Gavyn Bailey

There's a talented 14 year old Singer & Songwriter in Orange County, California whose good singing vocals got our attention. This 14 year old is Gavyn Bailey whose a Singer & Songwriter.

Fourteen-year-old Gavyn Bailey is a rising star who's taking his pain and channeling into music" CBS's Suzie Suh quotes, and that's exactly what young Gavyn is doing. Born with Kidney Failure and a passion for music, his dream is to inspire others and make a difference through his lyrics. Gavyn first picked up a microphone at age three, fisherprice of course, at the hospital post transplant. "He started singing for all the kids on the floor and even put on a show in the playroom" his mother, Giselle, said in an interview. Now at age fourteen, Gavyn has acquired
a tremendous amount of musical knowledge and experience even at a young age which has exposed him to the positive effects that music plays in peoples lives. This is one of main reasons that Gavyn continues to push his music into the world.

We recently had the opportunity to interview this 14 year old Singer & Songwriter from Orange County, California. Here are his answers to our questions.


When did you start singing?
I've been singing ever since I could talk!

Was it your dream to be a singer?
It's always been a dream of mine, It's all I think about everyday.

Tell us about your style of singing?
My style of music ranges from pop to singer/songwriter to indie/acoustic and even a little bit of folk.


Are there challenges pursuing a singing career?
Definitely. There are so many people that try to get in the business but I try to block that out of my head and keep going.

Does your parents and friends support you?
My parents support me 100% and so do my friends. My mom is one of my managers so we are very close. It's hard to see my friends all the time because I'm homeschooled and all of the busyness of music but we still keep in touch.

Do you write your own songs?
Yes.

If so, tell us what goes into writing a great song?
First and foremost is the inspiration behind the song your writing. In my opinion I find songs boring if your just talking about something random with no feeling or emotion in the song. Then you need to make your song very catchy that will get in somebody's head.

Where was your first performance, were you excited?
My first performance by myself was at a restaurant in Newport Beach, California. It was very exciting for me since I was only 10 and I had never performed before.

Where have you been able to perform?
I have has the privilege of performing in many places. I've played at places such as the House of Blues at Downtown Disney CA, The Roxy in Los Angeles CA, The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano CA, The Market LV in Las Vegas NV, Taste of Newport (Opened for Andy Grammer) CA, and many local festivals, restaurants, and fairs.

Who inspires you with your singing and songwriting?
Ingrid Michaelson is one of my all time favorite songwriters. Her passion in her songs and her folky wording just kills me. She is definitely an inspiration for my writing and as far as singing, I have so many I couldn't name them.

If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I don't to be like everyone else but in all reality, Madison Square Garden is where I want to perform because you know your big when you sell that one out!


Along the same line, who would you love to perform with?
Again, I would love to perform with Ingrid Michelson. She's my idol in music.

What are some of your goals for your Music?
To inspire people to make a difference, to help people through their struggles, and for my fans to be able to relate to my lyrics.

What do you hope to accomplish with your singing/songwriting?
Like I said above, just to be able to have my fans relate to my music.

Do you have any advice for those wanting to start a career in singing and songwriting?
Go after want you want and don't let anything stop you! Just keep on going.

Do you have any other talents?
I photograph musicians, I play ukulele if that counts :)

We wish this 14 year old Singer & Songwriter the best of luck as he has the talented to be very successful in the music industry. Keep an eye and ear out for this up and coming Musician following his dream.
- Rocky Coast News

There's a talented 14 year old Singer & Songwriter in Orange County, California whose good singing vocals got our attention. This 14 year old is Gavyn Bailey whose a Singer & Songwriter.

