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CRS Razzy Bailey Interview
RAZZY BAILEY
CRS-40 has come and gone and for many of country’s hottest rising stars and newcomers it was a chance to meet with mainstream radio, internet radio, and magazines like this one to talk about their current happenings all in one location. We did our fair share of interviews as well and were able to catch up with Razzy Bailey.
Photo Credit: Julie King/JMK Photography
1. You are working on your new album “Damned Good Time.” What sound and ideas are you trying to achieve with your writing for this album and when can people expect it to be released?
I started on this album two years ago and was looking over time spans of music to find what I really liked the most and for everything I looked at I came to the conclusion that the 70’s was the period I liked the best with guys like Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and even David Allen Coe with his hits then. I didn’t copy that sound in particular on this album but I gave it a 70’s sound.
2. You have a solid catalog, but how is this new album going to be different and what similarities will your fans hear on it in comparison?
They are going to hear more of me on this album then the last few that I have done. This one is really diversified more. My album “Blues Juice” had country and some reggae blues on it. My album “Razzy Unwrapped” was country diversified. I love all kinds of music though and listened to all kinds of it growing up. Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights, The Dixieland Jazz from
3. Which single are you looking to push out to first represent the album and why?
“Hank Wrote That.” That song is a really good, solid country song with a medium tempo and the lyric is about someone that is wanting to write a song about a broken heart and everything that they can come up with was already something that Hank had wrote before.
4. Over the years you have worked with a lot of artists but which have you felt the most honored to work with and why?
Willie Nelson. There is no doubt about it; that was big fun with him. I also worked with Charley Pride who is a great guy.
5. Is there an artist you have always wanted to work with but haven’t yet? If so who is it?
You know this is going to sound crazy but I would say Randy Newman cause he is really off the wall and I think that’d be fun
6. You have achieved success not only in the states but globally. What about you and your music do you think has kept it relevant as the landscape of mainstream continues to change?
Songs could be dated there is no doubt about that. If you wrote a song about President Bush right now that’s not what people want to hear now. Something like 9/11 or Katrina is something they always will want to hear about. For me, I try not to write songs that are hooked to a period of time and I try to write good songs. That goes back to Hank again, his songs would be hits today because they are just good songs. I never really focus and hardly ever even write about a whole lifetime, but rather write about pieces of it.
7. When you play live shows what songs that fans want to hear surprise you the most?
They always look for the bigger songs like “Midnight Hauler,” “She Left Love All Over Me,” and the religion songs. Even though I try to do all of the hits they want to hear in my shows, I don’t really stick to those the way I should most of the time. But lately I am getting a lot of requests for a song of mine called “Sandcastles” from the “Unwrapped” album which is really surprising me lately.
8. Why did you decide to take part in this year’s CRS?
I have the new album, and I am working with PLA Media who is trying to promote the album with me more, and get the name out more and be busier with it. CRS is part of the business aspect of this whole thing.
9. Looking back on this year’s CRS how do you think going forward after it ends it will benefit you the most?
Well maybe some stations and magazines that I haven’t got in, in a while will take some notice of the new album. Also, gaining new contacts and making new friends will help which is what this is all about.
10. What piece of advice can you offer to someone that’s looking to break into the music industry?
I have been working a lot with new artists that are trying to break in and the most familiar problem I see is two of them actually. First, don’t let a family member get you all confused. Just follow your heart no matter what they may say to you. The other thing is that people are too impatient sometimes. This doesn’t happen overnight. You have to prepare for it. Don’t get discouraged, have good material, and realize that you can’t do everything by yourself. If you produce, publish, etc… then you give no one else that can help you get there a reason to want to work with you and be involved.
