Introducing Ariel Bailey - An IHS Tiger With Vocals to Make the Natomas Community Proud

Molly Minette will never forget the sound that she heard when her daughter Ariel was born. “It was a hum. I asked the nurse, do you hear that? Where is that sound coming from?” “I laugh about it now, but I know that’s what I heard.” Ariel Bailey, now a sophomore at Inderkum High School, was definitely born to sing if the humming that her mother heard was any indication. “I think I was about in the third grade when I realized that I enjoyed singing and that I could pick up songs and the lyrics fairly easily,” shares Bailey. At that time, she was attending Heron School where she remained all the way through 8th grade. “Being a proud mother, I would always encourage her to sing at family gatherings and around the house. I loved hearing her, and singing for others helped to grow her confidence,” reflects Minette. That confidence continued to grow when she started singing at church in front of large groups. Today, she is one of the worship leaders leading her congregation with songs each Sunday.

During the pandemic, Ariel experimented with another aspect of singing. She started writing lyrics. The process was easier than she anticipated. Now with her own original lyrics and a brother who helped her to locate beats to go with it, she was able to record her first single in a recording studio thanks to her mom and stepdad. “She nailed it in just two takes,“ said Minette. They released her single “Can’t be Friends,” on all music platforms including Apple Music, YouTube, IHeart, Spotify, SoundCloud, and more.

With such strong, soulful vocals, one might assume that Ariel’s dream is to be a famous singer traveling the world performing, but this Tiger’s aspirations are quite different.

“I love singing, but I enjoy basketball just as much.” Bailey is one of the top scorers on Inderkum’s JV Basketball Team, and she’s already looking forward to another impactful year on the court next school year. She also has an interest in the medical field and hasn’t ruled out possibly going to medical school. She is leaving the door open with options, something Natomas Unified is committed to doing for all students - Connecting Students to their Future.

Whatever path Bailey ultimately chooses, singing will always be a part of life. Whether it’s on stage singing to large crowds or entertaining her friends and family, the humming will never stop.

Check out Ariel Bailey’s single “Can’t be Friends.”

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