NYC’s BAYLI makes a fascinating, chameleonic kind of R&B. A razor-sharp pop songwriter who studied under the tutelage of the legendary producer Rick Rubin, her solo music covers so much ground without ceding any of her distinctive identity: songs like “sushi for breakfast” and “boys lie” are plaintive, melody-forward pop songs inflected with elements of trap and indie-rock; collaborations with ILOVEMAKONNEN, Junglepussy, and BABYNYMPH prove her as an able, versatile collaborator. With her funky, soul-baring new single “16”, premiering today on The FADER, BAYLI flexes her vocal prowess as well as her knack for writing powerful earworms. Understated and never overstaying its welcome, it’s a promising taste of BAYLI’s debut EP, stories from new york.
"'16' tells the story of my mom, whom my family and I recently lost unexpectedly. Born an orphan in the UK, my mom immigrated to NYC from London at age 16. This song is a fast-forward through the hardships she faced in the years of her travels and the things she taught us from her experiences," BAYLI tells The FADER via email. "It’s my first ever attempt at some type of memoir-esque writing. '16' is about how strong, epic and beautiful my mother is; she is the reason I know how to be a strong woman today."
Listen to "16" above.
