A Moment with Singer-Songwriter Kylie Dailey
Kylie Dailey wears 100% Hemp Resort Shirt and Pull On Pant in Navy.
Spotify sensation Kylie Dailey is a creative and passionate Mama based in Tennessee, U.S.A.
When we first heard her song 'Golden Things' it felt so light, ethereal and so quintessentially Meadow Store, we simply had to reach out.
We asked Kylie to share some of her thoughts on style, sustainability, and how to combine creativity with motherhood...
How would you describe your personal style?
Realistically a midwestern art teacher but what I’m aiming for is a travel columnist who lived most of her life in New York City but has now retired to the countryside.
How do your clothes need to move throughout your week (what practical considerations are there when building a functional wardrobe for yourself)?
Well, one of the jokes around the house is that I often don’t make practical considerations with my wardrobe. For example, wearing brand new tennis shoes in the garden, or cleaning the bathroom in fancy pants, or wearing an enormous down parka on a slightly cool day. One time I wore wooden high-heeled clogs to Bonaroo (a music festival where you walk on gravel all day & night). So to accommodate my sometimes lack of consideration, I choose clothing that can handle it all. I wear a lot of workwear, linen, denim, hemp, and cotton tees. My favorite items are well made, last a lifetime, and can be casual, and then with a change of shoes/jewelry, you can dress it up easily. Bonus if it is thrifted. That's the perfect balance to me. Living in Nashville I’ve leaned in heavy to wearing boots with just about every outfit, which thankfully, fits my lifestyle perfectly *chefs kiss*.
What does sustainability and ethics in fashion mean to you and why do you think it's important?
It’s a big deal. I got a little taste of working in the textile industry when I worked in production of a leather goods brand here in Nashville from 2012-2015, working as a seamstress. I was paid well for my work, and could even bring my young baby in with me to the shop. I could stop and nurse, put him in the pack n’ play, and get back to work. Every bit of the process of making these bags was handled ethically. This is why they cost $400+ USD. It completely opened my eyes about how literally everything we use and wear is made by someone, somewhere. Boy oh boy did I start shopping differently. If you’re buying a shirt that costs $5 someone who probably has a baby to feed was paid next to nothing to make that. As a consumer, we get to decide which companies thrive. If you can, put your money towards companies making a difference, with environmental and social practices, and quality clothing. If you can’t afford it, keep your eye on sample sales and thrift, shop re-used. For our kids sake! There's more than enough. Fast fashion is burning up our earth's resources.
When did you become interested in using music as a creative outlet?
Young. I always listened to music with my dad growing up. He was a drummer in a church and I would go and listen to him practice several times a week. We would listen and then talk about albums/production style/sounds. He bought me an electric guitar in Jr.high school and gave me the White Album (thanks dad). I started writing love songs to my best friends. I mostly became fixated on the lyric in the music. I would write sheet after sheet of lyrics that I loved to pass time in school. When I moved to Nashville, I would just burst watching other artists play. I’ve lived here for 16 years and been steeped in some world-class music, beyond what I had ever dreamed of making on my own. I would go to shows and come home and have to write something.
What areas of inspiration do you find yourself drawing on to create your music? It’s sort of always changing like a kaleidoscope. Meditation/journaling, friendships, observing the natural world, listening for and recording sticky turns-of-phrases, reading, watching my kids discover themselves, gardening, cooking, and listening to music my friends are making. Lately, I've been really inspired by learning about and listening to the sounds of plants' biorhythms.
How do you balance your music with other aspects of your life that require your attention and presence?
Scheduling. I schedule times to write even when the inspiration is not there. It works! Even if I feel like I don’t get much, I usually will get a little nub of something, a little seed, or a point in a direction I’m feeling. Or, I walk away having had a chunk of alone time that every caretaker so desperately needs. Either way, win!
What tips could you offer other mothers/busy women on how best to find the time and space for creativity and the exploration of their own unique passions?
My biggest recommendation is reading a book called the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (you know, in all that free time you have to read. Schedule it! Haha) I read it a few years ago and it changed my life forever. It is filled to the brim with tips. But more importantly, it gently walks you through practices to help you overcome your own internal blocks (aka the myriad of reasons that we don’t “find the time”). I think when I started valuing my own creative ideas (and believing they were good enough to try) I started making time for it. So my tip is to read that, haha. Also, journal as much as you can. Journalling helps connect me with my own story and the stories around me so I can be expressive through whatever medium I enjoy creating in. If I want my kids to be able to explore, create and share their voice then by golly I have to.
Kylie Dailey's songs make space to take a deep breath. Her citrus-tinged melodies are an invitation to lightness, channeling some of the best human feelings: hair blown by ocean wind, passing the guitar with your best friends, sharing that hard thing with someone you love. - Spotify
To listen to Kylie's music now, click here.