Everyone knows that Texas has raised several country stars, but allow us to introduce y'all to one of the youngest singers that calls the state home. Jaylee Gandy, an 18-year-old prodigy hailing from Lubbock, effortlessly melds traditional and modern influences in her music. Early into her career, she's built a strong local fanbase and earned the support of several Texas radio stations. Her May 2023 single, "Down The Road," sentimentally reflects on her high school memories in honor of her own graduation. Her bubbly personality shines through in the playful "Little Things," where she cleverly incorporates details and metaphors that show her true knack for heartfelt lyricism. Recently, Playlists & Polaroids got to chat with Jaylee about the personal, yet resonant stories behind these songs - keep reading for our full interview with her!
Image credit: Jaylee Gandy, graphic created by Karly Ramnani
YOU'LL LOVE JAYLEE GANDY IF YOU LISTEN TO: Carly Pearce, Kelsea Ballerini, Taylor Swift, Megan Moroney, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, and of course Texas country!
What artists did you grow up on, and who do you listen to right now?
I grew up on all of the old country, a lot of Darius Rucker, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, everyone that I could listen to really. But I've definitely gotten more into the Texas country aspect of it, so right now I'm listening to a lot of Mike Ryan, Flatland Calvary, and Wyatt Flores.
I love that you mentioned Texas country - you’ve been super open about how you grew up there, and Texas is a huge part of your branding. What do you connect with the most about your home state?
Obviously, everything's bigger and better in Texas, but I think everyone is just so hardworking. The stubbornness and the pride that we have in Texas is amazing, and I definitely take after that a little bit too much. Everyone has such a big heart, and they're willing to do so much for you - but at the same time they're hardworking and they're definitely driven.
Since you graduated from high school not too long ago, what are the biggest highlights and challenges of entering the industry so young?
I definitely think it [can be] hard to stay who you are in this industry. I think it's very easy to get construed and taken to a whole different level. But I think it's just been hard juggling school and friendships, and then being a person who sings and puts out music on the radio [at the same time]. It was definitely an adjustment to get used to, and I’m still not perfect [at it], but balancing those two lives is a little bit difficult sometimes.
I love the juxtaposition of “little things” and “big problems” in your latest single. How did you approach writing this?
I went into a co-write with a lady named Sofie [Lynn, collaborator on “Little Things”]. I absolutely adore her. I've written a couple songs with her before, so [the writing process was] easy. We were talking about all of the little things that bother us, if that makes sense. I gave some stories, she gave some stories, and I pulled some of my friends' stories. It became [about] all of these little things that really make the difference in a relationship and in a friendship.
Image credit: Jaylee Gandy
Since graduating high school and putting out “Down The Road,” what are some of the biggest adjustments that you've had to make in life?
Right after I graduated, I moved into my own apartment. I obviously started college. That was a huge adjustment on its own, I guess. I think “Down the Road” is my favorite [song I’ve] put out. It [helped] with graduation and it helps me move on, I guess you could say, because I'm not really good at talking about my feelings so I put it into a song. “Down The Road” really helped me like take them, move on, and start another chapter of my life.
Did your school play “Down The Road” at graduation?
Yeah, they did! We were at graduation practice, and we were just sitting there. And at the end of our graduation, we all stand up from our chairs and go to both sides of the football field. We stand there and a song plays, and then we turn our tassels and throw our hats. It was actually my song that played, and everyone was like, “That’s you!” And I was like, “Yeah, that’s me!” That was a really surreal moment, it was pretty cool.
That’s so sweet! It must’ve felt amazing to know you have the support of your whole school, before y’all went out into the world.
Yeah, they're so supportive!
Image credit: Jaylee Gandy
What is your favorite song to perform live and why?
Definitely “Down The Road.” I play it last. It's nice to have people understand that it's me who wrote it and sang it. But I think it's also kind of punny, if you will, because at the end I'm like, “My name is Jaylee Gandy and I will see you down the road!” And everyone’s like, “Oh, that's so funny!” So it's pretty fun to say that.
What are your goals in music for the rest of 2024?
College is a whole new ballgame, so it's going a little bit slower than [when I was] in high school. But I’m definitely going to try to get some new music out, maybe go to a couple events, definitely some more gigs around here. That is one thing about Texas. The music scene in Texas is insane. Even in Lubbock, I sing at so many different restaurants and they're so supportive. It's just pretty awesome to have a hometown that's so supportive in music and in you. But yeah, definitely doing some more gigs around Lubbock and just seeing where it takes me, I guess.
What are you studying in college?
I am actually a pre-nursing major right now. So I will be in nursing school not too long. I'm doing music, and then I'm trying to keep my head afloat in anatomy.
Finally, the P&P classic! What’s a lyric from "Little Things" that stands out to you? Walk us through the process of yourself writing it, and how does it speak to you personally?
The lyrics of "Little Things" are my favorite, because I feel like I'm just speaking in metaphors the whole time. I guess we'll go with the sweaty hands lyric, because everyone always asks me about that one. So the lyric is, "it's nice when you hold my hand, but yours is just a little too sweaty for me." [One of my friends and I] have always laughed and made a big joke growing up, because she has really sweaty hands. We're like, "Why are you so nervous?" And she's like, "I'm not, I'm not!" But I actually pulled that [line] from her. And so that's where that line came from. Everyone's like, "What guy is that about?" I'm like, "Actually, it's not [a guy]!" But yeah, it's pretty entertaining.
With her headstrong, driven artistry and tell-it-like-it-is approach, Jaylee Gandy is already making her mark on country music. We're calling it now that this girl is going places, so now might be a great time to dive deeper into her world. Here's a playlist we've curated to capture her vibe!
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