On a certain day last year, one of the estimated 100 people who moved to Music City was a musician. Now fancy that. Well, let’s all welcome singer-songwriter Kailey Nicole to town. After releasing some recent singles and a 2016 EP “Nashville Stickup,” Kailey’s ready to kick off 2020 with her new eponymously-titled EP on January 24.

Nicole has a love of classic country that she uses to propel fast-movers like “Diamonds and Coal” from the EP and steer ballads like “North Star.” This young talent can sure sing ‘em and write ‘em! While she is ready to make a mark with her own music, check out her Facebook page where she drops recordings of some of her favorite songs by other artists.

About the direction her music is taking, Kailey says: “Both EPs are traditional as well as contemporary country, but I think this new EP blends in some other genres, as well. This time the approach to production is different, the lyricism is different, and my approach to vocals is different. I think what’s working now is a sense of vulnerability and my comfortability in myself and the artist/songwriter I’m becoming.” 

Thanks, Kailey, for kicking off this new year of 11 Questions, and we look forward to hearing the new music and seeing you play live in your new home town!

Where are you from originally, when did you move to Nashville and why?

I was raised in Henderson, NV and when I was nine years old, I was cast in “The American Girl Revue” in Los Angeles. Shortly after that, I moved to California to pursue my acting, singing, music and all of the above! I was in LA until I graduated from USC in May. I’d been coming back and forth to Nashville for years and after graduation, it finally hit me that I had the freedom to move to Nashville now. I always knew I’d end up in Nashville so it’s a bit surreal to finally be here!

What are the first and the last records you bought, and where did you buy them? Were they CD, vinyl or digital?

Oh man, the first CD I ever bought from good ole Target was actually Kristen Chenoweth’s album Let Yourself Go. I’m a theatre kid and a country girl, what can I say. Most recently I bought the vinyl for Chris Stapleton’s From A Room: Volume 2. It’s such a great album, and I couldn’t resist getting it on vinyl.

First and last live concerts that you’ve seen?

First live concert I ever saw was Hilary Duff. I was about seven years old and half way through I leaned over to my mom and told her “That’s what I’m going to do when I’m older”. The last concert I saw was Charlie Worsham’s Every Damn Monday at the Basement East which was packed with some unbelievable talent.

Whose star should be added to the Music City Walk of Fame?

Well, first and foremost I think Patsy Cline needs to be added. Secondly, there are some unbelievably talented women I love that I think deserve to be in there such as Brandy Clark, Kacey Musgraves, and Caitlyn Smith. Hopefully we’ll see them added soon.

Where do you go in Nashville for coffee and pizza?

I love Emmy Squared for pizza and Crema for my morning cup of coffee!

What’s your favorite record to ever come out of Nashville?

I think I have to go with all of Patsy Cline’s work. I was raised on Patsy Cline’s music and spent most of my days after school singing “Walking After Midnight” in the kitchen with my nana for hours on end.

Where’s the best place to eat late night after a show?

Waffle House, of course!

The Bluebird calls and asks you to host an “In the Round.” Pick three local songwriters to join you.

Ok, I’m going to think a little outside the box on this question! I would call Loretta Lynn, Joy Williams, and Dolly Parton. Sounds like a fun round, right?

What are your favorite music venues to play in town?

I’m brand new to town but I’m looking forward to playing gigs at all the amazing venues around Nashville.

Name a musician who you’d like to see move here.

I’d love to see my friend, Joe Martin, who is a singer-songwriter in the UK move here. So talented, and he would be a great addition to Nashville.

Finally, what’s in your musical future?

I’ve got my eponymous EP releasing on January 24 which I’m so excited about, and I’ve got a couple of videos for the EP that will be coming out. I’m already working on some new music to release after the EP, so I would say what’s in the future is a lot of new music!