Liam Bailey

In the organizer's words:

Liam Bailey

Zero Grace

Presented by Emerged Agency
03.09.24 Cologne, Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld
Admission: 19:00 | Start: 20:00

20 years into his career, Liam Bailey can finally be himself. Over the past two decades, the Nottingham-born singer-songwriter has used his majestic, powerful and touching voice on tracks as diverse as his 2010 lo-fi guitar and vocal breakthrough 'I'd Rather Go Blind', released on Amy Winehouse's Lioness Records, 2011's Chase and Status hit 'Blind Faith' and 2013's reggae stepper 'When Will They Learn'. In 2015, he released his solo debut " Definitely Now" and has been a sought-after collaborator ever since, working with singers like VV Brown and Paloma Faith as well as dancefloor-shaking producers like Shy FX and Break. But it is only now, in 2024, that Bailey has created what he describes as "the album I've always wanted to make": Zero Grace.
On the 12 tracks of Zero Grace , recorded on analog tape, Bailey presents a series of remarkable new forms of his iconic voice. From the baritone grit and psychedelic guitars of "Winter Is Within Thee" to the lilting Beatles references of "Holding On" to the frank recounting of his chaotic early childhood in "Disorder Starts At Home" and the infectious falsetto reggae of "Sekkle Down," Bailey displays a musical maturity that permeates all aspects of the soulful modern songbook. "I've had to grow to embody everything from the Stooges to Zamrock, Bowie and Peter Tosh," he says. "I've soaked it all up and now it's coming out. It's my best piece of work." He didn't unleash this free-flowing creativity alone. Producer Leon Michels was by Bailey's side the entire time, enlisting his iconic favorite label Big Crown Records for the release, as well as a slew of musicians including bassist Nick Movshon and up-and-coming guitarist Dylan Nowik. During two week-long sessions in New York, where the entire album was written and recorded, the quartet developed an intuitive inventiveness. "It all came together so quickly because Leon is a genius and because we've been working together for so long," says Bailey. "This is the album we wanted to make right at the beginning of my career." Ultimately, "you just have to stay in the ring and go where the love is," Bailey says of his musical journey. "And if you focus on your craft, you're going to find a nugget somewhere. You'll find your freedom." Zero Grace is Bailey without guardrails, creating without airs and graces and only with this newfound sense of freedom. "It's Zero Grace because I don't have a filter," he says. "I have an unadulterated sense of myself, so it's hard for me not to be me." It's a privilege to finally hear Bailey this way - a generational talent, raw and unfiltered.

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