Kailey Nicole might be relatively low-profile to those outside of the indie country circuit, but she’s quickly becoming one of my favorite singers in the genre because of the confidence she brings to the table seemingly every time she steps into the recording studio. Her new single, “Aim a Little Higher,” and its companion video represent a swaggering raised standard for her brand, and for those who have been following her story from the beginning, it’s the realization of her talents a lot of us have been waiting to hear in all of its unfiltered glory.

URL: https://www.kaileynicole.com/

The lyrics in “Aim a Little Higher” are indeed more of the self-aware, humility-dispensing poetry that won me over just last year in her self-titled EP, but I will say that they have a slightly more refined feel to their structure than I was initially anticipating. She’s developed a certain elegance that, when mixed with the smooth country drawl she naturally has, is bound to yield some of the lustiest harmonies on either side of the Mississippi River when put to good use, and in this single, it’s serving as the artistic focal point it should in any scenario moving forward.

As far as the music video for this song goes, it’s probably one of the most accessible high-gloss indie visual treats I’ve seen in the last year. With quarantine culture inspiring a lot of insularity both in composing and music video conceptualism, it’s nice to see something a little more on par with the standard country fans knew prior to 2020; though I would stop well short of calling this a throwback to the old school in any capacity. Simply put, if there’s a right way to make a sparkling, image-based document without sacrificing your independent identity, this young woman has found it.

For style and substance that are free of saccharinity, Kailey Nicole just might be the only gal in country music you need to go see this spring for a good time. “Aim a Little Higher” is a celebration of craftsmanship and a feverish talent I want to hear more of – preferably in a complete studio album – and although it’s not the lone indie cut worthy of the headlines it’s landing at the moment, it could be just enough of a star-making release to raise this artist’s profile to the attention of mainstream audiences. She can handle the pressure that comes with breaking through, and that’s demonstrated quite liberally in this performance.

John McCall