WATCH: Baio releases video for 'Man of the World'

Baio has released the completely tongue-in-cheek and kind of brilliant video for the title track of his second solo album, Man of the World. If Spotify playlists are your thing, you'll find this on mine here - be sure to follow it for my favourite tunes throughout the year! The track has picked up play on BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music, with the album following the 2015 record The Names which features such tunes as Sister of Pearl. Baio tours the US later in the year with UK shows to be announced - keep an eye on his website... if you've seen Vampire Weekend live (he's the bassist) you'll know that he's quite the showman and his live shows aren't to be missed!

ALBUM NEWS: Baio 'Man of the World'

Chris Baio (bassist of Vampire Weekend) has just announced details of Man of the World, the follow up to his debut solo record The Names which was released back in 2015 (listen on Spotify). It was one of my favourite records of the year, full of tunes which seem embedded with a relentless urge to dance which they pass on to you sonically... helped along when you see Chris perform, with his performances resembling the Sister of Pearl video. Alongside the album news Chris, who performs under his surname Baio, has released the album's leading track PHILOSOPHY! which you can listen to below.

The record was co-produced by Chris and recorded in Brixton, and as an American living in London, much of the record was written in the aftermath of the events of 2016, with Chris experiencing the fall out of both Brexit and Trump's election closely. Talking about the album, Chris says that writing the record was his way of processing 2016, "a year that began with the death of my favorite artist, David Bowie, and ended with the greatest political disruption of my adult life – all while I was a nomad, an American living in London, touring two continents, never fully of either place. It’s partially about being trapped in my own head, obsessing about things it was too late to change, feeling afraid and guilty and alone. It’s also my attempt to document a certain sense of loss that felt both intensely personal and like part of a larger collective experience many were going through at once.​"

Man of the World is due for release through Glassnote on 30th June, and you can pre-order here.

LISTEN: Baio - 'Don't Fight Fate'

A little over a week ago Baio (the solo project of Vampire Weekend bassist Chris Baio) released a new track, entitled Don't Fight Fate, which is being released as part of Amazon Music's Song's of Summer compilation (out in June.) I've posted about Baio quite a bit before and can't stress enough just how brilliant his solo record The Names is, would definitely recommend a listen - glad to have some new music from him!

You can listen to a couple more tracks from the compilation on Amazon Music's Soundcloud here.

WATCH: Baio - 'The Names'

I'd been meaning to post this new video for the title track of Baio's LP The Names but I think I was at a gig when I first saw it, and only just remembered when I was taking a listen to his album - having a fun look back at some of my favourite records from last year that I haven't listened to for a little while. The video sees him walk around areas of London dressed fairly dapper and carrying a skull - what more incentive could you need to take a watch? The tracks pretty good too. 

It's quite different to most of the other music I'm listening to at the moment, but I love the album and would definitely recommend giving it a try. I'm listening to try to persuade myself that I should go to his show in London a week today (25th) - it's working at the moment but I've got a gig the night before and lectures all day on Thurs, making getting to London on time difficult!

Dates and tickets for Baio's upcoming European shows are on his site here.

ALBUM NEWS: Baio - 'The Names'

It was a pretty last minute decision to go to Baio's instore at Rough Trade East last night - but a great decision! The instore followed the release of his debut solo record The Names just over a week ago on Glassnote Records. The set - though pretty loud for a Monday evening - was superb, and showcased most of the 9-track album. If you're into dance music or Vampire Weekend I highly recommend checking it out - as Baio happens to be the bassist of the band. One of my favourite tracks is above, the opener, Brainwash Yyrr Face - I can't explain why I love it so much but take a listen! If you're not into dance music so much, then try out the track Sister Of Pearl, which I posted about recently, as it's probably the closet to Vampire Weekend's style of music. 

Chatting to Chris after, he told me that he's wanted to release solo music for a while and has finally found the time, and he's really happy with how the record turned out. He was particularly excited at seeing the inside of the record sleeve for the first time, and as I suspected, was enjoying playing small shows such as this, with Vampire Weekend playing arenas on their last tours. 

Overall I'm really loving the record and I'd say that if you get the chance to see Baio live - definitely take it up - even just his dancing on stage (similar to the Sister Of Pearl video..) is enough to put a smile on your face!

Baio at Rough Trade East.

WATCH: Baio - 'Sister Of Pearl'

Baio, aka Chris Baio, the bassist of Vampire Weekend, is releasing a solo record entitled The Names on 18th September through Glassnote Records. Following the track Brainwash Yyrr Face is this, the new single Sister Of Pearl which is incredibly catchy. The video celebrate's Baio's love of dancing (anyone who's been to a Vampire Weekend concert will be familiar with this!) and was filmed in London, where he's been living for the past two years after his move from the US. 

You can pre-order the album, and get the two singles now on iTunes here. Baio plays London Fields Brewery on September 3rd (tickets.)