Fourteen-year-old Gavyn Bailey is a rising star who's taking his pain and channeling into music" CBS's Suzie Suh quotes, and that's exactly what young Gavyn is doing. Born with Kidney Failure and a passion for music, his dream is to inspire others and make a difference through his lyrics. Gavyn first picked up a microphone at age three, fisherprice of course, at the hospital post transplant. "He started singing for all the kids on the floor and even put on a show in the playroom" his mother, Giselle, said in an interview. Now at age fourteen, Gavyn has acquired
a tremendous amount of musical knowledge and experience even at a young age which has exposed him to the positive effects that music plays in peoples lives. This is one of main reasons that Gavyn continues to push his music into the world.

We recently had the opportunity to interview this 14 year old Singer & Songwriter from Orange County, California. Here are his answers to our questions.


When did you start singing?
I've been singing ever since I could talk!

Was it your dream to be a singer?
It's always been a dream of mine, It's all I think about everyday.

Tell us about your style of singing?
My style of music ranges from pop to singer/songwriter to indie/acoustic and even a little bit of folk.


Are there challenges pursuing a singing career?
Definitely. There are so many people that try to get in the business but I try to block that out of my head and keep going.

Does your parents and friends support you?
My parents support me 100% and so do my friends. My mom is one of my managers so we are very close. It's hard to see my friends all the time because I'm homeschooled and all of the busyness of music but we still keep in touch.

Do you write your own songs?
Yes.

If so, tell us what goes into writing a great song?
First and foremost is the inspiration behind the song your writing. In my opinion I find songs boring if your just talking about something random with no feeling or emotion in the song. Then you need to make your song very catchy that will get in somebody's head.

Where was your first performance, were you excited?
My first performance by myself was at a restaurant in Newport Beach, California. It was very exciting for me since I was only 10 and I had never performed before.

Where have you been able to perform?
I have has the privilege of performing in many places. I've played at places such as the House of Blues at Downtown Disney CA, The Roxy in Los Angeles CA, The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano CA, The Market LV in Las Vegas NV, Taste of Newport (Opened for Andy Grammer) CA, and many local festivals, restaurants, and fairs.

Who inspires you with your singing and songwriting?
Ingrid Michaelson is one of my all time favorite songwriters. Her passion in her songs and her folky wording just kills me. She is definitely an inspiration for my writing and as far as singing, I have so many I couldn't name them.

If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I don't to be like everyone else but in all reality, Madison Square Garden is where I want to perform because you know your big when you sell that one out!


Along the same line, who would you love to perform with?
Again, I would love to perform with Ingrid Michelson. She's my idol in music.

What are some of your goals for your Music?
To inspire people to make a difference, to help people through their struggles, and for my fans to be able to relate to my lyrics.

What do you hope to accomplish with your singing/songwriting?
Like I said above, just to be able to have my fans relate to my music.

Do you have any advice for those wanting to start a career in singing and songwriting?
Go after want you want and don't let anything stop you! Just keep on going.

Do you have any other talents?
I photograph musicians, I play ukulele if that counts :)

We wish this 14 year old Singer & Songwriter the best of luck as he has the talented to be very successful in the music industry. Keep an eye and ear out for this up and coming Musician following his dream.
- Rocky Coast News

When one hears Gavyn Bailey's voice, it's hard to believe that the 13-year-old from Laguna Niguel doesn't have a recording contract.

On YouTube he sings Ingrid Michaelson's "The Way I am" as if the song were written for him.

While some kids might point to a heavy course load or an active social life as distractions, Gavyn's had to battle a much larger obstacle when it comes to focusing on his music. At 3 years old, Gavyn had a kidney transplant. His mother, Giselle Bailey, said that the day before he was born she was told he might not make it.

About a year ago, his body rejected the transplanted kidney — a common occurrence for transplant patients — which caused him to have high blood pressure and a brain hemorrhage. He had to be taken by helicopter to UCLA Medical Center. Now stable and home-schooled, Gavyn said he's ready to start a career in music.

"I think it's time now," he said.

His supportive mother attempts to keep him grounded. He is singing in the church choir and hanging out with his friends, away from the hustle a full-fledged singing career would bring.

"This is his passion," Giselle Bailey said. "Music brings a smile to his face."

