Elles Bailey Talks New Album ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ And More

Apr 11, 2024 | Interviews

Words by Glenn Sargeant

Photo Credit: Rob Blackham/Blackham Images

Award-winning UK based genre-blending roots singer songwriter Elles Bailey is no stranger to JLTT and although we did interview her in previous months, we wanted to learn more about her forthcoming new album ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ so we set about an ‘album-focussed’ conversation and she kindly agreed:

Your new album ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ is released on 9th August 2024. How did you want to approach the making of the record?

I knew I wanted to make it with the same team that I made my last album Shining in the Half Light with… however I was very keen not to just go and make the same old record.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

The album was made at Middle Farm Studio’s and produced by Dan Weller.

One of the new tracks is your new single ‘Enjoy The Ride’ which is out now. What was the story/inspiration behind the song?

Very early on in my career a friend told me that this musical path I had chosen doesn’t have a destination, it’s a journey, a very tough journey and it’s so important to enjoy the journey,”

“I have lived and breathed this idea and ‘Enjoy the Ride’ is my autobiographical tribute to the journey I have taken. It’s not always easy, in fact most of the time it’s incredibly challenging, but I love love love what I do!

Who plays with you in the band on the album?

I have a Stella cast of musicians and artists on this record. Joe Wilkins (guitars) , Matthew Jones (drums), Matthew Waer (bass) and Jonny Henderson (ivories) join me again and its always great to make records with them as well as touring together. However, this time around I have 3 incredible artists lending their talents on backing vocal duties, Demi Marriner who also tours with me, Katey Brooks who cowrote Let it Burn and the fabulous Liam Cromby. Three amazing vocalists and I’m honoured that they have joined me on this album. Also, there is Holly Carter on Pedal Steel, Pete Fraser on Saxophone and The Answers’ Cormac Neeson on Harmonica.

Another track is ‘1972’ and I wanted to ask what the idea behind that song and does that year hold any significance/importance to you?

In this day and age, we spend so much time looking down, engrossed in our smart phones and 1972 is a celebration of living in the moment perhaps a little more like it was in the 70’s! That would have been a cool era to live in and this record defo have some 70’s feels!

Was it a difficult album to write?

That’s a tricky question, I wrote and wrote for this album and had load of songs to choose from. This album broke me a part and made me whole all at the same time and It’s been a real journey of discovery both melodically, lyrically, musically and personally.

Some of the songs were written through some really dark moments and others during the highest of highs. It’s definitely been the hardest but most rewarding record I have made to date… I’m not gonna lie, trying to find the creative headspace to write a record, and then being present during the mixing process when you have a toddler and you’re trying to be the best parent you can be, is definitely a struggle, but it’s been worth it.

The single is also accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video, where did you film it and who directed it?

Greta and Robin from Grow Vison who are also in the Band Beaux Gris Gris and The Apocalypse filmed and directed the video. They were on tour in January and February and on a day off came and filmed the video at Williams Automobiles. Williams were great and organised all the fancy vehicles that you see in the video.

Greta and Robin are really creative, and I love how they use green screen in their own music videos, and we felt like this would be the perfect song to create a whole storyline with a green screen! I love the police chase and laughed out loud when I saw it for the first time!

Who designed/created the album cover?

That’s Alicia from Milk and Bone Design. She is such a talent, and it was amazing to work with her again to come up with the ‘look’ for this album. She did such great job on all the artwork for Shining in the Half Light, and I knew she would again for Beneath The Neon Glow

Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

Ooooo

A) I think 1972 will probably sound the happiest!

B) If this is love – There isn’t much anger in this album, so I guess this song is the closet you get to me being angry!!

C) I think the most reflective is Silhouette in a Sunset

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording session?

There was this one moment where Dan asked Matt, Jonny and I do so some finger snaps for Leave The Light On and it turns out that I can hardly make any sound when I snap my fingers, and Jonny’s snaps sound like someone’s fingers breaking – the contrast along with having to be quiet as we were recording had us in stiches of laugher. I managed to capture it all on camera as well !

Do you have any plans for live shows in Europe/UK in 2024?

It’s a big summer of festivals this year in the UK and in Europe and then I shall be touring Beneath The Neon Glow in The UK and Netherlands this Autumn.

Did you learn anything new about yourself during the songwriting and album recording process?

I learnt a lot during this whole process. Making a record strips you metaphorically bare – we are always changing, evolving as humans, it’s been a wonderful learning curve…

Feature Image Photo Credit: Rob Blackham/Blackham Images

Elles Bailey’s new album ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ is released on Friday 9th August 2024 on Cooking Vinyl Records.

Pre-order the album and bundles here: https://ellesbailey.tmstor.es/

The first single ‘Enjoy The Ride’ is out now. Stream/Download the single here: https://ellesb.lnk.to/EnjoytheRide

In addition, Elles Bailey will embark on a sixteen-date headline Autumn 2024 UK Tour which will visit the following venues:

SEPTEMBER
25th LINCOLN, The Drill
26th NORWICH, Waterfront
27th CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge Junction
28th OXFORD, O2 Academy 2

OCTOBER
11th CARLISLE, Carlisle Blues Festival
12th GLOUCESTER, Gloucester Guildhall
24th EXETER, Exeter Phoenix
26th BRISTOL, SWX

NOVEMBER
2nd LONDON, Islington Assembly Hall
3rd SOUTHAMPTON, Engine Rooms
14th SUNDERLAND, The Fire Station
15th EDINBURGH, Cabaret Voltaire
16th GLASGOW, Oran Mor
17th CHESTER, The Live Rooms
30th WOLVERHAMPTON, KK’s Steel Mill

DECEMBER
1st LEEDS, Brudenell Social Club