change My Ways” is an introspective song about lost relationships, and all of the memories that come with them; the sweet moments, the arguments, the feeling of butterflies when meeting for the first time, and the sadness that comes along with them; regret and missed opportunities. “Change My Ways” is acknowledging all of these faults and losses, with the intention of getting it right with the next relationship.
The latest video accompanying “Change My Ways” features Kailey, in one continuous shot, manifesting each of the stages of a relationship brought to life, from beginning to end. The clip shows Kailey in a Nashville bar, where she meets a handsome stranger, falls in love and watches him drift away from her life, all in the span of two and three-quarters minutes, with each booth of the bar representing a different scene in the relationship. (Hip Video Promo) Kailey’s array of talent is aptly shown throughout the video and with each shot, Kailey leaves a trademark impression.
“Change My Ways” is featured on her self-titled EP, featuring six songs and produced by legendary Niles Thomas and Grammy-winning engineer and masterer Bonzai Caruso (who’s worked with Madonna and Stephen Marley, to name a few). The EP hooks the listener in with catchy beats and lyrics that are fresh and original.
You craft and weave raw, truthful, and engaging stories with your words and lyrics. When did you know that you were a born storyteller?
Kailey Nicole: Well, first of all, thank you. I’m not sure there was a moment that I ever knew I was born to be a storyteller, matter of fact I still question it sometimes. However, I did realize that I love to tell stories pretty early on. I would always jump at any opportunity I saw to sing a song or even just tell a story. Whenever we’d have people over when I was young I would find any opportunity to hop up onto the table and start singing.
What is your writing process like; do the words or the music come first?
Kailey: I find that usually, the words come first. The process is different for every song but I find that more often than not, the title is the first to come and I work off of that.
Along with creating music and singing it, you’re an accomplished actress. What drew you to both professions?
Kailey: I see them as hand and hand. Both professions require storytelling and recreating life for an audience. I actually think there’s a lot of acting involved in singing/performing and I use my acting background more than I think people would guess during the process. I think a lot of songs are “characters” because as much as they are about your personal life, life changes and moves as do our emotions. So, going back and singing a song you wrote two years ago is kinda like tapping into an old character to me.
Your self-titled EP was made with veteran producer Niles Thomas and Grammy-winning engineer and masterer Bonzai Caruso. How did this teamwork come together, and what was it like working with Niles and Bonzi?
Kailey: Niles and I had worked together for my very first EP when I was 15. From that time through college we were slowly collaborating songs and almost unintentionally building the EP. Niles was writing “Brand New Day” with Bonzai and then they brought me in to demo the vocals. After we finished the song, they asked if I wanted to add it to my EP and of course, I did.
I really like the different concepts of the video for “Change My Ways,” especially referencing the complexities of a relationship. Were these ideas yours, or was it more a collaborative effort?
Kailey: Thank you! That idea wholly belongs to the director, Chris Beyrooty.
Who have been some of your biggest influences with your voice and music?
Kailey: My biggest influences with my voice have been the amazing vocal coaches that have been with me since I was young. They’ve pushed me beyond my limits, taken my voice to places I could have never imagined, and kept me healthy. It’s because of them that I’ve been able to find my style and all the little nooks and crannies of my voice. The biggest influences on my music are really the people around me, they’re the people that inspire me to write and live these stories with me.
