Hello everyone, it’s your host Tehillah from DULAXI, and today I’m delighted to be joined by Bailey Bomar, an emerging alt-pop artist from Springfield, Missouri, United States. Blending cinematic alternative pop with shimmering synths, driving guitars, emotionally honest songwriting, and the influence of 80s new wave, Bailey has developed a sound that feels both nostalgic and distinctly contemporary. Her latest single, “Not Me,” was released on August 7th, 2026, and explores the courage it takes to challenge expectations, reject a predetermined path, and choose a life that feels authentically your own.
Before we begin our conversation with Bailey Bomar, here’s what you need to know about today’s featured project.
About Bailey Bomar
For Bailey Bomar, songwriting began long before she was ready to introduce herself to the world as an artist. Raised in the small town of Crocker, Missouri, she spent years writing songs privately, using that time to develop her craft and gradually understand the voice she wanted to bring to her music. That period of private songwriting eventually became an important part of her artistic foundation, allowing her to move from experimentation and uncertainty toward the confidence required to share her work publicly.
That journey is central to “Not Me,” a cinematic alt-pop single that explores the tension between expectation and identity. Written during an earlier chapter of Bailey’s life, before she became a wife and mother, the song emerged from a period when she was questioning what her future was supposed to look like. Growing up in a small town, she became aware of the assumptions that can surround the lives people are expected to build, from relationships and family to education and career. Rather than simply accepting those expectations, Bailey began asking whether the path laid out in front of her was really the life she wanted.
“Not Me” grew from that questioning. Its message is not about rejecting where she came from, but about refusing to allow familiarity or other people’s expectations to determine where she could go. The song ultimately reflects the realization that a person’s origins can be part of their story without becoming a limitation on their future.
Musically, Bailey translates that message through an expansive blend of alternative pop and 80s new wave influence. Shimmering synths, driving guitars, atmospheric textures, and emotionally charged vocals give “Not Me” a cinematic character, while the song’s pop sensibilities keep its central message immediate and accessible. Her love for 80s new wave has been an important part of her musical identity since high school, when she found herself drawn to the atmosphere and sense of escape that the genre could create.
Her life outside music has also shaped the artist she has become. As a wife, mother, and registered nurse, Bailey brings experiences into her songwriting that she could not have possessed earlier in her life. She describes those roles as having taught her patience, empathy, responsibility, and a deeper understanding of other people. Rather than seeing those responsibilities as obstacles to creativity, she views them as experiences that have given her more perspective and more stories to tell.
Having this brief introduction to today’s featured project, I’m sure both new listeners and longtime fans are excited to hear directly from Bailey. So, without further ado, let’s begin today’s interview.
INTERVIEW SESSION
Tehillah:
Growing up in Crocker, Missouri, you spent years writing songs privately before deciding to share them with the world. What was happening in your life during those early years that made songwriting such an important place for you to express yourself?
Bailey Bomar:
I wrote songs privately for years because I was really focused on developing my craft. I was always writing and experimenting, but I didn’t feel 100% confident in the songs I was creating yet. I think I needed that time to figure out my voice as a songwriter and become more comfortable with what I wanted to say.
Looking back, I’m actually grateful I gave myself that time. I wasn’t trying to rush into being an artist before I felt ready. I was learning, writing, rewriting, and gradually becoming more confident in my own work. Eventually, I reached a point where I realized I didn’t need to wait until everything felt perfect to share it with people.
Tehillah:
Coming from a small town where you felt people could already have an idea of who you were supposed to become, how did that environment influence your understanding of individuality and your desire to create a life that felt genuinely yours?
Bailey Bomar:
Growing up in a small town definitely influenced the way I looked at my future. I knew pretty early on that I didn’t want my world to feel limited to what was immediately around me. I wanted to experience more, learn more, grow, and challenge myself to become better.
There’s nothing wrong with coming from a small town, and I’m proud of where I’m from. But I think growing up there made me realize that I wanted to create a life that felt bigger than my surroundings. I wanted to dream beyond what was familiar and give myself permission to pursue things that might not have seemed like the obvious path for me.