His love for making music started as a toddler. His mother brought Fisher-Price instruments to his hospital bedroom and videotaped his early "gigs."

Recognized locally for his talent, he started playing at Muldoon's Irish Pub in Newport Beach at age 10. Jeff Wright, a local musician, noticed Gavyn and asked him to play at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano with him. He's also sung alongside Jimmy Hopper at the Island Hotel in Newport on Friday nights, belting out Coldplay and OneRepublic songs. He's even performed at the Orange County Fair with pal Jamella Perkins.

At last year's"The X Factor"auditions, Gavyn told the judge about his health; he felt it factored into his dismissal. The judge told him to get healthy and return in 2012. He said he will.

"He's always positive, sometimes more than I," Giselle Bailey said.

He also admits he's prone to normal teen slip-ups in his auditions, like a cracking voice or nerves.

When he auditioned for "Majors and Minors" in June, a kid's reality music show, he felt he could have performed much better if he relaxed.

"There was so much pressure," he said. "There was like 50 people on the panel watching."

He also auditioned for"America's Got Talent"in January 2010. He got pretty far along and was told that executive producers would call him. He didn't hear back.

Now, he is focusing on making his first EP, with or without a label. He has a producer, Thomas Barsoe, who helps him record music. His spends his free time writing his songs on the piano, which he taught himself to play at age 9.

"I've just been doing music forever," he said. "If I didn't have music it would be a totally different life."

He had his mother write a letter to Ellen DeGeneres' show, hoping she would notice him because he knows she's supportive of child musicians.

Gavyn is excited about his first show at Chain Reaction alongside friend Robbie Crebar next month. The all-age venue in Anaheim is almost a rite of passage for many O.C. bands. - Coastline Pilot

When one hears Gavyn Bailey's voice, it's hard to believe that the 13-year-old from Laguna Niguel doesn't have a recording contract.

On YouTube he sings Ingrid Michaelson's "The Way I am" as if the song were written for him.

While some kids might point to a heavy course load or an active social life as distractions, Gavyn's had to battle a much larger obstacle when it comes to focusing on his music. At 3 years old, Gavyn had a kidney transplant. His mother, Giselle Bailey, said that the day before he was born she was told he might not make it.

About a year ago, his body rejected the transplanted kidney — a common occurrence for transplant patients — which caused him to have high blood pressure and a brain hemorrhage. He had to be taken by helicopter to UCLA Medical Center. Now stable and home-schooled, Gavyn said he's ready to start a career in music.

"I think it's time now," he said.

His supportive mother attempts to keep him grounded. He is singing in the church choir and hanging out with his friends, away from the hustle a full-fledged singing career would bring.

"This is his passion," Giselle Bailey said. "Music brings a smile to his face."

His love for making music started as a toddler. His mother brought Fisher-Price instruments to his hospital bedroom and videotaped his early "gigs."

Recognized locally for his talent, he started playing at Muldoon's Irish Pub in Newport Beach at age 10. Jeff Wright, a local musician, noticed Gavyn and asked him to play at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano with him. He's also sung alongside Jimmy Hopper at the Island Hotel in Newport on Friday nights, belting out Coldplay and OneRepublic songs. He's even performed at the Orange County Fair with pal Jamella Perkins.

At last year's"The X Factor"auditions, Gavyn told the judge about his health; he felt it factored into his dismissal. The judge told him to get healthy and return in 2012. He said he will.

"He's always positive, sometimes more than I," Giselle Bailey said.

He also admits he's prone to normal teen slip-ups in his auditions, like a cracking voice or nerves.

When he auditioned for "Majors and Minors" in June, a kid's reality music show, he felt he could have performed much better if he relaxed.

"There was so much pressure," he said. "There was like 50 people on the panel watching."

He also auditioned for"America's Got Talent"in January 2010. He got pretty far along and was told that executive producers would call him. He didn't hear back.

