Independent (inscription)
November 24, 2023 (released)
November 24, 2023
The song came from the US – : as Elles explains, “During the 'exclusive period' as I like to call it, a writer from America (Mike Morgan) contacted me and said he had a bunch of lyrics he wrote with his co-writers and I'd like to put some music on them. I was intrigued – I had never worked as a writer in this way before, but as I had a lot of time on my hands, I asked him to send them to me and I was really drawn to the lyrics of “Lean on my Love”.
So for the first time I sat down and composed the music and the melody inspired by reading the lyrics and only slightly edited the lyrics. It's the one and only time I've ever worked like that, and it was a really interesting experience to write that way. To this day I haven't met any of the lyricists, but Mike and I talk a lot via email.”
The musicians on it are Stefan Redtenbacher on bass. Tony Remy on guitar. Ross Stanley on Hammond and piano. Mike Sturgis on drums. and Kim Keyes on backing vocals – a far cry from her usual band, but shot in 2020, during lockdown and while Elles was somewhat pregnant.
It's a very different Elles Bailey, but we've heard hints of it in a lot of her previous material and it's a pleasant listen.
I have a feeling this will be a staple for a long time to come