Discovering a new artist is always exciting, especially when you get to hear a debut single that leaves you longing for a full discography yet to come. This is definitely the case for me with Bay Bryan’s first release “Sticky Shadows”, a dreamy indie-folk song that takes you into a magical world between light and darkness. There truly is something magnetic about the Manchester-based singer-songwriter. They appear in the indie music scene knowing exactly who they are and expressing it fearlessly. 

“Sticky Shadows” combines acoustic sounds with some synth textures to create an airy uplifting feeling. It sets up the perfect scenery for Bay’s dreamy vocals that manage to sound effortlessly meaningful. The song feels joyful, like a celebration of life, while also acknowledging our imperfections and darkness. It’s a song that makes you feel seen as you find yourself between the lines of the beautifully crafted lyrics. The song opens and ends with the same line “Everything I say will be meaningful or meaningless, depending on the day, depending on whether I can let go of my sticky shadows…”. For me it really embodies the many facets of being human - we are not black and white and we can change just like words change their meaning depending on when they’re said. It’s a freeing hymn of acceptance - we don’t know what will come but we can find our freedom between the highs and lows as we grow.

I am a big fan of the percussive landscape and dynamic on the song. I feel like it’s a track you can dance to by yourself, following the music as it wraps around you like a comforting hug from a good friend. That actually brings me to another aspect I really love about this release: the beautiful music video. It’s a simple concept where the artist dances in a field, but it looks stunning playing with the light and delicate choreography that lives from the powerful energy Bay brings to the table.

“Sticky Shadows” is a song that feels alive. It tells its story and moves with grace while displaying vulnerability that invites you to connect to it from the very first line. It’s the first single from Bay Bryan's debut album “The Meadow” to be released in 2022 - and if it’s any indication of what’s to come we can expect it to be incredible. Have a listen and a look here: 

Added to our "Indie Music" playlist and to our "Artist Pick" playlist.

Written by Luna.

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Lyrics

Everything I say

Will be meaningful or meaningless

Depending on the day

Depending on whether I can let go

Of my sticky shadows

Running free and wild, as if was and always will be a flower child

Running free, running wild, to let go of my sticky shadows

Tryin’ to get high

Higher than life

Higher than wrong

Higher than right

Higher than low

Higher than high

Higher than all those, all those sticky shadows

Oh my, will I live within this meadow ‘til I die

Or will I learn to go where the wind blows

Leave these stick shadows

Oh my, if it were I were a bird I’d fly out high

Out above and out beyond the boundary line

leave this sticky meadow of mine

Trying to get high

Higher than life

Higher than wrong

Higher than right

Higher than low

Higher than high

Higher than all those, all those sticky shadows

Trying to get high

Higher than life

Higher than wrong

Higher than right

Higher than low

Higher than high

Higher than all those, all those sticky shadows

Everything I say

Will be meaningful or meaningless

Depending on the day

Depending on whether I can let go

Of my sticky shadows