Now, he is focusing on making his first EP, with or without a label. He has a producer, Thomas Barsoe, who helps him record music. His spends his free time writing his songs on the piano, which he taught himself to play at age 9.

"I've just been doing music forever," he said. "If I didn't have music it would be a totally different life."

He had his mother write a letter to Ellen DeGeneres' show, hoping she would notice him because he knows she's supportive of child musicians.

Gavyn is excited about his first show at Chain Reaction alongside friend Robbie Crebar next month. The all-age venue in Anaheim is almost a rite of passage for many O.C. bands. - Coastline Pilot

Clad in a plaid scarf and blue button-down shirt, Gavyn Bailey pushed his black bangs from his eyes and cooed into the microphone Sunday evening as the 14-year-old released his first EP.

Though you might not be familiar with him yet, the Laguna Niguel resident could have been mistaken for a household name at his record-release party at ReMark's restaurant in Laguna Beach.

About 150 people packed the small venue, with girls snapping photos on their cellphones, to see Bailey sing along with former "X Factor" contestant Drew Ryniewicz, Sabrina Lentini of the cable show "Majors & Minors" and local band the Perks.

Bailey's EP, "Sickly in Love," has been a long time coming for Bailey, who has followed his dream while battling a kidney ailment.

Right before Giselle Bailey gave birth to Gavyn, she was told he might not make it. He pulled through and received a kidney transplant when he was 3 years old. A couple of years ago, his body began to reject the kidney – common for transplant patients. He was flown to UCLA Medical Center, where he was treated. His condition has been stable since. But eventually he might need another transplant. He has been hospitalized three times in the past couple of months, his mother said.

Now, however, he's basking in limelight brightened by his recent nomination for Best Youth Artist in the OC Music Awards coming March 9 to City National Grove of Anaheim.

The past year, Bailey has toured from San Diego to Santa Barbara, with his cousins as backup. He sang at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles for an event for charity The Painted Turtle and had the chance to meet big musical names such as Katy Perry, Alicia Keys and Carole King.

The Painted Turtle has a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses that Bailey attended when he was younger. One-fourth of the proceeds from Bailey's event Sunday will go to the charity.

He has juggled home-schooling and church choir with TV auditions, studio production and songwriting sessions with friends Parker Hernandez and Dixie Maxwell, who co-wrote many of the tunes on his EP.

After one of his recent hospitalizations, the day he got out he went immediately to a gig.

The five songs on the EP – which Bailey describes as "indie acoustic pop" – cover themes such as love, identity and adulthood.

Bailey acknowledges he's had to grow up faster than most, though he said he doesn't let the unpredictability of his health get him down. "I'm doing great now. Every day there is always something new," he said. "Music is probably the reason I'm doing so great."

Hernandez, an Aliso Niguel High School senior, thinks highly of his friend of two years.

"He really treats it like no big deal," Hernandez said. "He's always looking forward to get out and play music. I remember one time I visited him in the hospital and he begged me to bring my guitar in ... so he could get his mind off it for a while."
- OC Register

Clad in a plaid scarf and blue button-down shirt, Gavyn Bailey pushed his black bangs from his eyes and cooed into the microphone Sunday evening as the 14-year-old released his first EP.

Though you might not be familiar with him yet, the Laguna Niguel resident could have been mistaken for a household name at his record-release party at ReMark's restaurant in Laguna Beach.

About 150 people packed the small venue, with girls snapping photos on their cellphones, to see Bailey sing along with former "X Factor" contestant Drew Ryniewicz, Sabrina Lentini of the cable show "Majors & Minors" and local band the Perks.

Bailey's EP, "Sickly in Love," has been a long time coming for Bailey, who has followed his dream while battling a kidney ailment.

Right before Giselle Bailey gave birth to Gavyn, she was told he might not make it. He pulled through and received a kidney transplant when he was 3 years old. A couple of years ago, his body began to reject the kidney – common for transplant patients. He was flown to UCLA Medical Center, where he was treated. His condition has been stable since. But eventually he might need another transplant. He has been hospitalized three times in the past couple of months, his mother said.

