Andrew Bailie is an American songwriter, singer and guitarist. His intricate songs are crafted with raw emotion, fierce guitar work, and an unmistakable, soaring voice. Drawing elements from a variety of musical styles and traditions, Bailie’s songs are woven from his own hopes, fears and enchantment, tapping into the common human experiences that give us pause, inspire longing, or set us ablaze.
If you listen to Bailie’s work, you’ll get the sense that he’s a traveller. Not just geographically, but sonically as well. Though he has played on sessions with the likes of Ms. Lauryn Hill and Aloe Blacc, toured Europe with Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles, and played countless bars, clubs, and dives in NYC, he’s never lost that humble Midwestern charm.
At the end of the day, Andrew Bailie just wants to make good sounds. For an artist that has shared the stage with the likes of George Clinton, Talib Kweli, and Marcus Miller, there’s no air of pretention in Bailie’s work. Bailie’s approach is meticulous without losing its humanity. Carefree without being careless. Skilled while still reaching for new horizons. Bailie is one of the new American greats; a human being attempting to live life ever in the present. And his insistence on the moment reminds us that truly, that is all we have. In the coming years as the world begins to returns to normal, Bailie hopes to record a slew of new songs and bring those songs to cities all over the world.
Today Glide is excited to premiere Bailie’s new single “A Slow Demise,” a song that hits right out of the gate with a healthy dose of disco-funk and R&B sensuality. “A Slow Demise” shows Bailie commenting on the twilight of American democracy. With conviction, he sings, “How many times must we hear / New testament lies / When all victory cries / Are paid for with lives / It’s the old price of fear / The cold price of fear / Baby don’t you live in fear.” As the funky shuffle of the music swells around the lyrics, Bailie peers into the darkness of the age of influence. This duality is common in his work – upbeat music with serious lyrics. Indeed, laying down Nile Rodgers-esque guitar alongside subtle organ and an uptempo beat, we get a song that is somehow radio-ready while also making a potent statement. Contrasting hopeful sounds with lyrics that deal with heavier reflection, Bailie demonstrates his dynamic and intriguing approach to music with this tune.
Andrew Bailie describes the inspiration behind the song:
“A Slow Demise is a desperately cheerful song that deals with personal and societal disillusionment. The lyrics presented themselves to me many years ago while living in Omaha, but this arrangement came together while soaking in the street views of Bed Stuy, in Brooklyn, NY. The playfulness of the groove against the lyrical subject matter creates a dichotomy that goes far deeper than either element could on its own. It’s as if the music itself casts light on a sliver of hope; like a life raft floating in a sea of suffering and strife.”
LISTEN: