Catch a glance of those floppy, Atlanta-bred curls, and you might get a nostalgia flashback to his dad—Backstreet Boys royalty Brian Littrell—but zoom out to the guitar in his hand, and it’s clear Baylee’s always been about finding his own rhythm. The 23-year-old singer-songwriter has been commanding a crowd since he could barely see over one; he was five when he first stepped onstage, nine when he graduated from announcing his father’s boy band to actually opening for them with a couple of songs of his own. From there, it was only a matter of time before he swapped the arenas for the American Idol audition room, competing on Season 23 and landing in the Top 24—where he delivered one of the season’s most tender moments, duetting with his dad on his original ‘Hey Jesus’ in tribute to his late grandmother.
Now, he’s trading the country-gospel warmth for something a little more second-generation pop. On ‘So Be It,’ Baylee—once again the sole songwriter in the room—teams up with GRAMMY-winning co-producer Keith Harris to build something layered, electric, and unapologetically charged: synths that hum with forbidden temptation, the kind that could cause trouble even in the Garden of Eden.
We sat down with Baylee to talk about the new single, the album taking shape behind it, and how he juggles music with his other great love—sport.
You were on Broadway at 13 in Disaster! and picked up a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. What stands out to you most when you look back on that time?
The amount of work it took to be great, was tremendous. I credit Broadway for my relentless effort and perseverance in tough times. When you’re a 13-year-old kid, you don’t realize how amazing the experience is. I wish I could go take the C train to the theater one last time.
Most kids are performing for their parents in the living room—you started opening for your dad with two songs and eventually played a full set on the DNA World Tour. What did making arenas your training ground give you that a more conventional path wouldn’t have?
Playing arenas and touring with my dad taught me showmanship at a very young age. The experience taught me how to become one with the crowd and become more fearless on stage. It was truly one of the best experiences of my life.
During the DNA World Tour, you made a point of saying your dad’s world was pop and yours was country. Now with ‘So Be It,’ you’re leaning into that pop sound yourself. What changed?
I learned the world I was trying to create wasn’t for me. After taking some time away post-American Idol, I realized that pop was where I should’ve been. It feels more natural, and I feel more free to make music as an artist.
You could’ve easily leveraged your name into a record deal, but instead you chose American Idol—a path you’ve said wasn’t always easy, especially socially at first. What drove that decision?
What would be shocking to most people is to know that the “last name” actually hurts me in record deal conversations. People actually wouldn’t sign me just because of it. American Idol was my way to try to become noticed on a more national stage. During the time I was on the show, my mission was to get a record deal. After my run on the show was over and I took a year to reflect, I realized I wanted to build myself as an independent artist and start a new chapter.
You’ve had no shortage of famous mentors, from your dad to Jelly Roll. How do you absorb all of that guidance without losing what makes you you?
Being open-minded about change and being open to criticism is the best thing an artist can do. As people, we constantly change and evolve. One is very lucky to have mentors because most of us don’t have that opportunity. I try to absorb every piece of knowledge someone gives me like a sponge and incorporate it with my own personal style and beliefs.
Your original song ‘Hey Jesus,’ which you performed on American Idol, started with people assuming it was about your grandmother—but you’ve since revealed it’s a letter written directly to Jesus about your faith journey. How have you found the courage to keep peeling back those layers and letting people in further?
I feel as though ‘Hey Jesus’ was the true start of my new beginning. It was the first time I was entirely honest with my listeners. Since releasing the song, it only help me push further in my journey of reflection and discovery, which has now led to ‘So Be It!’
You worked with GRAMMY-winning producer Keith Harris—whose credits include Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Rihanna—on this record. What was that process like?
Keith Harris is incredible. Working with him was an amazing experience. He was the first producer I’ve had that really saw me and respected me as an artist.
‘So Be It’ is the first single off your upcoming album, dropping later this year. What did the early stages look like—are you a voice notes guy, are you pinning things to a Pinterest board, or is it all stuffed into a journal somewhere?
I’m definitely a voice notes guy. I also love to build tracks and demos early on to get blueprints for future projects. ‘So Be It’ was one of my first pop projects that I had experimented with, and it just felt so right.
You’re a painter as well, and you’ve said your next album will have an original art piece for every song. How do the two creative processes feed each other—does a song ever change because of what comes out on the canvas?
I feel as though I molded my paintings to match my songs. Music is still my first form of personal expression. Usually, once I write a song that I’m excited about, a painting follows and mimics the song’s narrative.
You’re also halfway through a sports administration degree at LSU, and you’ve talked about wanting to be a sports agent one day. What is it about that world that pulls you in, and do you see a version of your life where music and sports actually exist?
If I’m lucky enough to make it as an artist in this business, I would love to use my efforts to maybe influence young high school recruits to commit to LSU. Further dreams and aspirations would include being involved in also the sports element side of things, which would, of course, require more school. I’ve always been determined to figure out a way that we can keep our athletes healthier.
Got a favorite lyric off ‘So Be It?’ If you need another shameless loop before you can commit, no judgment—we’ve been there. Once you’ve settled, come tell us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BAYLEE LITTRELL:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER
