Artist quickie: Carl Bailey.

You are a true artist, you write music, you sing, you graduated with degree in fashion marketing and you worked in the fashion industry...what is your #1 love? Where do you see yourself in the future and what’s your dream job?

My #1 love! Is and will always be music. Music has played a major role in my life. I grew up around it and was one of the first form of arts that I was naturally exposed to.  At one point my dad was a music producer and he also had a wild eclectic record collection, so I guess it rubbed off on me from the very beginning.  As early as I can remember it's the only thing that felt like second nature to me. As far as where I see myself in the near future... Definitely continuing  to  pursue what I love and want to do and making an impact on peoples lives around the world by giving them music that they can truly relate to. That to me would be the greatest success! My dream job has always been to be an artist! I’m currently in the process of putting out new music this fall as well as videos!

The first song you released is titled "Fighting", I think this song resonates with all who tried to live and survive in NYC, what does it mean for you?

"Fighting" means everything to me! It's pretty much like my auto -biography. I wrote in retrospect of everything I've been thorough, everything I've faced, not just throughout this journey over the past few years, but my entire life is in that one song. It touches on so many different subjects that I know everyone can relate to in some way shape or form. I'm glad I wrote it! I needed to!         

 What are your future plans when it comes to music and fashion?

Well for me I think with both avenues (Music and Fashion) I just want to keep growing and evolving as much as possible. I express a great deal of who I am through my music and as well as in the way I dress. I'm always changing. I get board easily... So who knows ?… I don’t!    

We worked together in Rugby RL for more than a year, what are your most memorable moments from the time you worked in Rugby? - share only decent ones ;) 

....HmmmM...probably throwing my temper tantrums! Lol! No, but really I'd have to say Rugby is where I realized it was time for me to chase my calling, my dream! I was exposed to so many different genres of music, cultures and styles. It was a great growing/learning experience. I loved being able to take the time out to work on creative projects, displays, and interacting with different people. I was able to walk away from that situation with so much positive things added to me. So I can’t really pin-point specific moments, but overall, it was a memorable experience.

What are the top 5 MUST HAVE items which you think that every fashionable guy needs to have for the FW season?

IF your Fashionable... For the Fall/Winter season… A bad ass leather jacket is a must! I’m really into poncho’s, I think they can be a sick layering piece there’s so many different ways you can rock them, Sweatshirts with cool detail, Skinny chino’s, and a pair of Chelsea boots!

 Styled By: Heather Sands Photographed By: Daniel Barbosa

 You modeled for one of the shows in the NYFW this week, how did you like this experience and how was the atmosphere in the backstage?

 I still can’t believe I had the chance to be apart of something like that! Especially for Ozwald Boateng! It was completely out of my comfort zone, which was cool because it gave me a chance to tap into something else. 

Carl Bailey for Ozwald Boateng at NYFW SS 2013.

Backstage it was really crazy and chaotic. Lots of press running around snapping pictures, we had to practice our walks, and there was a hair stylist running around spraying hair spray in my hair every 5 minutes! hehe. This was all at the same time for about 3 hours, which made me nervous as shit! By the time it was my turn to hit the runway it felt just natural for me as performing, it gave me the same rush.

Carl Bailey for Ozwald Boateng at NYFW SS 2013.

I'm 27 today and this is what I learned so far...

Today is my 27^th birthday, last five or six years I have spent living in several countries, continents, states and my birthday celebrations weren’t all that, so after a while I have kind of stopped celebrating my B-day all together, as there is always something more important going on, however since about 24^th birthday I tend to stop that day despite my extremely hectic and fast pace of life and look back on the year behind me.

So, what have I learned from my last birthday, or what has life confirmed to me to hold true:

Say what you feel, when you feel it, don’t assume other person knows it …as hearts are often broken by the words left unspoken.

Forgive and let go….I learned that people will hurt you as long and as often you let them and as hard as you allow it. The pain will last as long as you don’t forgive, and when you do it, then you set yourself free and you are able to move on. People almost never hurt you because they are just mean; they most often hurt you because they are scared or because they are to weak to say what is on their mind.

It's ok to be alone....There are some things in life (often some of the heardest) that you need to go through alone, where not even your friends and family can hold or talk you through it and that is ok. It is important for you to learn your own limits, to feel the pain. You need to get over it alone and grow from it and become stronger because of it. The moment when you accept yourself and learn about who you are, and love yourself, you can trully love and be there for someone else.

Appreciate what/who you have while you have it…this is one of the things I learned to do with some people. I learned to appreciate and enjoy the moment I am with someone, I learned that each day is a blessing and that sometimes there is no second chances, especially in love. Learn to recognize it, appreciate it, give it back and enjoy it while you have it, don’t take it for granted and cherish it to maintain it. True love doesn't happen often.

Don’t judge people…You don’t know their story…Judging and stereotyping a person is the easiest and the laziest thing to do. In order to give a person a chance, maybe to gain a lifelong friend, you need to listen more than you talk, do it without assuming things, judging or interfering, trying to put yourself in that persons shoes, learn to accept the person as he or she is, with all the positives and the negatives about them... and then be there for them, and let them be there for you.

Smile a lot…even when you feel down, supposedly stretching your face into a smile automatically triggers your brain to start releasing happy hormones, and smile is the only gift that is totally free and it makes a person giving it and person receiving it feels good.

Stand for something….even when you are the only one whose opinion differs, if you have facts to support it and you fully believe in it, defend it, and sell it, make it happened and make a difference. Don’t fall into routine and be satisfied with being average... take some risks when it matters.

What are some of the thighs life has taught you lovelies? Care to share?