Contemporary country artist, Matt Bailie, marks his comeback with the release of the powerful new album, ‘Naked,’ on Cavalla Records. It was exclusively premiered by The Country Note. ‘Naked’ is available at all major digital retailers at this link The album’s lead single, “Whiskey Away,” released last fall, was well-received and featured by Nashville Noise, Think Country, and broadcast premiered on The Country Network (TCN).
Bailie’s current single, “Drinkin’ and Drunk,” landed at radio on April 1. Teamed with Nashville producer, Michael Wilkes, Bailie feels that has truly found himself artistically and vocally for the first time, after spending much of his adult life as a performer and recording artist. He co-wrote five of the seven songs included on project, and from the first track to the last, Wilkes captures Bailie’s very unique vocal style and wraps it into a stellar production filled with excitement and passion.
From and encounter with the mysterious and elusive seductress in “Gypsy Rain,” to the bar room love-lorn, but shy, rocker in “Whiskey Away,” to the vulnerability and honesty of the title track, “Naked,” Bailie showcases his talents to the listener through a range of emotions. Bailie stands out from the crowd with a voice that is rough, edgy, and immediately identifiable.
It is little wonder that the Jacksonville, Florida native’s vocals have been compared to famous Southern Rock stylists. He grew up under the musical influence of Donnie and Johnny Van Zant of the legendary groups Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special. The brothers, who Bailie refer to as “my uncles,” first introduced him to Nashville and helped to guide and manage his early career.
However, his journey from those days to today has not been an easy one. He first came to Nashville in the late 2000’s. He got his break when he signed a deal with a new indie label in town and his well-received debut album was released in 2010. As recording for his second album was wrapping up, the label filed for bankruptcy and he was released from his contract, ironically just as his video “Dress Down” was #1 on CMT.com.
Dejected and disillusioned, he made the move back to Florida where he focused on his personal life and well-being. He didn’t sing or pick up a guitar for about five years until he met the love of his life, Taylor, and joined an amazing church where he once again found his voice playing and singing for their worship band. The couple married and had a son in 2020.
Soon afterward, they made the move back to Nashville, where he signed a songwriting deal and began working with friend and producer, Wilkes, on the new album. That comeback journey was made even sweeter by his recent signing to Cavalla Records. “I’m so excited about this phase of my life and my career,” Bailie says. “I feel more real and true to my music and my brand than I ever have. I am incredibly grateful for that. After seven years of not releasing any music, it was important to me to come out swinging. So, my producer Michael Wilkes and I took the time to write and pick what we believed were the best songs for me as an artist and this project as a whole. I feel like we nailed it! We worked hard and long on this album, and we are excited to bring it to the public.”‘Naked’
ABOUT MATT BAILIE:Matt Bailie stands out from the crowd with a voice that is uniquely his own; rough, edgy, and immediately identifiable. It is little wonder that the Jacksonville, Florida native’s vocals have been compared to famous Southern Rock stylists. He grew up under the musical influence of Donnie and Johnny Van Zant of the legendary groups Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special.
That is not to say that Bailie’s current music is Southern Rock. By contrast it is contemporary country with all the feel-good vibe and swagger but delivered with a soulful conviction that would make his “uncles” proud. Not afraid to be vulnerable, Bailie’s music showcases a down-to-Earth, respectful, well-grounded talent. His music speaks to the everyman, and it speaks truth and wisdom gained through disappointment, heartbreak, and tragic loss. Two weeks before Bailie’s first birthday, his father David, a musician himself, died when a plane he was piloting crashed.
This tragic event left the young man’s mother and grandmother to raise him on their own. At age 16, his mother began accompanying him to bars so he could perform karaoke. Not long after this time, Bailie joined his first band and started performing in clubs around Florida. Family friend Donnie Van Zant began showing him the ropes by writing and recording with him. The pair soon joined with Donnie’s brother, Johnny, and the legendary siblings teamed up to manage Bailie and help get him off the ground when he made the move to Nashville in 2007.
But with their own demanding career schedules, the Van Zant’s introduced him to Tim McGraw’s former manager, Diana Henderson, who guided his career for six years. After being turned away by over half dozen labels, he finally got his break when he signed a deal with a new indie label in town and his well-received debut album was released in 2010.
As recording for his second album was wrapping up, the label filed for bankruptcy and he was released from his contract, ironically just as his video “Dress Down” was #1 on CMT.com. Dejected and disillusioned, he made the move back to Florida where he focused on his personal life and well-being. He started two home remodeling companies and became a certified personal trainer.
He didn’t sing or pick up a guitar for about five years until he met the love of his life, Taylor, and joined an amazing church where he once again found his voice playing and singing for their worship band. The couple married and had a son in 2020. Soon afterward, they made the move back to Nashville, where he signed a songwriting deal and began collaborating with friend and producer, Michael Wilkes, on his new album, ‘Naked.’
