Rising alt-folk artist Alex Bayly has released his poignant single I’ll Never Leave You via Big Indie Records.

I’ll Never Leave You combines elements from the past and present to create Bayly’s own vibrant, introspective sound. His rich, soulful vocal soars with emotion over the textured strings and dreamy guitar licks, sounding akin to the likes of Dan Auerbach or Andy Shauf. Talking about the track Bayly elaborates,

I’ll Never Leave You is the story of a person professing their love and commitment to a relationship, but as time passes they become aware of the outside world and other extraneous factors having an effect on their state of mind and their relationship.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Alex about the new single, challenges, technology and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?

I guess one of the things which attracts me to alternative folk is that I like songs that you can strip back to a voice and a guitar only and they still stand up as their own songs. I also really like ethereal lyrics and the melancholic style of folk music. I’ll Never Leave You is actually the most indie track I’ve released with more electric guitars. Sometimes it’s nice not to fingerpick for a change.

What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?

Music is an intrinsic part of me, I’ve been in bands and making music since I was young. I think any artist wants as many people as possible to hear their work. 

Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?

I am influenced by my friends and relationships and day to day life. I think my taste in music has broadened over the years but my core tastes are still 60s UK folk artists such as Nick Drake, David Graham and current Americana artists like Kevin Morby, The War on Drugs and Andy Shauf.

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?

I’ll Never Leave You is going to be part of my debut album. I’ve released EP’s before but this is my first LP and I’ve tried to push myself to write a cohesive body of work which I am proud of. 

What was the last song you listened to?

I’ve been revisiting the Prodigy and The Fat of the Land which was one of my favourite albums from my youth. I was really sad to hear the news about Keith. 

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?

Vinyl all the way…I collect a lot of vinyl and you can’t beat the listening experience. 

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?

I like the ease of streaming and Spotify they have been really supportive of my music so far. I do also rate Bandcamp.

Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?

As you say there is an abundance of music. More music is being released than ever before. Which is great for the fans but it’s harder to break through. 

Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?

Instagram @alexbayly and Spotify.