Tehillah:
Your journey has also taken you through the very different roles of wife, mother, registered nurse, and artist. How have those experiences shaped the woman and songwriter behind the music, particularly in the way you understand ambition, responsibility, and personal dreams?
Bailey Bomar:
Becoming a nurse and a mother has genuinely made me a better person. Both experiences have taught me patience, empathy, responsibility, and a much deeper understanding of other people. They’ve made me grow not only professionally and personally, but also as a human being.
I honestly can’t imagine being the songwriter I am today if I had started sharing my music as a teenager. I wouldn’t have the same life experiences or perspective that I have now. Everything I’ve experienced has given me more to write about and a deeper understanding of the emotions behind my songs. I think those different parts of my life have ultimately made me a more thoughtful and authentic artist.
Tehillah:
You describe your music through a combination of cinematic alt-pop, shimmering synths, driving guitars, and emotionally honest songwriting. What do you feel connects these different elements, and what kind of emotional world do you want listeners to enter when they hear a Bailey Bomar song?
Bailey Bomar:
I want people to feel inspired and captivated when they hear my music. I want them to feel like they’re stepping into a different world for a few minutes, while also feeling like they can do whatever they want with their lives. I love cinematic storytelling because I want my songs to feel like little stories or scenes that people can see themselves in.
I think it’s really easy to convince ourselves that we’re too busy, too old, too responsible, or that something isn’t realistic enough to pursue. I want my music to challenge that mindset and remind people that they can still go after their dreams.
I’ve always loved 80s new wave music, so that influence naturally comes through in my sound. I love the combination of shimmering synths, guitars, and emotional vocals because it creates this nostalgic, larger-than-life feeling while still allowing me to tell very personal, modern stories.
Tehillah:
Artists such as Blondie, The Cars, and early Lady Gaga have influenced your musical direction, while your work also carries a distinctly modern alt-pop identity. What have you taken from those influences without allowing them to overshadow your own artistic voice?
Bailey Bomar:
I think I’ve taken something different from each of those artists without trying to recreate what they’ve already done. I love the attitude of Blondie, especially the confidence and coolness in their music. With The Cars, I love the production and the way their music can feel upbeat and almost happy while still having a reflective quality to it. And with early Lady Gaga, I really admire how unapologetically herself she was. That sense of confidence and not being afraid to fully commit to who you are really connects with me, especially with “Not Me.”
I was also inspired a little by Pink Floyd, particularly in the atmospheric and more cinematic side of the music. But ultimately, I think the track sounds like me because I’ve always loved delivering a punchy, energetic performance. I want my music to have personality and attitude while still leaving room for vulnerability and storytelling.
Tehillah:
Not Me was written before you became a wife and mother, during a period when you were questioning what you wanted your future to look like. When you returned to the song years later, what did you recognize in your younger self that still felt true?
Bailey Bomar:
My younger self wanted to be a music artist, but I didn’t really know how to make that happen. Coming from a small town, pursuing music didn’t always feel practical, and I sometimes felt like there wasn’t much room to be different or express yourself creatively without feeling like the weird one. I wanted to make music, but I didn’t know what that life could actually look like for me.
When I came back to “Not Me” years later, I recognized that the desire to make my own path was still there. I think expressing yourself can still be difficult sometimes, and that part of me hasn’t changed. What has changed is that I’m not pursuing that dream completely on my own anymore. I have my husband and my son to share it with.
Becoming a wife and mother has actually made my dreams feel bigger, not smaller. Those experiences have been some of my greatest inspirations and have made me a better and more complete person. I think the younger version of me would be surprised to see where I am now, but she would recognize that I’m still trying to create the life I always wanted.
Tehillah:
At its heart, Not Me is about giving yourself permission to reject a predetermined path and choose something different. Was there a particular expectation or idea of the life you were supposed to live that made this message especially personal to you?
Bailey Bomar:
I think what made the message especially personal was growing up in a small town where there seemed to be a pretty straightforward idea of what your life was supposed to look like. A lot of people were either getting married and having children right out of high school or going to college and starting a career.
I didn’t necessarily want to get married right out of high school, so I went to college. Then I graduated, started a career, and on paper I was doing everything I was supposed to do. But at some point I remember thinking, Is that it? Is this really all I’m supposed to do with my life?
