Bailey Zimmerman bounds right into a convention room at his supervisor’s workplace in Beverly Hills with the puppyish enthusiasm of somebody even youthful than he’s. At 25, Zimmerman has already scored 4 No. 1 country-radio hits — together with “Rock and a Hard Place” and the namesake observe from his double-platinum 2023 debut, “Religiously. The Album” — and toured stadiums as a gap act for his pal Morgan Wallen. Now, the singer and songwriter has readied a follow-up LP, “Different Night Same Rodeo,” which he says expands his sound in new and surprising instructions.
Additionally: Having dipped all the way down to L.A. after a gig on the California Mid-State Truthful in Paso Robles, he’s taking tomorrow off to go to Common Studios. “I’m stoked as f—,” he says with a smile. “Huge Harry Potter guy.”
Zimmerman, who grew up within the small city of Louisville, Unwell., first blew up on TikTok, the place he constructed a following with movies about custom-built vehicles then pivoted to music when a clip of him singing the primary tune he ever wrote went viral on the app. Powered by his raspy voice and his aptitude for the back-in-vogue stylings of early-2000s rock acts like Nickelback and Shinedown, his ascent was fast by Nashville’s slow-moving requirements. But that hasn’t turned off the city’s veterans: Amongst his friends on “Different Night” is Luke Combs, whose duet with Zimmerman, “Backup Plan,” simply broke into the highest 10 of Billboard’s nation singles chart. (“All the Way,” Zimmerman’s collaboration with the Texas rapper BigXthaPlug, remains to be on the all-genre Sizzling 100 after 17 weeks.)
Wearing a flannel shirt and denims, with a number of gold chains looped round his neck, Zimmerman sat down to speak concerning the new album, what he’s discovered as a well-known particular person and his evolving relationship with God. These are excerpts from our dialog.
This document has considerably much less butt-rock power than “Religiously” did.I agree. I don’t know why I’m pulling away from that, however it got here naturally to not do it. I don’t hearken to that as a lot as I used to — I’m actually on this R&B factor of beats that simply make you vibe out.
Who we speaking?Quite a lot of SZA. The brand new Justin [Bieber] album. Have you ever ever heard of a band named Cannons? I don’t know what you’d name it, however it’s only a good vibe.
The Bieber document is fairly nice.Dude, it introduced the phrase “swag” again inside, like, per week.
I believe I can hear SZA’s affect in the way in which you’re taking part in with rhythm in your singing.That’s what helps it’s so vibey — nearly like your melody is a beat in itself. The tune “It’s All Good,” it’s country-esque, however you possibly can rock your head to it. I simply assume the extra fascinating a tune might be, the higher.
You’ve obtained a tune on the album with the Child Laroi. How’d that occur?I didn’t know Child, however I’ve been a large fan for thus lengthy.
You name him Child?No, I name him Laroi. He truly instructed me his actual identify, and it’s like tremendous correct [Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard]. We had dinner in Nashville, and we simply hit it off — just like the “Step Brothers” factor: “Favorite dinosaur?” “Velociraptor!” “One guy you’d sleep with?” “John Stamos!” It was like that each one night time, I swear. Then he was like, “We should make music,” and I used to be like, “Bro, I’m so down.”
What made you need to co-direct the video in your tune “Comin’ In Cold”?I simply get these concepts in my head, and I really feel like I’m extra of an artist if I’m attempting to place myself on the market and do all of the issues. Sure, my music is the artwork, however a real artist is artistic all over the place.
You play an aspiring rodeo star within the clip. Was the story your thought?Yeah. I’ve been desirous about how I’m nation due to the place I grew up and the way I grew up, however I’ve all the time been form of like an outsider — don’t gown tremendous nation, don’t sound tremendous nation. So the thought of me being an expert bull rider — I needed to begin dipping my toe into tremendous nation issues.
Is that you simply on the bull?Hell no, dude! I obtained a tour — I can’t break my leg. If I had the nuts to do it, I’d have.
