Bailey Tomkinson is making the debut album I’ve been waiting for

Bailey Tomkinson is making her debut country album, and I’ve wanted to write those words for years. The St Ives songwriter has opened a Kickstarter campaign with a £10,000 target and a deadline of 13th December. There’s a signed CD, a chance to hear the album early and a first vinyl pressing. I was the first to back the vinyl tier, which probably tells you how long I spent thinking about it. After years of getting my Bailey fix a few songs at a time, I love the thought of putting a whole record on and turning it over.

If you’re new to Bailey, start with ‘Astronaut’. There’s a lovely mismatch between the warmth of the guitars and the ache in her voice. She sings about being close to someone and still feeling miles away. Then the melody comes round again and I’m happy to spend a few more minutes feeling heartbroken on her behalf. I’d follow it with ‘Graceland’. In our 2023 interview, Bailey spoke about setting the song at Elvis’s home and imagining the lives of strangers passing through. I love how much she found to write about in a place where most people would be looking at the furniture.

Then put on Witching Hour, the EP she made with The Locals. The layered voices on the title track give its jealousy all the drama it deserves. By the time ‘Chrysalis’ closes the EP, I’m rooting for the person singing it for a different reason. She sounds ready to leave something behind. Four songs gave Bailey and the band enough room to take me from one feeling to the other. I want to hear where she goes with a whole album.

‘Laguna’ is the one I’d play for a friend in the car. It has an easy sway and a chorus I’d be singing by the second time around. Underneath all the summer warmth is the knowledge the romance has an end date. Bailey lets you enjoy it anyway. She’s so good at leaving a little sadness in a song I’d happily put on to cheer myself up.

What you get for backing Bailey’s debut album

The Kickstarter lists a £10 digital album download and a £20 signed CD. A separate £20 reward offers a private link to hear the whole album a week before release, plus a voice note from Bailey. The signed, individually numbered vinyl is £40. There’s also a £75 reward for framed, handwritten lyrics to a song of your choice from her catalogue. The campaign lists September 2027 as the estimated delivery month for these rewards.

I’m so pleased Bailey is making this album. If you’ve been singing along since ‘Astronaut’, here’s where to help her make it. If this is your first time hearing her, give ‘Laguna’ a spin and see how long it takes you to go looking for another song.