That feeling is a big part of what pushed me toward music. I realized I didn’t want to just check the boxes of what was expected of me. I wanted to create something that felt like mine and see what I was actually capable of.
Tehillah:
The line between where you come from and where you are going is central to the song’s message. How have you learned to separate your origins from the limitations you once felt they placed on your future?
Bailey Bomar:
I stopped letting the small-town mindset define me when I moved away and realized just how much bigger the world actually is. Once I experienced different places, met different people, and saw different ways of living, I realized that I didn’t have to do what everyone around me was doing.
I think sometimes you can mistake what is familiar for what is possible. Leaving my small town helped me understand that where you come from can be part of your story without determining where you end up. I’m proud of where I came from, but I don’t feel limited by it anymore.
Tehillah:
There is a striking contrast between the song’s nostalgic sound and its message of moving forward. How did you use the atmosphere of 80s new wave to reinforce a story that is ultimately about breaking away and becoming something new?
Bailey Bomar:
I’ve loved 80s new wave music since I was in high school. When I would listen to it, it almost felt like an emotional escape for me. I loved the sound, the atmosphere, and the way it could make you feel like you were somewhere else.
I’ve also always thought in a very cinematic way. I love movies, theatricality, and music that feels like it belongs in a scene. So the 80s new wave influence felt natural for “Not Me.” Even though the sound has a nostalgic quality, the message of the song is about moving forward, creating your own path, and becoming something new. I liked the idea of taking a sound that feels nostalgic and using it to tell a story about not being stuck in the past.
Tehillah:
Working with UK songwriter and producer Mike Macdermid, whose career includes three Platinum songwriting credits and three Billboard #1 hits, brought another perspective into the creation of Not Me. How did his experience influence the development of the song while preserving the personal story at its center?
Bailey Bomar:
When I first started working with Mike, “Not Me” was more of a theatrical piano arrangement. I knew I wanted it to become a rock song, but at that point I didn’t really know exactly what genre or direction I wanted to pursue.
Mike asked me about some of my favorite artists, and I told him what I was drawn to. From there, he really brought the song to life. He understood the feeling I was trying to create and transformed the original idea into something much bigger and more cinematic.
The 80s new wave influence added such a special touch to the song. Once I heard it taking shape, I realized that was a sound I really wanted to explore. Mike brought his experience and perspective into the production while still allowing the song to remain my story, and I thought the result was amazing.
Tehillah:
The combination of shimmering synths, driving guitars, and emotionally charged vocals gives Not Me the scale of a cinematic anthem. Which element of the production was most important in transforming the personal story you wrote into that larger, more expansive sound?
Bailey Bomar:
The guitars are probably the element that stands out to me most because they give the song so much attitude. I’ve always loved that combination of rock energy with a big pop melody.
The chorus is also really important to me because it’s very big and expressive. I’ve always loved a chorus that feels like you can really let everything out, and I wanted “Not Me” to have that kind of moment. When the song was finally finished and I heard everything come together, I remember thinking, “Wow.” It felt so much bigger than the song I had originally written, and that was really exciting for me.
Tehillah:
You had been writing songs privately for years before taking the step of sharing your music publicly. What was the biggest internal barrier you had to overcome before you were ready to let other people hear the artist you had kept largely to yourself?
Bailey Bomar:
I would say the biggest barrier for me was confidence. I didn’t really understand that songwriting could actually be something you could pursue as a real part of your life. Coming from a small town, there just wasn’t much room for creative expression, and I think I absorbed that mindset without even realizing it.
I remember specifically in high school, people would make fun of students who were in drama club. Looking back as an adult, I realize that wasn’t cool at all, but when you’re young, those kinds of reactions can make you afraid to stand out. I think I carried some of that fear with me for a long time.
Eventually, I had to realize that being creative and expressing yourself isn’t something you should be embarrassed about. Once I became more confident in my songwriting and in myself, I was finally willing to let other people hear the music I had been keeping private for so many years.
Tehillah:
Not Me was written from an earlier chapter of your life, yet you describe its message as something that remains central to who you are today. How has your understanding of the song changed as your life has changed?
