Liam Bailey
{{short description|English singer-songwriter}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Liam Bailey
| image = Liam Bailey Rough Trade 24 February 2024.jpg
| caption = Bailey performing in 2024
| landscape = yes
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Nottingham, England
| genre = {{hlist|Soul|reggae|blues|rock}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Guitar|vocals}}
| label = {{hlist|Flying Buddha|Sony|Lioness|Polydor|Truth and Soul|Speakerbox}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Shy FX|Chase & Status|Delilah|DJ Fresh|Amy Winehouse|The Memory Band|The Accidental}}
| website = {{url|https://liambaileymusic.bandcamp.com}}
}}
Liam Bailey is an English singer-songwriter from Nottingham.{{cite news|last1=Oakes|first1=M. Gosho |title=The New Soul of Nottingham: Introducing Liam Bailey|url=http://soulculture.com/features/scarticles/the-new-soul-of-nottingham-introducing-liam-bailey/|access-date=24 February 2014|website=SoulCulture.com|date=10 June 2010}} He is noted for his soul, reggae, and blues-influenced vocal style.
Career
In 2010, he released two solo EPs on Amy Winehouse's Lioness Records.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jun/11/new-band-liam-bailey|title=New Band of the Day –Liam Bailey (No 806)|last1=Lester|first1=Paul|date=11 June 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=21 October 2010|publisher=Guardian News|location=London}} Recorded entirely by Bailey and his guitar, the debut EP 2am Rough Tracks was released on 23 September, following its recording some weeks before. The EP consisted of "Your Heart's Not Safe", "I'd Rather Go Blind" and "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want". This was followed by a second three track EP So Down, Cold, released on 29 November, featuring the tracks; "Fool Boy", "Breaking Out" and "So Down, Cold".{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/610/liam_bailey_soul_pride/ |title=Liam Bailey: Soul pride |publisher=Bluesandsoul.com |access-date=25 August 2014}} Bailey signed to Polydor Records earlier the same year.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/nottingham/hi/people_and_places/music/newsid_8558000/8558013.stm |title=BBC Nottingham artist Liam Bailey signs to Hendrix label |publisher=BBC News |date=11 March 2010 |access-date=25 August 2014}}
Bailey has been performing around the world with Chase & Status since 2010. Bailey co-wrote and performed on their single "Blind Faith", released on 21 January 2011 in the UK, where it debuted at number five in the UK Singles Chart; it also featured on their second album No More Idols. They then collaborated on the single "Big Man", released 16 October 2012, which reached No. 13 on the UK Dance Chart and appears on some editions of follow-up album Brand New Machine.
Bailey's prospective debut album Out of the Shadows{{cite web|author=Andy Kellman |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/out-of-the-shadows-unreleased-mw0002117056 |title=Out of the Shadows [Unreleased] – Liam Bailey | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=AllMusic |access-date=25 August 2014}} was recorded, produced by Salaam Remi, and scheduled for issue in September 2011 but Bailey unexpectedly pulled the release.
Following the break with Polydor, 2013 saw the re-release of "When Will They Learn" on Speakerbox, MistaJam's Ministry of Sound imprint,{{cite web|url=http://www.ministryofsound.com.au/music/release/2013/when-will-they-learn/ |title=Liam Bailey – When Will They Learn | Ministry of Sound Australia |publisher=Ministryofsound.com.au |access-date=25 August 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.turnfirstartists.com/artists/liam-bailey/ |title=Liam Bailey |publisher=Turn First Artists |date=18 August 2014 |access-date=25 August 2014}} complete with remixes by Shadow Child and others. The video was shot with Bailey's friends in Nottingham for the relatively small sum of £1,750.{{cite web |url=http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_SStennett2.html |title=Interview with Sarah Stennett (part 2) |publisher=HitQuarters|date=4 March 2013 |access-date=1 August 2013}} Manager Sarah Stennett told HitQuarters that its homegrown, low-key nature was a perfect fit saying: "The video with Liam is amazing because his friends capture him so well. He was signed to a major label previously and they never quite captured it."
Bailey's collaboration with Shy FX, "Soon Come" reached No. 6 on the UK Indie Chart in August 2013 and received praise from David Rodigan, Zane Lowe, and Annie Mac.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} They also collaborated on an EP as "Project Maldonado",{{cite web|url=http://projectmaldonado.com/ |title=Project Maldonado |publisher=Project Maldonado |access-date=25 August 2014}} which was released for download on SoundCloud.
His debut album Definitely Now was released in the US in August 2014 on Flying Buddha/Sony,{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/definitely-now-mw0002686818 |title=Definitely Now – Liam Bailey | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=AllMusic |date=19 August 2014 |access-date=25 August 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.dickinson.edu/wdcvfm/2014/07/liam-bailey-definitely-now-album-review/ |title=Liam Bailey 'Definitely NOW' – Album Review |publisher=Blogs.dickinson.edu |date=17 August 2014 |access-date=25 August 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/LIAM-BAILEY-Drops-New-Single-On-My-Mind-Album-Definitely-Now-Out-819-20140805 |title=LIAM BAILEY Drops New Single 'On My Mind;' Album 'Definitely Now' Out 8/19 – BWWMusicWorld |publisher=Broadwayworld.com |date=19 August 2014 |access-date=25 August 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.soulbounce.com/soul/2014/06/listen-to-whats-on-liam-baileys-mind/ |title=Listen To What's on Liam Bailey's 'Mind' |publisher=SoulBounce |date=5 June 2014 |access-date=25 August 2014}} with download single "On My Mind" available with pre-order. In an interview with Wondering Sound, Bailey explains how "it's been torture trying to figure out which way to go" in terms of musical direction.{{cite web|url=http://www.wonderingsound.com/feature/liam-bailey-interview/ |title=Liam Bailey Interview |publisher=Wondering Sound |access-date=24 November 2014}} Definitely Now shows that he has now found his sound, and is described by Wondering Sound as "sweet Daptone soul infused with blues moods, Oasis riffage, Sam Cooke grooves and light Jamaican accents".
Nine years after first working together on The Dynamic Set's "When Will They Learn" single, Liam Bailey and Big Crown boss Leon Michels recorded an album together.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ekundayo-mw0003419919/credits|title=Ekundayo - Liam Bailey | Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=16 July 2023}} Ekundayo builds on the Nottingham singer-songwriter's penchant for recording lo-fi soul. Nevertheless, AllMusic describe the 13 track collection as 'reggae'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ekundayo-mw0003419919|title=Liam Bailey - Ekundayo Album Reviews, Songs & More|website=AllMusic|access-date=16 July 2023}}
Bailey's fourth studio album, Zero Grace, was released in February 2024, produced by Leon Michels and the El Michels Affair collective.{{cite web |last1=Lesuer |first1=Mike |title=Liam Bailey Reflects on a Turbulent Childhood on Soulful New Single "Disorder Starts at Home" |url=https://floodmagazine.com/150689/liam-bailey-disorder-starts-at-home-first-listen/ |website=Flood |access-date=18 July 2024 |date=11 December 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Dillon |first1=Ryan |title=Liam Bailey Deploys Subtle Soul On 'Zero Grace' |url=https://glidemagazine.com/299305/liam-bailey-deploys-subtle-soul-on-zero-grace-album-review/ |website=Glide |access-date=18 July 2024 |date=21 February 2024}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Definitely Now
|
|
| scope="row"| Ekundayo
|
|
| scope="row"| Enfant Terrible (with St Francis Hotel) |
|
| scope="row"| Zero Grace
|
|
=EPs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| 2am Rough Tracks
|
|
| scope="row"| So Down, Cold
|
|
| scope="row"| It's Not the Same
|
|
| scope="row"| Brand New
|
|
| scope="row"| Broken Home {{small|(with Dogger & Mindstate)}} |
|
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:2em;"| Year
! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Single ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Album |
|---|
| 2010
!scope="row"|"I Belong" {{ref label|IBelong|A}} |rowspan="2" {{non-album single}} |
| rowspan="2"|2011
!scope="row"|"You Better Leave Me" |
| scope="row"|"It's Not the Same"
| It's Not the Same |
| 2013
!scope="row"|"When Will They Learn" |{{non-album single}} |
| rowspan="3"|2014
!scope="row"|"On My Mind" |rowspan="2"| Definitely Now |
| scope="row"|"Villain" (featuring A$AP Ferg) |
| scope="row"|"Please Love Me"
|rowspan="2" {{non-album single}} |
| 2016
!scope="row"|"Love My Neighbours" |
| rowspan="3"|2018
!scope="row"|"Brother, Why You Gotta Love Her" |rowspan="2"| Brand New |
| scope="row"|"You Saw the Devil in Me" |
| scope="row"|"Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You"
| {{non-album single}} |
| rowspan="2"|2019
!scope="row"|"Broken Home" | Broken Home |
| scope="row"|"Champion"
|rowspan="3"| Ekundayo |
| rowspan="5"|2020
!scope="row"|"Fight" |
| scope="row"|"Don't Blame NY" |
| scope="row"|"You Saw the Devil in Me (Remix)" (with Dogger, Mindstate & DRS) | The Time is Yours |
| scope="row"|"White Light"
|rowspan="2"| Ekundayo |
| scope="row"|"Angel Dust" |
| rowspan="4"|2021
!scope="row"|"Give Me Time" | Big Crown Records presents Dear Sunny... |
| scope="row"|"Awkward (Take 2)" (with El Michels Affair) |rowspan="3"| Ekundayo Inversions |
| scope="row"|"Walk With Me" (with El Michels Affair) |
| scope="row"|"I Love NY" (with El Michels Affair) |
| 2022
!scope="row"|"Come Around Slowly" | {{non-album single}} |
| rowspan="8"|2023
!scope="row"|"Divine Light" |rowspan="2"| Enfant Terrible |
| scope="row"|"Recovery Time" (with St Francis Hotel) |
| scope="row"|"Heavysoul" (with IZCO and FELIXCW) | {{non-album single}} |
| scope="row"|"Bliss" (with Fybe:One) | This Is Ours |
| scope="row"|"Rain" (with Zefer) | Before It Gets Too Late |
| scope="row"|"Good People" (with St Francis Hotel) | Enfant Terrible |
| scope="row"|"Water Your Time (Bag Uh Reasons)" (with Summer-Pearl) | {{TBA}} |
| scope="row"|"We're Not Clear" (with NARX) | {{TBA}} |
Notes
- {{note label|IBelong|A}} – The track was released as a free download from his website.
