NOTICE
Question Answer
with Jessie Baylin, musician
Singer-songwriter Jessie Baylin emerged from L.A.'s coffeehouse circuit onto the national scene with the release of her first major-label album, Firesight, in June.
With her warm vocals, longing lyrics and fusion of pop,jazz and folk sounds,the 24-year-old musician could be at home in both a smoky pub or a ritzy concert hall.
While in town last Friday to perform at the Bottleneck, Baylin chatted with Jayplay about fashion, music and her Jayhawk connections.
Q: How has Lawrence treated you?
A:This is my first time in Lawrence, and I've been told this is the only real place in Kansas to be. I went to a little cafe, and I went to Pachamama's and Richard's Music, where I almost bought a new guitar. It's been a great time.
Q: Had you heard of the University of Kansas before?
A: My friend Marc Scrivo graduated from KU, and he's who I wrote my first song with. And didn't your basketball team win the championship last year? I remember it was a crazy shot at the end! I was watching and I almost cried. It was so moving. It was like watching a sports movie. I'm a fan.
Q: We have an article in this week's issue about how to be fashionable on a budget. What's your advice, and what's on your fashion radar at the moment?
A: As long as you have some good shoes, you can wear a basic cotton T-shirt and a cardigan, and if your shoes are rockin', it just pulls it off. And it helps if you have the right accessories. Jewelry makes a big difference. Lately, I've been wearing a lot of stuff from Elizabeth and James. It's the Olsen twins' new line. I normally wouldn't say I wear that, but this line is actually really beautiful.
Q: Our feature story this week is on emotional eating. What's your favorite comfort food?
A: Sushi. I have an application on my iPhone called Urban Spoon, and it has saved my life. It lets me find the best sushi in whatever city I'm in.
Photo by Reid Rolls Jessie Baylin is on tour with Matt Nathanson, and made a stop in Lawrence Nov. 14.
Q: What has been your most embarrassing moment?
A: When I was in seventh grade and I was doing my speech to run for vice president, my fly was down. I had stretch jeans on, so it was wide open. I'm still self-conscious about my fly being down after that. I had silky red underwear on, and to this day I don't own silky red underwear. I've also tripped on wires on stage, which is pretty embarrassing.
Q: If you could be anyone for a day, who would you be?
A: I'd love to be a pro surfer. I'm so scared of being in the water because I'm terrified of sharks. But I know how amazing that would be to ride a massive wave the size of a mountain. There's no way I would ever do something like that myself.
Q: Who was your first rock star crush?
A: I should just say my fiancée [Nathan Followill]. He's the drummer for Kings of Leon. He's my crush for life. But my first crush was probably Tom Petty. I wanted to make him his boyfriend. I saw his video with the Alice in Wonderland theme, and there was just something cute about him. And I really liked his music. I saw him in concert a couple years ago, and the crush totally came right back.
Q: What was the first album you ever bought?
A: After I got my little cassette player, the first thing I bought was Nirvana's In Utero and Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream. I got those two on the same day, and they really changed me. I was in fourth grade. I was hardcore, I guess. But then I also bought Ace of Base the next day.
—Megan Hirt
6
November 20,2008