Bailey Bomar:
As I’ve gotten older, I think the message of “Not Me” has become even more meaningful to me. No matter where you go or what you do, you’re going to encounter people who are judgmental or who want to analyze you. That’s just part of life.
I’ve gotten to a point where I’m tired of letting other people’s opinions determine how I live my life. I care much less about whether someone thinks I’m being too ambitious, too different, or unrealistic. “Not Me” represents that feeling of finally saying, “I’m going to be myself, and I’m going to do what feels right for me.” That’s something I think I’ll carry with me no matter how much my life changes.
Tehillah:
Your music speaks to people who feel pressured to follow a life designed by other people’s expectations. When someone who has been afraid to pursue their own dream hears Not Me, what do you hope the song gives them the courage to do?
Bailey Bomar:
I want people to not be afraid to pursue their dreams. I want “Not Me” to inspire someone to chase the thing that makes them feel whole, even if it feels scary or unrealistic at first.
I think there’s not much worse than feeling like something is missing from your life and knowing you’re not doing what truly fulfills you. Life is too short to constantly make excuses for why you can’t pursue something that matters to you. If someone listens to “Not Me” and feels even a little more courageous about taking that first step toward their dream, then the song has done what I wanted it to do.
Tehillah:
As you continue building your catalog around authenticity, resilience, and self-expression, what have you learned from releasing your music that has changed the way you approach songwriting and your identity as an artist?
Bailey Bomar:
One thing that has surprised me about releasing music is realizing that you don’t have to be the biggest thing right off the bat. Building a music career takes a lot of resilience and perseverance, and I’ve learned that there’s value in allowing that process to happen naturally.
I don’t have to be the biggest or “baddest” artist I can be immediately. I just have to tell my story, make music that feels authentic to me, and keep showing up. The audience will come as I continue to grow. That realization has taken some of the pressure off and allowed me to focus more on enjoying the journey and becoming the artist I want to be.
Tehillah:
Not Me marks another step in bringing the private songwriter you once were into the public world as an emerging alt-pop artist. As you look ahead, what kind of stories, sounds, and experiences do you want to explore next as Bailey Bomar?
Bailey Bomar:
I have a few more new-wave-inspired songs that explore earlier chapters of my life and some of the experiences that shaped me. I really enjoy using that nostalgic, cinematic sound to tell stories from different periods of my life, so I’m excited to continue exploring that.
After that, I’m moving into a new chapter of songs about motherhood and how becoming a mother has changed me. It’s given me such a different perspective on life, and I have a lot I want to say about that experience. I think it will be really interesting to let the music evolve as I do and allow people to hear those different chapters of my life through the songs.
“Bailey Bomar turns a deeply personal question about identity into a cinematic invitation to stop measuring your life by other people’s expectations and start discovering what is possible on your own terms.”
~ Tehillah (DULAXI Team)
EDITORIAL PERSPECTIVE
“Not Me” carries the feeling of a song that has grown alongside its writer. Its blend of new-wave atmosphere, energetic guitars, expansive pop melodies, and personal storytelling gives Bailey Bomar room to connect an earlier chapter of her life with the person she has become. What stands out most is the sincerity behind the music. The song does not simply ask listeners to be different; it encourages them to consider whether they have given themselves permission to pursue what genuinely matters to them.
~ Tehillah (DULAXI Team)
CLOSING
Thank you to Bailey Bomar for taking the time to speak with DULAXI and for sharing such an honest look into the experiences, doubts, influences, and personal discoveries behind “Not Me.” Her story offers an important reminder that creative ambitions do not have to disappear simply because life becomes fuller, more demanding, or different from what we originally imagined.
We encourage readers to experience “Not Me” for themselves and discover the cinematic alt-pop world Bailey has created around its story. As she continues exploring new-wave-inspired songs from earlier chapters of her life and prepares to explore the transformative experience of motherhood through her music, there is clearly much more of her story still to come.
From all of us at DULAXI, thank you for spending time with us and getting to know the person and artist behind today’s featured release. We look forward to bringing you more conversations with artists from around the world as their stories continue to unfold.