Bailey Pickles, aged 20, is studying the University of Sydney’s ‘Composition for Creative Industries’ at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. “This is the perfect course for me,” Pickles said. “It’s been a fantastic experience because I’m surrounded by so many like-minded and talented people. Some of my friends at the Con [Conservatorium] are incredibly gifted, which inspires me to keep working hard.”
Pickles has played piano since he was four years old and spends most of his time composing on it, however, he also plays the trumpet and the guitar occasionally.
Inspired by composer Han Zimmer’s work, Pickles has dreams of composing soundtracks for large events and films.
In 2024, he began fulfilling this dream when he was asked to compose the soundtrack for the Vivid light show in Sydney. He said receiving the email from the Vivid team was one of the most exciting moments of his life.
“My brother and I used to watch the Vivid Light Show each year as kids, so to now be able to compose for it was such a surreal experience.”
Pickles was asked to write 10 minutes of music that would play on loop every night to the lights for the Harbour Bridge and the main skyscraper buildings of Sydney. He said the writing process took about a month.
“During Vivid, my music played every night from 6 pm to 11 pm. The lights of the Harbour Bridge and city buildings danced to my music. It was an extremely exciting and memorable experience, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.”
Read on for the rest of the interview…
What has your journey as a musician been like?
“My journey has been incredibly exciting, and I feel so lucky for the opportunities I’ve had. During quarantine, my mum started sharing my music on TikTok, and things took off quickly. We went viral, and now I have over 1.5 million followers across TikTok and Instagram. These platforms have given me an incredible way to share my music with the world, and it’s been amazing to connect with so many people.
Once I finally started putting my music out there, I found my audience. That’s the biggest secret—everyone is scared to get started, but if you push past the fear and share yourself on social media, you’ll connect with people who love what you do.”
What are your inspirations? Where are you headed next?
“My focus for this year is writing music, particularly film music. It’s been my dream ever since I started at the Sydney Conservatorium. When I was 10, I joined the Rising Stars program there, and one of my theory teachers, Henrique Dib, was a film composer. I took private lessons with him every week, and he inspired me so much. I’d come home from our lessons and spend hours composing. He was such an incredible and inspiring teacher to me, and he’s one of the main reasons I fell in love with film music.”
What advice do you have for students with big dreams?
“I’d say that your dreams are entirely possible, but you need to adopt a “fail and fail fast” mentality. Social media has been so important for me, and it has completely changed my life. I truly believe this is possible for everyone.
Everybody has something they’re great at. All you need to do is put a camera in front of yourself and face the fear of being on camera. Share your work, share what you’re passionate about, and it’s incredible how far that can take you. You never know who’s watching.
The great thing about social media is that the algorithm will help you find your audience. If you’re sharing what you love, the people who love the same things will find you.
And I would give the exact same advice to people who aren’t studying music. Social media is the fastest lane to get wherever you want to go. As you get over the fear of the camera and start sharing what you’re studying, learning, and your journey, the most amazing experiences and opportunities can come up.”
Pickles has collaborated with other talented artists such as Onefour, fellow student Hugo Hui, and Sophie Patterson. He has also displayed a unique ability to play songs by ear, upon first listening. Artists such as Bastille, James Bay, Delta Goodrem and more have invited him to perform for them.
Pickles finished by saying, “I’d love to add that, as cliché as it sounds, you really can do anything you set your mind to. Write down the goals you want to achieve, set a time frame for when you want to achieve them, and force yourself to believe it’s possible. If you can convince yourself, you can convince the world.”
Follow Bailey Pickles’ music on Instagram, TikTok or Spotify.
