Exclusive track premiere of ‘The Holder’ by Perth folk rock artist Stephen Bailey, taken from the upcoming album, ‘G.G. Ryder’, out November 25th via Third Eye Stimuli.

Hailing from Perth, Western Australia, Stephen Bailey is most well-known as the lead vocalist and keys player in the enigmatic psych rock outfit, Mt. Mountain but since 2017 Stephen has been exploring his own solo endeavours, releasing an already prolific three albums — ‘Silo’ (2017), ‘9’ (2019) and ‘Tunnel’ (2021). ‘Silo’ is arguably Stephen’s most acclaimed record, originally released by Melbourne label Dusky Tracks (run by Lucas from King Gizzard) and UK’s Cardinal Fuzz. Today we bring you Stephen Bailey’s newest offering ‘The Holder’, which is the first taste from his upcoming fourth album, ‘G.G. Ryder’ (out November 25th via Third Eye Stimuli).

Put quite simply, ‘The Holder’ is an uplifting folk ballad about Mother Nature and our connection with her. Built upon a bed of tasteful acoustic rhythm and lead guitar, Stephen’s first line “she’s a bird, she’s the holder of all things” sets the song’s philosophical theme. Bailey has a skill for keeping his compositions refined, spacious and precise, with each instrument being recorded with purpose and a well thought out vision. Listening to ‘The Holder’ you might mistake it as a simple track but when you listen closely, you hear Stephen’s subtle and beautiful layering of flute, keys and percussion, with bass and drums cleverly lifting us into the euphoric chorus.

The accompanying music video for ‘The Holder’ embodies the song’s theme entirely. A joint effort between Stephen and local photographer/filmmakers Sam Eastcott and Tim Barretto, the video was shot on analogue film and captures lush scenes around the west coast, at the magic hours of dawn and dusk. From the beaches and ocean, to the desert and mountain tops, we see the true beauty of Mother Nature. There’s almost no people in the video (aside from a few obscure glimpses of Stephen), which adds a level of intimacy that puts you perfectly into the eyes of the beholder.

“The whole experience was good for the soul and a true reminder of how good being out in nature is for us”, says Stephen. “I did an afternoon of shooting at Herdsman Lake and ran into some bird photographers — before I knew it I was a part of their gang traipsing around bushland, whispering conversation. It was a really peaceful and memorable experience”.

‘The Holder’ was performed, recorded and mixed solely by Stephen Bailey, in his new home studio. Being a solo recording artist, Stephen often finds himself writing his songs around a looping theme on guitar, keys or drums, adding vocals and other instruments layer by layer. A lot of artists might find this approach limiting but Bailey thrives within his restrictions, giving his songs their own unique dynamics and an ability to bring an array of instruments and melodies in and out at any moment.

Stephen Bailey’s upcoming fourth album ‘G.G Ryder’ is the outcome of strictly listening to folk and blues rock bands from the 60s and 70s — Bobby Charles, J.J Cale and The Flying Burrito Brothers, to name a few. The slide guitar and flute throughout the album brings everything together and similar guitar tones across the tracks make for a cohesive listening experience. On this record, Stephen approached each instrument as if they were being played by an individual with their own tones and playing styles. Lyrically, ‘G.G. Ryder’ is about appreciating the little things in life — the simple things we appreciate more with time and experience. It’s also about love, loss and bringing people together.

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