There is something weightless about Bailey Kate’s songs – they pass by with a kind of supernatural ease. Timeless songwriting and dextrous arrangements are the cornerstones of her debut record Within / Without. The songs give a first impression of simplicity, but layers of harmonic and lyrical complexity reward the attentive listener. Lead lines interweave with her vocals to form a sturdy thread of melody and countermelody. On Within / Without, Bailey explores themes of relationships, community, and existential dread with clear-eyed sincerity.
On this debut record, she has worked with a handpicked community of top-notch audio and visual artists. Key collaborators include Jon Martin (Green Recording Studio) in the role of Engineer and Producer, Philip Shaw Bova (who’s mastered records by Feist, Andy Shauf, and others) as Mastering Engineer, and Angeline Simon as photographer
What’s your story as an artist?
I have been writing and performing since 2017. I started out with a couple of open mic performances, graduated to house shows and then played an opening slot with my boyfriend Joel Gray in 2019. We met our (now) pal Jon Martin that night. He was encouraging about getting our songs recorded and since he ran Green Recording Company in town, he seemed to be the guy that could help us do that. We set up a meeting with him, recorded some demos, and decided to put them out into the streaming world to help book more shows. Later on that year we tried working the songs into a band formation and through various connections ended up with our current members – Joel Gray, Dylan Wagner, Joel Stretch, Logan Amon and Mickey Hayward. We recorded Within/Without – our first full length album – in 2020 with Jon and will be releasing it October 29, 2021. It truly has been amazing to go through all of these firsts – for me – with a group of friends that all bring such charisma, experience and talent to my music. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am without Jon or the guys in the band.
What do you want your music to communicate?
I want my music to attempt to explain the inner workings of my mind – thoughts and feelings that I don’t often share. It’s a glimpse into the inner voice that is vulnerable and has taken time to reach conclusions about why I’ve been feeling a certain way.
What are some sources of inspiration for your storytelling?
Often my lyrics come from having time alone with my thoughts, on a long solo drive for example, spewing them into a note on my phone until I’ve processed them enough to string the thoughts together. They’re from musing about past experiences that I’ve had enough time and distance from to accurately reflect.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
Leslie Feist! She is such an incredible visionary and has really set the standard for Canadian music. I love the way she seems to feel the music, and all of the interesting layers she adds to her songs.
What’s the record or artist that made you realize you wanted to be an artist?
Margaret Glaspy’s album Emotions and Math found its way into my ears right as I was beginning to play open mics. Glaspy’s grungy guitar licks and crafty lyrics put stars in my eyes.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about.
We just released our second single off of our upcoming album. The album is titled Within/Without and the single is called Fall Apart. This is the first full band, full length album that I have been a part of releasing. I co-wrote Fall Apart with my friend and bandmate Joel Stretch during a really difficult time in my life. I moved houses and started a new job at the same time, and totally burnt myself out. I lost my spark and felt like every day was a new impossible task. Thankfully, I had a strong support network to help me through that time.
What inspires your sound?
A combination of my favourite artists (Pinegrove, Feist, Julia Jacklin, Margaret Glaspy, Andy Shauf) and the unique personalities of my bandmates. They always get to contribute their own parts to the songs and it helps build something really special.
What’s your favorite tune of yours?
I think Fall Apart might be my favourite tune. I love the chords that Joel Stretch wrote, and the lyrics I added felt vulnerable and honest.
Where are some things you really want to accomplish as an artist?
I would love to tour outside of Alberta. Touring another country would be the absolute dream. I also think it would be very cool to play Audiotree Live.
Favorite lyric you ever wrote?
My favorite lyric I’ve ever written is in Care, talking about how if the plants in my house are “looking frail and unloved – just imagine how I am”. Usually I can tell that I’m not in a good mental space when I can’t seem to muster the energy to take care of my plants, even after spending lots of time thinking about how I should. It always seems to be easier to notice signs of plants that aren’t being taken care of – it’s a little tricker to notice in people (or yourself).
Was there ever a moment when you felt like giving up?
I’m sure there has been at least one show that made me feel like giving up after. I tend to dwell on mistakes, and also feel particularly pessimistic when I’m tired.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
The only way to get better at performing is by performing.
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
Some kind of more sophisticated show booking method that is more efficient for planning tours would be amazing. An app that would allow artists that meet venue requirements to see available dates and venues to coordinate and book a tour without sending and receiving so many darn emails!