Now, however, he's basking in limelight brightened by his recent nomination for Best Youth Artist in the OC Music Awards coming March 9 to City National Grove of Anaheim.

The past year, Bailey has toured from San Diego to Santa Barbara, with his cousins as backup. He sang at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles for an event for charity The Painted Turtle and had the chance to meet big musical names such as Katy Perry, Alicia Keys and Carole King.

The Painted Turtle has a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses that Bailey attended when he was younger. One-fourth of the proceeds from Bailey's event Sunday will go to the charity.

He has juggled home-schooling and church choir with TV auditions, studio production and songwriting sessions with friends Parker Hernandez and Dixie Maxwell, who co-wrote many of the tunes on his EP.

After one of his recent hospitalizations, the day he got out he went immediately to a gig.

The five songs on the EP – which Bailey describes as "indie acoustic pop" – cover themes such as love, identity and adulthood.

Bailey acknowledges he's had to grow up faster than most, though he said he doesn't let the unpredictability of his health get him down. "I'm doing great now. Every day there is always something new," he said. "Music is probably the reason I'm doing so great."

Hernandez, an Aliso Niguel High School senior, thinks highly of his friend of two years.

"He really treats it like no big deal," Hernandez said. "He's always looking forward to get out and play music. I remember one time I visited him in the hospital and he begged me to bring my guitar in ... so he could get his mind off it for a while."
- OC Register

The age policy at Chain Reaction has its drawbacks: no alcohol, it can be an issue to see a good band with lots of unrestraint, sober groupies with lots of energy. The usual demographic draws in the younger crowds, but on February 7th, there were parents too… lots of them. Many actually came as fans of the young and talented Gavyn Bailey.

Gavyn is not a fabricated product. He has a story that inspires his music. Gavyn was born with liver failure and needed a transplant when he was 3. A decade later, he is en route to fulfill his dream of becoming a singer and open a charity for kids with the same condition he confronted. But you wouldn’t guess any of that from his stage presence.

The acoustic instruments plugged directly into the speakers placed the music at softer decibel levels, making it intimate but loud.

Excitement started to pick up during the transition into Gavyn’s performance. Girls and mothers armed with camera phones bunched close to the edge of the stage to get a good angle of the thirteen-year old singer. The commotion of the crowd felt like a smaller Justin Bieber concert. Girls screamed and hollered at the sight of him. Two girls in the front and center held an “I Love Gavyn” poster, occasionally waving it up whenever he passed by on stage.

Gavyn was supported on acoustic guitar by good friend and co-vocalist, fourteen-year old Robbie Crebar. Both musicians looked ready to go, but a malfunction ensued because of a dead battery in the guitar’s electronics. Several moments passed as the sound technician guided the two through the possible remedies. The delay was met with several girls chanting, “Gavyn, Gavyn, Gavyn!” as they worked to fix the problem. The solution to the problem consisted of a microphone placed next to the guitar’s sound hole instead of plugged into the input jack.

The duo began their set list after a brief introduction. Somewhere in the crowd a girl blurted, “What songs are you going to sing?”

“You’ll see,” said Gavyn.

Robbie started the first chords of their rendition of “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michelson following the girl’s comment. The tell tale signs of Gavyn’s nerves radiated through the first verse. His voice quivered, his posture looked stiff and he hardly moved from his position onstage. The crowd either did not care or appeared unaware of his nerves because many of them sang along with him or clapped in unison with the tempo.

“[As a solo artist] I sometimes have self doubt issues, but I always overcome them,” said Gavyn in a later interview.

Gavyn’s nerves slowly dissolved following the first chorus. The crowd’s screams and cheers instilled the confidence needed to loosen up the young singer. This boost helped him finish the song with passion and skill. To call Gavyn’s performance a solo act would cover about half of the performance. One aspect that stood out throughout the performance revolved around the vocal chemistry that Gavyn and Robbie shared. Their vocal melodies complemented each other so well that many onlookers noticed with nods of approval.

