Meet Bailly Castillo

MEEN: What inspires you to make the type of music you make?

Bailly: My personal experiences and also growing up as a dancer/theatre kid. I love being able to connect with people who may be going through similar circumstances. What also fuels the type of music I create, is the desire to entertain an audience. Growing up primarily performing in local showcases, dance competitions, musicals, etc. I want to make people feel something, and feel like they can escape reality temporarily through my music. 

MEEN: How do you avoid creative blocks to stay inspired?

Bailly: I think going out and actually living life is super important. Doing something out of my comfort zone and not doing what often feels “safe” has inspired me so much creatively. 

MEEN: Opening up for waka flocka , how was that experience? 

Bailly: AMAZING! It was the first time I felt like I got to truly bring my vision as an artist to life. I had 4 dancers who I worked closely with on the choreography and they were such an incredible team to work on this with. This show taught me how important it is to be able to adapt to last minute changes and work a bigger stage and crowd as an artist. Being able to represent Virginia, as one of the local artists selected to perform in this showcase, was such an honor!

MEEN: Being from Virginia, how is it doing music & getting yourself out there? 

Bailly: Being from Virginia I definitely feel like we  are overlooked. We aren’t seen as the “go to” music hub like Atlanta, LA, or NYC even though some of the greats have come out of here: Pharell, Timbaland, Missy, Chris Brown, Clipse and the list goes on. Networking has been such a huge part of my journey; connecting with different people online and offline has helped me grow new fans and build genuine relationships that continue to open new doors for me.

MEEN:On a deeper level , what obstacles do you face that helps you create the art you do? 

Bailly: Heartbreak and personal struggles. Being a lover girl definitely has its perks when it comes to songwriting. It gives me something real to pull from. Beyond that, I think as a young woman growing into herself, it can feel a bit daunting trying to find your way in such a tough industry. Those experiences, the highs, the confusion, growing out of people, it all pours into the music and shapes my storytelling.