INTERVIEW | ELLES BAILEY RIDING OUT THE STORM: “It’s written with Joe Wilkins. It’s about the highs and lows in a relationship and finding that thread that gets you through it!” SHINING IN THE HALF LIGHT: “I wrote this with Craig Lackey. It was written over a zoom call. Craig was on guitar, and I was on piano. It was written during lockdown 1. It’s about music being like a drug. Then this has been taken away. We all had to go cold turkey overnight. I brought the idea to him of, you’re sitting there playing music in front of a screen and knowing there are a load of people that you can’t see. That’s the closest I get to pandemic times in this album. Someone asked, if I had
the talent, you should write about this time because we’re all experiencing these times. I found it hard to talk about this. It’s the first time I’ve talked about an experience that’s shared by the whole world. We’ve not all been in the same boat, but we have been in the same storm! I enjoy telling people how I write songs, for example Wild Wild West was about being screwed over by a con artist. But when you’re suddenly writing about a collective experience there’s a whole new responsibility to take on. I found it easy to vocalise in a song but not talking about it. When you’re on the road you don’t want to use the word, pandemic. I’ve come out of it, made a record, had a baby and I know a lot of people have not. It’s about being empathetic to those going through heartache.” “Best advice musically, music isn’t easy you have to take the rough with the smooth. Work hard I suppose although that doesn’t sound very creative. We’ll be doing as much touring as we can. I made an E.P. not sure when this will be released. Writing songs for another new album. Finally going on Blues Cruise Autumn 2022! Going to Norway and Germany too.” I had a fan tell me their daughter who is eight always wants to put on Elles Bailey’s Wildfire on vinyl. We’re getting the blues out there to a new audience! Last word goes to Elles. “The UK and Europe, you’ve been a massive champion to me, thanks for taking me on when I jump from genre to genre. This has been the first interview about the new release. Thanks very much!”
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ISSUE 124
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