Jessie Baylin Talks Big Feelings, Stevie Nicks, and the Release of ‘Strawberry Wind’ Deluxe Edition

There’s something about Jessie Baylin’s latest album, the deluxe edition of Strawberry Wind, that brings me back to carefree summers of my youth. The artist and mom of two’s records flows beautifully, from the dreamy ’50s pop-rock mood of “Dream Catcher” to the psychedelic title track to the sweet, heartwarming closer “A Beautiful Life.” It’s the perfect soundtrack for pool days and long car rides with the kids.

I also love that Baylin’s record is deeply anchored in, and inspired by, her experience as a mother, including the four new tracks on the deluxe edition (released six years after the original 2018 album dropped). The new track “Big Feelings,” for example, explores the idea of emotional overload that children often feel, and what Baylin calls “the delicate balance of feeling them and not completely letting them take over your entire self.”

We recently caught up to talk to Baylin, who is based in Nashville, about her songwriting process, playing gigs with Stevie Nicks, and balancing crazy tour schedules with husband Nathan Followill, who plays drums with the rock band Kings of Leon. [RELATED: STREAM ‘STRAWBERRY WIND (DELUXE) ON SPOTIFY]

Rockmommy: So much has happened since you released ‘Strawberry Wind’ originally in 2018 — can you give us an update on your career? 

Jessie Baylin: After spending a several years focusing on my family, I began writing again. Once my son was in preschool, I had the space to explore some ideas, and those ideas became an album called Jersey Girl, which was released in late September 2022.

Rockmommy: How have things changed for you over the last few years? 

Jessie Baylin: I’ve found a way to balance things — family commitments, household duties and being a creative person — carving out time for all of it. I realized that none of those things thrive without the others. I need all of them to feel whole. 

Rockmommy: You released Jersey Girl in 2022 — what inspired that record? 

Jessie Baylin: I felt like I had disappeared for a while and I wanted to write myself back into my life. What started as a morning writing exercise with my songwriting pal and producer Daniel Tashian, turned into a full album of material. 

Rockmommy: What made you decide to add 4 new tracks (3 on the vinyl release) to Strawberry Wind (Deluxe)? What inspired you to do that, say, instead of releasing a whole new EP?

Jessie Baylin: I will say that it felt impossible at first to add anything to Strawberry Wind because I wholeheartedly felt that Richard Swift and I had made such a wonderful album together. Sonically it hit all the notes — and the songwriting felt really strong across the board. I was a bit apprehensive to begin thinking about what I might consider writing about, but when the time came to focus in on themes, I looked to my children to guide the way. They’re at completely different places in their lives from when I began this project so in many ways these songs are just evolution of where I’m at — where my family is at. 

Rockmommy: What’s special about the new tracks? You’ve said that you really love the extended older albums by The Beatles, John Lennon, and Carole King. Did that factor into the decision to make a longer-playing record with more tracks? 

Jessie Baylin: Once the songs were there, I could see us making space for them, and I realized it could also feel very natural to have them out with this new release. I wanted it to feel connected to the original tracks, but again, feel like a natural evolution as well.

Rockmommy: How old are your children now? In what ways is it more — or less — challenging to create music? 

Jessie Baylin: My daughter Violet is 11. When recording Strawberry Wind, I didn’t know I was pregnant with my son Oliver, now 6 years old, until the recordings were done.

The challenges I feel are just the natural ones you have as a mom, where your time just has to be super managed. That isn’t always great for creativity because that should be more fluid … but I have found a way to work within the constraints of my day job haha. Going on the road has also been really fun. Between last year and early this year I’ve done multiple dates with Stevie Nicks. It was great in that the dates were set up 2 or 3 at a time. By far, touring with Stevie was a dream come true for me, as I’m a lifer when it comes to her music. So, I just carve out my time and soak it up and make sure everything is in order and taken care of at home. It truly takes a village. 

Rockmommy: Have you started writing and playing songs with your kids? 

Jessie Baylin: Violet is very musical and she is beginning to write on her own, but doesn’t want any input from me at all :) She knows how she wants something to sound in her head; it all comes very organically to her. I love to watch her play and explore the chords.  

Rockmommy: You’re married to Nathan Followill — who is part of one of the biggest rock bands in the country, Kings of Leon. How do you make it work with such similar careers (say, one of you needs to tour and the other needs to stay home)?

Jessie Baylin: We do our best to not tour at the same time, though I think that can happen, and we have a great team of babysitters/nannies/grandparents that are willing to help whenever the road calls. I don’t feel any resentment on my end at all, my husband may hold a little bit though because he doesn’t cook and misses our family dinners at the end of the day. Like any marriage/long term love relationship, it takes a lot of work. The give and take game is strong. 

Rockmommy: I’d love to hear your thoughts on why music is so important during these dark times. 

Jessie Baylin: I can’t imagine my life — the good, the bad, the ugly — without music. It is my greatest companion. I hope that it soon becomes worth something again because it is truly getting harder for artists to survive and be able to do this work. 

Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.