I talked to you on the telephone in 2023 throughout Grammy season — this was when lots of people had been considering you had been a critical contender for a greatest new artist nomination. Didn’t occur, although.Once I first began, I actually needed to try this. Then I form of discovered that it’s not all the time truthful and there’s actually a number of work that goes into all of it. I simply felt prefer it kills an artist’s creativity — it kills their hearth since you’re basing the success of what you’re placing your coronary heart into off what someone else thinks. That was killing me. I used to be like, “Dude, I can’t do all these awards shows.” It’s not that I believe I ought to win and I get mad — it’s simply that each one this stuff are going nice, and I’m caught desirous about how I didn’t get nominated. Hopefully in the future they’re identical to, “You know what? He’s been working his ass off — we’re gonna give him one.”
One thing you stated in that earlier interview is that you simply felt you’d been “thrown to the wolves,” when it comes to studying the ropes of the music business. Two years later, does the expertise really feel much less intense?I’ve slowed all the things down for certain. The whole lot’s not the top of the world — I’m not freaking out each morning.
Bailey Zimmerman in Beverly Hills.
(Emil Ravelo / For The Instances)
Was there a second you realized you wanted to dial it down a notch?I referred to as my dad. A bit of perception into my life rising up: My dad is the best dude, and he’s been profitable and he’s been not profitable — simply form of ebb and circulate of life. Within the low elements, we’d go to his home and it will be tough — typically we wouldn’t eat, just one pair of denims for varsity, that sort of factor. However you’d by no means see him upset. He’s drowning in debt, issues aren’t going nice, however he’s obtained a smile on his face, can’t wait to go to the ballgame. Simply regular, bro.
So I referred to as him: “My bills are paid, everybody’s eating good — things are amazing. And still I’m worrying about things I shouldn’t be worried about.” He stated, “You can’t take back what you did yesterday, and every day is a new day.” That chilled me out. Then he stated he didn’t be taught that till he was 45.
Did you take care of nervousness as a child?Not an excessive amount of. “What are we gonna eat tomorrow?” — that was all the time a factor, and that’s why I’m so fixated now on the long run and ensuring I’m doing the fitting issues with cash and never being ignorant with it. However I believe it’s blended with ardour — I care a lot that I truly care an excessive amount of. It’s self-induced nervousness.
You instructed Bobby Bones not too long ago that this new album comes after a tough patch in your life. What was occurring?Simply rising up and doing dumb s—, then being like, “Why did I do that?” Ingesting obtained a maintain of me a pair occasions and kicked my a—. I’m a Christian — nicely, I don’t know in case you’d technically name it a Christian — I simply imagine in God, I don’t actually have a denomination. However with the foundations of my religion, I had some issues I wanted to give up doing. I grew up in a small city — 16 years outdated, we’re consuming beer, that’s what we do. And it was enjoyable, however now I’m searching for a spouse. I need youngsters. You assume your spouse desires you getting hammered all over the place you go?
Suppose it is dependent upon the spouse.It’s not the spouse I need. I’m like, “OK, you keep bitching about not getting good girls. Well, what are you doing?” I’m consuming and I’m going to the bar and I’m not doing the fitting issues to have a household. This isn’t what a household man does, proper?
So I used to be simply form of down in a droop. I additionally checked myself and realized my ego was stopping me from having conversations with folks I felt like I used to be higher than. I used to be like, I gotta determine this out as a result of I need to speak to folks, however this ego is tricking me into considering I don’t need to speak to anyone.
That’s the artist’s conundrum, proper? You’re onstage each night time, folks gassing you up —And in case you’re not self-aware, that’ll simply maintain stacking up till your ego’s big and also you’re not the identical particular person you had been.
However in a approach your ego is what gave you the juice to get onstage within the first place.That’s the factor. I spotted I’d constructed my confidence on leaning on myself with consuming, feeling like a rock star, feeling like I’m the s—. So now I’ve to rebuild this confidence by way of my religion in God, as a result of he’s presupposed to be the rock, not me. That is simply my desirous about it — no sources or no matter. I didn’t learn something, I’m simply raw-dogging this.