==As featured artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" | ||
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Single ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album | ||
|---|---|---|
| scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"|UK {{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20110130/7501/ |title=2011-02-05 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=5 February 2011 |access-date=25 August 2014 }} ! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"|UK ! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"|DEN | ||
| 2011
! scope="row"|"Blind Faith" | 5 | 1 | 24 |
| rowspan="3"|2012
! scope="row"|"Breathe" | 87 | — | —
| |
| scope="row"|"Big Man" (Chase & Status featuring Liam Bailey) | 68 || — || — | ||
| scope="row"|"Don't Tell Me" (DJ Fresh featuring Liam Bailey) | — || — || — | ||
| 2013
! scope="row"|"Soon Come" | 55 | 18 | —
| Cornerstone |
| 2015
! scope="row"|"Revelation" | — | — | — |
| 2016
! scope="row"|"4am Where Are You" | — | — | —
| Flashback |
| rowspan="3"|2020
! scope="row"|"Yesterday" | — | — | —
|rowspan="2" {{Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"|"Make No Sound" (Brookes Brothers featuring Liam Bailey) | — || — || — | ||
| scope="row"|"Lost & Proud" (Alix Perez featuring Liam Bailey) | — || — || — | Without End | ||
| 2022
! scope="row"|"Look 4" | — | — | —
| {{non-album single}} |
| rowspan="6"|2023
! scope="row"|"Gunshot Love" | — | — | —
|Digital World |
| scope="row"|"Rivers" (Think Tonk vs. DJ Fresh featuring Jamie McCool and Liam Bailey) | — || — || — | {{Non-album single}} | ||
| scope="row"|"Satisfy My Soul" (Halogenix featuring Liam Bailey) | — || — || — | {{TBA}} | ||
| scope="row"|"Enough" (Manudigital featuring Liam Bailey) | — || — || — | {{TBA}} | ||
| scope="row"|"No Fear" (V V Brown featuring Liam Bailey) | — || — || — | ||
| scope="row"|"No Sunset For Soul" (Monty featuring Liam Bailey) | — || — || — | So Sunset For Soul | ||
| 2024
! scope="row"|"Sorrow" | — | — | —
| Aquarii In Dub |
==Other appearances==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Song ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Artist ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Album |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|2018
!scope="row"|"I Belong" | One: In the Chamber |
| scope="row"|"Dancing with the Devil"
| Full Moon in Aries |
| rowspan="3"|2019
!scope="row"|"Lay You Down" | Matriarchy |
| scope="row"|"Actualize"
|Louis Cypher | Cypher Sore Eyes |
| scope="row"|"For This"
| 15 Years of Shogun Audio |
| rowspan="4"|2020
!scope="row"|"Been Away" |Juga-Naut | Bem |
| scope="row"|"The Time is Yours"
|Dogger & Mindstate |rowspan="2"| The Time is Yours |
| scope="row"|"Holding Back"
|Dogger, Mindstate & DRS |
| scope="row"|"Moving On"
| Without End |
| 2021
!scope="row"|"Lord's Prayer" |Dimension | Organ |
| rowspan="3"|2022
!scope="row"|"Living Hard" |Juga-Naut | Time & Place |
| scope="row"|"Don't Even Try It"
|DJ Yoda | Prom Nite |
| scope="row"|"Not Today"
|Matata | Super Morio |
| rowspan="3"|2023
!scope="row"|"Gotta Believe" | Break | Digital World |
| scope="row"|"Don't Let Go"
|rowspan="2"| Fybe:One |rowspan="2"| This Is Ours |
| scope="row"|"What Have I Done" |
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/user/LiamBaileyVEVO Liam Bailey] on YouTube
- [http://www.virgin.com/music/red-room/liam-bailey-interview-in-the-virgin-red-room/ Liam Bailey video interview in the Virgin Red Room]
- [http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/introducing/tlobf-introducing-liam-bailey-49097 The Line of Best Fit interview, March 2011]
- [http://www.leftlion.co.uk/articles.cfm/title/liam-bailey/id/3659 LeftLion interview, May 2011]
{{Liam Bailey}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Liam}}
Category:British reggae singers