The entirety of their performance consisted of covers of a wide spectrum of musicians, which ranged from soft rock to country. The duo switched vocal roles halfway into their set list, which put Gavyn at harmonies while Robbie took leads and guitar duties. During their rendition of Gavin DeGraw’s “Not Over You,” Gavyn mentioned the similarities in their names.

“When I first heard of Gavin DeGraw, I was angry because he stole my name.”

The duo ended their performance with a cover of Adam Lambert’s “Whataya Want From Me.” Not only did their performance generate applause from both girls and mothers alike, but the front row insisted upon an encore. Unfortunately, the stage lights lit up which denied these fans their request. Numerous amounts of adoring fans crowded outside to talk with the two musicians, all of them begging for pictures and hugs from every side, which they gladly accepted.

While they are young, their voices appeared well developed at such a tender age. They do possess the likability and talent to become big names in music, perhaps when they show off more original material. For Gavyn, who has the maturity that comes with second chances, it is nice to see how he enjoys the fans and the moment. - MusicInPress

The age policy at Chain Reaction has its drawbacks: no alcohol, it can be an issue to see a good band with lots of unrestraint, sober groupies with lots of energy. The usual demographic draws in the younger crowds, but on February 7th, there were parents too… lots of them. Many actually came as fans of the young and talented Gavyn Bailey.

Gavyn is not a fabricated product. He has a story that inspires his music. Gavyn was born with liver failure and needed a transplant when he was 3. A decade later, he is en route to fulfill his dream of becoming a singer and open a charity for kids with the same condition he confronted. But you wouldn’t guess any of that from his stage presence.

The acoustic instruments plugged directly into the speakers placed the music at softer decibel levels, making it intimate but loud.

Excitement started to pick up during the transition into Gavyn’s performance. Girls and mothers armed with camera phones bunched close to the edge of the stage to get a good angle of the thirteen-year old singer. The commotion of the crowd felt like a smaller Justin Bieber concert. Girls screamed and hollered at the sight of him. Two girls in the front and center held an “I Love Gavyn” poster, occasionally waving it up whenever he passed by on stage.

Gavyn was supported on acoustic guitar by good friend and co-vocalist, fourteen-year old Robbie Crebar. Both musicians looked ready to go, but a malfunction ensued because of a dead battery in the guitar’s electronics. Several moments passed as the sound technician guided the two through the possible remedies. The delay was met with several girls chanting, “Gavyn, Gavyn, Gavyn!” as they worked to fix the problem. The solution to the problem consisted of a microphone placed next to the guitar’s sound hole instead of plugged into the input jack.

The duo began their set list after a brief introduction. Somewhere in the crowd a girl blurted, “What songs are you going to sing?”

“You’ll see,” said Gavyn.

Robbie started the first chords of their rendition of “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michelson following the girl’s comment. The tell tale signs of Gavyn’s nerves radiated through the first verse. His voice quivered, his posture looked stiff and he hardly moved from his position onstage. The crowd either did not care or appeared unaware of his nerves because many of them sang along with him or clapped in unison with the tempo.

“[As a solo artist] I sometimes have self doubt issues, but I always overcome them,” said Gavyn in a later interview.

Gavyn’s nerves slowly dissolved following the first chorus. The crowd’s screams and cheers instilled the confidence needed to loosen up the young singer. This boost helped him finish the song with passion and skill. To call Gavyn’s performance a solo act would cover about half of the performance. One aspect that stood out throughout the performance revolved around the vocal chemistry that Gavyn and Robbie shared. Their vocal melodies complemented each other so well that many onlookers noticed with nods of approval.

The entirety of their performance consisted of covers of a wide spectrum of musicians, which ranged from soft rock to country. The duo switched vocal roles halfway into their set list, which put Gavyn at harmonies while Robbie took leads and guitar duties. During their rendition of Gavin DeGraw’s “Not Over You,” Gavyn mentioned the similarities in their names.

