Song Premiere: Elles Bailey “Better Days”

Elles Bailey “Better Days”

Americana Highways is hosting this premiere of Elles Bailey’s song “Better Days” from her forthcoming EP Can’t Take My Story Away, which is set to release January 16th via Cooking Vinyl and Outlaw Music. It was produced, engineered and mixed by Luke Potashnick with assistant engineers Delilah Johns  and Josh Best Shaw. It was recorded at Wool Hall Studio and mastered by Lewis Hopkins at Stardelta.  This song was written by Matthew Evan Long (of the band Catfish) who has passed away, and as such is a joyful tribute to his life.

“Better Days” is Elles Bailey on vocals; Jeremy Stacey on drums; Ethan Johns on percussion and drums; Tim Harries on bass and string arrangements; Richard Causon on keys; Luke Potashnick on guitars and backing vocals; Charlie Ballamy on trumpet; Iain Ballamy on saxophone; and Delilah Johns, Georgina Johns and Izzie Yardley on backing vocals.

The song is jazzy and hopeful as a comfort in the aftermath of a painful loss:  “Tell me people, why you looking down? I know what’s going on, but it won’t come back around / Tell me people, it may look like the end, but don’t let it drag you down, let’s just try it again…. Tell me darling why are you lookin’ so blue … you’ve got your whole life ahead of you.”

As Elles tells it, “‘Better Days’ carries such a beautiful truth, that hope is never far away. Singing it feels like a privilege, and a way to celebrate the life and music of my late friend, Matt Long. Matt was the singer, guitarist and songwriter for the award-winning band Catfish and we emerged onto the UK blues scene around the same time, crossing paths at festivals and on tour. It kinda felt like we were climbing this wild musical ladder together and then he got diagnosed with cancer. During that time the whole community came together to help raise funds for his treatment. When he passed, his parents showed me “Better Days” and I recorded a version with my dear friends The Cinelli Brothers as part of the Tribute Album to Matt With A Little Help From My Friends. But I loved the song so much I wanted it to be a part of this album story too – so I recorded another version when we were tracking for this record and that’s what you can hear and watch now.

“Over the course of the year I have performed this song many times on stage and have invited lots of friends to sing and play it with me in celebration of Matt and his music. Rest well friend x.”

Find more details and information here: https://www.ellesbailey.com/

Enjoy our previous coverage here: Interview: Elles Bailey Talks “Beneath The Neon Glow”