Bailey Tomkinson will release ‘Laguna’ on 7th August 2026, returning to country-pop with a song shaped by coastal Cornwall and a fleeting summer romance. Produced by Grammy Award winner Sam Okell and recorded with The Locals, it carries a gentle Hawaiian swing and a chorus with an immediate lift.
Bailey Tomkinson grew up in rural Cornwall with surfing, fishing and country music all sharing the same landscape. ‘Laguna’ brings those parts of her life together through an easy side-to-side rhythm, bright melodies and the rush of meeting someone while already knowing the summer will end. It is romantic, wistful and so naturally Bailey that I found myself rooting for every second of it.
Hawaiian swing and a Cornish summer glow
After the rock-leaning Witching Hour EP, this return to country brings another side of Bailey into focus. The Locals give the song a warm full-band lift, while the swaying rhythm keeps everything light on its feet. Bailey’s voice, Cornish identity and instinct for melody all fit naturally inside it.
More on Bailey Tomkinson
Cornwall shapes the tune as much as Hawaii does. Bailey was married in Hawaii, and her affection for the place comes through in the relaxed swing and brightness running through the arrangement. That personal connection may be what gives ‘Laguna’ its extra glow, allowing the coastal influences to feel lived-in rather than borrowed.
The romance behind ‘Laguna’ is brief by design. Bailey has spoken about the holiday feeling of time slowing down and meeting someone who changes your life, even when they are only part of it for a few days. The arrangement stays relaxed while the ending waits in the distance, allowing the song to feel joyful and a little sad at once.
Bailey’s vocals are as strong and inviting as ever. She sings with warmth, clarity and an open delivery that keeps the tenderness inside the song intact, while the band gives her enough space to carry the story. You can hear why she connects so easily as a live performer.
Fans have already been singing ‘Laguna’ back to her after hearing preview clips online, and I am not surprised. Bailey and The Locals have a knack for melodies that settle in quickly without sounding forced. This one feels equally suited to a field, a packed room or a car full of friends heading towards the coast.
Cornwall is not scenery in Bailey’s music; it shapes how her songs move and feel. In our interview with Bailey Tomkinson, she described her sound as sun-soaked Kernowfornia surf-rock, while our California Fire coverage explored the connection between her home county and Americana. ‘Laguna’ brings that Cornish character together with a genuine love of Hawaii, and the combination feels completely her own.
Bob Harris has championed Bailey, while Baylen Leonard and Ariat selected her to perform at The Long Road Festival. Those achievements give useful context, but ‘Laguna’ explains her appeal more directly. She writes songs that feel personal and performs them with a warmth that makes people want to stay with her.
‘Laguna’ review
The Hawaiian swing gives ‘Laguna’ its defining motion, with the rhythm gently rocking beneath a chorus that opens out without straining for size. Bailey’s vocals stay bright, warm and clear inside the full-band arrangement, while Cornwall and Hawaii meet in a way that gives the song a character beyond standard summer country-pop. The fleeting romance adds enough sadness to stop all that sunshine becoming weightless.
I adore this, and I can already hear myself joining in at a future Bailey Tomkinson show. The chorus lands quickly, the band sounds full of life and Bailey sounds completely at ease inside the country arrangement. ‘Laguna’ feels like a love song to a person, a season and two places that clearly mean the world to her.
You can pre-save ‘Laguna’ here and follow Bailey Tomkinson on Instagram.