“When I first heard of Gavin DeGraw, I was angry because he stole my name.”

The duo ended their performance with a cover of Adam Lambert’s “Whataya Want From Me.” Not only did their performance generate applause from both girls and mothers alike, but the front row insisted upon an encore. Unfortunately, the stage lights lit up which denied these fans their request. Numerous amounts of adoring fans crowded outside to talk with the two musicians, all of them begging for pictures and hugs from every side, which they gladly accepted.

While they are young, their voices appeared well developed at such a tender age. They do possess the likability and talent to become big names in music, perhaps when they show off more original material. For Gavyn, who has the maturity that comes with second chances, it is nice to see how he enjoys the fans and the moment. - MusicInPress

That boy on your teen daughter’s radio is NOT Justin Beiber, It’s “Gavyn Bailey” – Someone you are definitely going to know!

Gavyn Bailey is his name and get used to hearing it, because it’s going to become synonymous with thousands of screaming young girls real soon. At 14 years old, Gavyn has been through more than most of us in a lifetime. However, meeting this young man, you would never know it.

With a captivating smile and boundless energy, he would appear to be a normal kid, however Gavyn has had a hard road to get to where he is today. It all starts in Laguna Niguel, CA and it’s where I had the privilege of being able to live with Gavyn and his family, when I first trekked to CA, for work in 2007.

We sat down with Gavyn today – Here is his story!

I was born with kidney failure and the doctors told my mom I wouldn’t survive birth. The first few years of my life were the toughest. I was battling for my life and by the time I was 3, a donor became available. That was when I had my transplant and from then, I knew I was different. Its crazy, but all I ever wanted to do was sing.

While the other kids wanted to play sports and run around, I was the one with the hairbrush singing to myself in the mirror. I really found my talent when my first grade teacher asked me to sing in front of the whole elementary school at age 6. I just knew that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

It was just a hobby from that point until I was about 11. And then I said, I am going to make it happen. Even when I was sick in the hospital, I would still sing, even when I was feeling down, I would still write, because music is my life and that is all that matters to me.

10 questions with the future superstar -

1. Gavyn, you’re 14, how did you get so far in the music business?

-I have been trying so hard with recording, writing, and performing. I have called and emailed so many newspapers, radio stations, and magazines to get my name out there and with friends, family and mentors, it’s happening.

2. What is your favorite part? writing, performing or recording?

-Writing and performing. When I write I usually don’t write about something stupid like the days of the week. It comes from deep down in my heart and I want people to be able to relate with what I’m going through. Whether that’s love, health, or just something that happened that day. When I perform, the adrenaline I get when I hear my name being chanted by 100s of girls, it’s a good feeling. I love running around stage singing my songs and hearing the audience enjoy them and sing along.

3. You do covers, but have your own music too, what inspires your writing?

- I could honestly write about anything, but I mostly write about girls and how they can be and of course stuff I go through in my life.

4. Dude, you were on itunes, how does that happen?

- I’m not on iTunes anymore but when I was. I wanted to show the world what I had done at the age of ten (which at that time was a break up song).. So I recorded it in about 2 days and released it to iTunes!

5. You’re going on tour tell us how that happened?

- Touring has always been my dream. Thousands of screaming fans, sleeping on the tour bus, being chased by girls, but that’s not the case yet. I wanted to tour, but I wanted to start small such as the California coast (which is where we are touring). I booked the whole tour myself with some help from my Mom. I started booking back in April and it’s hard when not a lot of people know who you are. This tour is more of an exposure tour (playing festivals, small venues, and fairs) to get my name out. We do have two awesome venues we are playing which are the Roxy in West Hollywood, on July 19th, and the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on July 5th.

6. Your biggest mentor and why?

- My mentor in music is my producer Thomas Barsoe. He has an amazing ear for music and always guides me in the right direction. I value what he has to say and put forth his opinion to my music.

