Bailey Zimmerman X FAULT Magazine

Bailey Zimmerman’s sophomore album Different Night Same Rodeo arrives as both a bold creative statement and a deeply personal milestone. Across 18 tracks, the Illinois-born artist pushes his sound beyond traditional country confines, pairing raw storytelling with genre-blurring collaborations that showcase his versatility. Where his debut captured the urgency of a breakout star, this record feels more assured, more deliberate, and rooted in the lessons of life on the road. From the tender reflections of “Chevy Silverado” to high-energy anthems designed for the stage, Zimmerman reveals an artist unafraid to balance vulnerability with ambition.

FAULT Magazine: From your debut album, like from Religiously to this one, has your songwriting process evolved? In what way?
Bailey Zimmerman: Honestly, I still write songs the same way I did when I first came to Nashville. Songwriting has always been something that just kind of hits me out of the blue. When I get inspired or an idea pops into my head, I’ll grab a guitar and start writing it out the best I can. I also make sure to take my time with it. So yeah, the process really hasn’t changed much; it’s still very natural and spontaneous.

FAULT Magazine: “Ashes” with Diplo and “Lost” with Kid LAROI mark bold sonic turns. Country purists don’t always enjoy when artists veer too far off course. Do you ever worry about alienating certain demographics with your collaborations?
Bailey Zimmerman: No, not really. I just do whatever I think is cool. I’ve never thought, oh, I’m switching genres now. I’m just making music I believe in. If I love it, I hope my fans will too. I’m not trying to step away from country, it’s who I am, it’s what I grew up on, and it’s what I naturally make. Some songs might lean in different directions sonically, but at the end of the day, it’s all just my music.

With Diplo, I just thought it was sick, he’s awesome. And when Kid LAROI wanted to jump on “Lost,” I was like, holy crap, of course. I’m such a big fan of his, and we’re genuinely good friends, so why wouldn’t I? At the end of the day, I just want to make the best, most exciting music I can. Whatever label you want to put on it is up to you.

FAULT Magazine: What track on the new album pushed you the hardest emotionally, and why?
Bailey Zimmerman: I’d say “Chevy Silverado.” I put a lot into writing that one, it’s built around real stories from my life. The song’s about the white Chevy Silverado I bought for my grandpa. He’s not here anymore, so having that memory and that piece of him tied into the album means a lot. He was always one of my biggest believers, in me and in my music. Writing those lyrics straight from my own life and experiences made the song really personal and emotional for me.

FAULT Magazine: How has performing live over the past year influenced the way you wrote or recorded this album?
Bailey Zimmerman: Playing live is my favourite thing to do besides writing songs and making music, they really go hand in hand. I think it definitely pushed me to expand my sound to fit the live show, because I love having fun on stage. A song like “New to Country” came from that, I remember thinking, man, this is going to make the live show so fun. I didn’t want the record to just be heartbreak or relationship songs. I wanted to balance that with some upbeat, high-energy tracks too.

Touring has influenced a lot of these new songs. Being a touring artist now, I wanted to keep things fresh, switch it up, and make music that not only connects emotionally but also feels amazing live.

FAULT Magazine: Looking back on your musical journey, what would you say has been the most challenging creative hurdle to overcome?
Bailey Zimmerman: I would say just balancing everything and trying to do it all at once, writing songs, recording songs, coming up with the creative for the album, and at the same time touring and trying to make the live show really crazy and awesome. It’s a lot to juggle, especially along with family and life and just growing up, wanting to still be a kid and make sure I’m having fun.

So yeah, it’s really just been juggling all of it and trying to keep up with everything at once. I’ve had to learn on the go, which has been a challenge, but also fun.

FAULT Magazine: Is there a message you hope listeners walk away from this album with?
Bailey Zimmerman: I think every song on this album really has its own message, and I just hope people walk away with a feeling. I hope at least one of the songs makes them feel something, and whatever that is, it just touches them in some way. Yeah, I really hope they walk away from this album feeling something from at least one of the songs.

FAULT Magazine: What is your FAULT?
Bailey Zimmerman: Um, I mean… I definitely have some… You know, a lot of faults, man. But I’m human. I’d say a fault of mine is knowing I can’t be perfect, but always trying to be perfect. I always want to strive for perfection, and that really… yeah, that’s one of my faults. I know I’ll never be perfect, but sometimes I expect perfection, expect it from myself a lot, and I put that pressure on myself all the time, even though I know I’ll always make mistakes, always have things to work on, just like everybody else.

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