Meeting up to shoot with Madilyn Bailey was a pleasure. She exudes empathy, kindness, and a pleasant calm feeling. Her original music is full of heartfelt emotion and beautiful melodies. While on YouTube her covers take current hits and re-imagine them into something all her own. Her voice is an angelic and powerful combination where doing anything other than music would have been a loss for the rest of us; luckily it seems like she truly loves making music on a daily basis. Continue reading below to know Madilyn’s views on empathy, self care, and vulnerability.

Who are you?

I’m Madilyn, I tell stories in the form of songs and I got my start sharing these stories on YouTube.

Why music?

Music has always spoken to me. I remember at the age of 5 tearing up over a song that, with a 5 year old’s understanding of the world, I had no real way of understanding. Somehow it just clicked with me. Music has comforted me, healed me, given me purpose. It helps me see the beauty in all the little moments in life and it’s given me the greatest gift of all: being able to turn my experiences into art.

What does authenticity mean to you?

Authenticity, to me, is the act of clearing out all the voices in my head except my own. It’s difficult to do because we are constantly bombarded with other people’s voices: Advertisements, TV shows, authors, parents, friends. Every person has their own internal voice, or compass, and now that I’m tuned into that frequency, I live freely in my truth.

How do you view empathy?

As a storyteller, I am by nature an empath. I tell a lot of my own stories but I also tell other people’s stories and to do this I have to be able to really put myself in their place and take on their emotions. I think in turn this gives me a lot of empathy and understanding for the battles each person is facing.

Favorite lyric of your own?

“I’ve got stitches and scars. I’ve got yards of yarn. I’ve got miles of string running under my skin. I’ve got so much to give so I’ll give it again and again and again.”

This is a lyric from my song Red Ribbon. My Grandma always used to say “happiness is a choice” and I didn’t fully understand that until she passed away. I’m more grateful now than I've ever been for the time I got to spend with her. I hope that I can leave a legacy as sweet as hers and my capacity of empathy is on a whole new level. I had to choose gratitude, hope and resilience in the face of great tragedy and heartbreak and though it was incredibly difficult, I know it’s the only way to live. Not only are our hearts capable of enduring, it is what they were made to do.

Song that makes you feel empowered?

I’ve been super inspired lately by any artists really doing their thing and owning it. Call me old school, but I’ve really been into listening to whole albums from top to bottom. A few that are super inspiring to me are Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves, Free Spirit by Khalid and Glory Sound Prep by Jon Bellion. Singles are cool but albums go so much deeper.

How do you show vulnerability in your music?

The place I write my songs from is super personal and super honest. I am on a mission for the truth. Before I sit down to write, I ask myself “what are you really feeling?” Sometimes the truth is beautiful but other times it’s dark and scary. This time around I’m open to writing from both sides of the truth.

What does self care mean to you?

Self care is my new favorite thing. I always thought I didn’t have enough time to take care of only myself but then I added up all the time I’ve spent on mental breakdowns and pity parties over the years and it was a no brainer. If I take a few moments for myself everyday I have less bad days and good days are even better. To me, self care is boundaries. Self care is alone time. Self care is spending time in my succulent garden. Self care is waking up at 6 AM to write, meditate and run. Self Care is putting on my own oxygen mask first.

What are the qualities about you that are awesome?

I’m obsessive, which makes me great at learning instruments. I’m caring, which makes me a great writer. I’m a dreamer, which makes me a great artist. I like to think of these as my super powers. Once you’ve identified what your super powers are then go out into the world and do good things with them everyday. One small act of good everyday can turn into something amazing in a year.

What’s next?

I have so much new music to show you. Even though it’s been nearly 10 years on YouTube I feel like we are just getting started! Stay tuned on my YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram to know when these song babies drop and also for more tour info. These videos are gonna be amazing but the live show is even cooler!! SO pumped for you to see!!

Talent: Madilyn Bailey @madilynbailey

Photo: Weslee Kate @wesleekatecreative

Madilyn Bailey 💕