7. Do you play instruments or just write and sing?

- I dabble in keyboard and ukulele. I just picked up my uke this month and I love it! I will probably take it on tour and play a few songs with it! I have written most of my songs on keyboard (which I have played since age 9) and then take it to my producer and have him work the magic! Ha ha.

8. One piece of advice on pursuing your dreams?

- Quit dreaming about it, and go out and do it. Don’t rely on anyone to do it for you because you’re in charge of your destiny. That’s what I did and I’m blessed to be in the position I am today.

9. I was lucky enough to live with you & your family, how much do they mean to you? My family is everything to me. They support me 110% in everything I do. I’m lucky enough to have my mother as my manager and give her kudos to everything she does for me.

10. Where is Gavyn Bailey in 5 yrs and 10 yrs.?

- I’m hoping that I will be successful and si - The News Burner

[CLICK LINK TO WATCH VIDEO] - CBS News

[CLICK LINK TO WATCH VIDEO] - CBS News

A guitar in the hands of a talented, doe-eyed middle-schooler can be a dangerous thing. We're not necessarily opponents of musically inclined youngsters, it's just that when you're able to make preteen girls go crazy with summery guitar pop like South County crooner Gavyn Bailey, it's easy to lose control and accidentally create the fourth Jonas brother.
Luckily, it seems the 14-year-old singer/songwriter is building his grassroots fan base with a pop sensibility that strives to stay grounded and develop slowly. With countless local shows under his belt since age 10, Bailey's windswept brown hair and Boy Scout smile are pop-friendly vestiges that adorn a truly hard-working musician who's battled all his life to hone his craft.

From the time he was born, Bailey's struggled with kidney failure; he's been able to pull through after receiving a kidney transplant at age 3. About a year ago, he developed high blood pressure and suffered a brain hemorrhage when his body rejected the transplanted kidney. But for as long as Bailey has dealt with health issues, he says he's used music as an outlet. He even has some old VHS footage of him singing "God Bless America" like a champ at age 4 shamelessly posted on his website. With a new, as-yet-untitled EP on the way and his first headlining tour coming through music staples such as the Roxy, the Coach House and the OC Fair, the kid has taken his life-threatening illness in stride.

"It's always a struggle when I want to do music because it takes a lot of work, and sometimes I'll get run-down or sick or something and I try to fight these health obstacles to do what I love," Bailey says.

The first time he took the stage at Muldoon's Irish Pub in his hometown of Newport Beach, it was clear the kid had skills despite having zero technical training. Normally trading in a sparse, acoustic mix of covers and originals, Bailey found an early groove in the wheel house of One Republic and Coldplay with a voice to back him up. It was enough to get him noticed by local musicians who hooked him up with gigs where they could. On Friday nights, he'd sing alongside Jimmy Hopper at Newport's Island Hotel, and he had a few early stints at the OC Fair.

"Every day growing up I had something involving music going on, trying to play guitar or piano or singing and going up and down the street singing for strangers," Bailey says. "It's always something I've wanted to do as a career."

Counting Ingrid Michaelson as one of his main influences, it's not hard to dig up one of Bailey's YouTube covers of her mature, poetic folk that's inspired his own approach to pop—flush with inspiration from teen life, battles with his health and, of course, girls.

"I have one song called 'Two Minutes' about a relationship gone wrong and it's about taking two minutes and saying all the things you wanna say." And while it's not exactly the most groundbreaking song you've heard in your life, Bailey definitely gets props for telling his supposed ex-lady how he feels without A) sounding egregiously corny and B) refraining from the grossness that comes from acting grown up before your time. But if there's one thing Bailey is, it's mature for his age. Though he's definitely looking to get picked up by a label at some point in his early years, he's smart enough to know that long-term credibility doesn't come with overnight success.

"I don't wanna be a teen star, get big now and then two years from now no one knows who I am. The goal is always to build things slowly, put the work in and just live that life for as long as I can."



This column appeared in print as "Growing Pains." - OC Weekly