Is your intuition to show to God due to the way in which you had been raised?Form of? My uncle Brent, he is aware of the Bible — he was a pastor however obtained out of the massive church as a result of he didn’t like the way in which it was run. I positively didn’t develop up in church singing within the swimsuit and tie. I used to be tough across the edges. I used to be all the time the child who was like, “Why can’t I wear a hat to church? That’s so weird.” God is meant to be for everyone — we welcome everyone, it doesn’t matter what you appear to be or scent like or speak like.
There was this woman at catering [at a show] one time, I’ll always remember this. I’ve this sick sweatshirt that claims “Here to give Jesus glory.” And I bear in mind I stated, “Oh my gosh, dude, that chicken looks f—ing bomb.” And this woman goes, “You should watch what you’re saying if you’re gonna be a billboard.” I used to be like, “So because I’m not perfect, you want me to not spread the word and to keep it to myself? We’re all sinners, bro.” That’s the message I’m attempting to unfold.
You’re a deeper man than I’d wager lots of people would count on.It’s the worst. Speaking to women on the bar — they only need to maintain it mild, and I’m attempting to speak about one thing deep as f—.
Very last thing: What’s the correct amount of knickknack to put on?Relies upon what your swag is. Typically I need to flex and really feel good, however then typically it truly makes me really feel like I’m doing an excessive amount of. I by no means put up something to be like, “Look how great I’m doing and you’re not.” It’s extra: “Hey, look at what can happen if you believe in yourself and you work hard.” I’m only a skinny-ass white child from southern Illinois — this isn’t presupposed to occur. However I’m doing as I’m led, and which means I’m doing the fitting issues. They are saying that about God, you realize — that even the dangerous issues are good as a result of it’s for one thing else.
“Sometimes I want to flex and feel good,” Bailey Zimmerman says of his jewellery.
(Emil Ravelo / For The Instances)
I do assume that’s simpler to imagine in occasions of prosperity.Very true. However it’s what retains me going within the dangerous elements too. I nearly misplaced my mother this 12 months as a result of she obtained tremendous sick. It was terrible — I used to be crying and stuff. However it’s essential to belief that that is a part of the plan.
Your mother good now?Rocking, bro. It’s the most effective factor that ever occurred to her, nearly dying. She give up smoking, she goes to the health club now, she’s maintaining a healthy diet. She’s crushing. However to wrap again round to the jewellery query: I don’t assume there’s ever an excessive amount of — I really like massive rings and gold and diamonds. However typically I take all of it off to be like, “Yo, this means nothing to me — it’s not my personality.”
Once I moved to Nashville, I had nothing to lose, and I stated I’d dwell underneath a bridge earlier than I give up writing songs as a result of it’s one thing I really like a lot. Then when you may have success, you’re scared to lose all these things that you simply’ve labored so arduous for. I began attempting to jot down a success — writing not for the fitting causes. I used to be presupposed to drop this document final 12 months, however I wasn’t feeling good about it. I used to be like, “You know what? I’m not putting out this record.” Then I wrote extra over the subsequent 12 months.
Is there a tune on the document that set off that second section?A tune referred to as “Chevy Silverado.” I used to be strolling across the pool at the back of my home: F— this pool, f— this home, f— the watches and the automobiles — I’m simply gonna be me and write songs that I really like. It was actual artwork, from the bottom up. I wrote the primary melodies and the guitar lick, then I referred to as in my buddies and stated, “OK, I need help, but I want it to be authentic, and I’m not stopping until it feels completely like me.” We sat down and completed it that night time. I used to be like, “I’m back, baby — let’s go.”
Let Bailey cook dinner.Let him cook dinner! Thank God I didn’t put this document out earlier — it’s so a lot better now. And it’s one thing I’m happy with. It’s a kind of issues the place even when it comes out and no person digs it, I’m nonetheless like, “Nah, this is fire, bro.”
