Bailen

BAILEN’s other worldly musicality springs from a very deep well, in fact, it’s in their DNA. Raised in New York City by their classically trained parents, siblings Daniel, David, and Julia Bailen (fraternal twins and younger sister, respectively) immersed themselves in a record collection that included Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Carole King and The Band. Produced by GRAMMY-Award winner John Congleton (St. Vincent, The War on Drugs), the transcendent harmonies, striking arrangements and meticulous songcraft of BAILEN’s debut album, Thrilled To Be Here, are rooted in the young group’s unusual self-assurance, preternatural insight, and potent lyrical bite. Even though they finish each other’s sentences, dissolve into laughter and tell hilarious contradicting childhood stories, BAILEN’s highly collaborative songs and visceral harmonies are formed by three very different individuals. They’re inspired not only by literature and a love of language, but also myriad classical and pop influences. Their musician parents didn’t push their kids: “They never said, ‘Guys, music is a viable option for a career,’” Julia explains. “I think they just showed us what the life of a musician was by example.” David affirms, “They normalized it.” Finding a producer to capture BAILEN’s distinctive sound was a painstaking process. “Choosing people to work with is a difficult task because we’re family, so you need somebody who can fit into a dynamic that’s existed for 20-some odd years,” Daniel notes. “We’re all really different people and have very strong opinions. It’s an interesting dance.” After exploring more than a dozen candidates, BAILEN chose Congleton and the band flew to LA to record their album.

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez