Stream: Bay Ledges, ‘Stay’

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Bay Ledges

Bay Ledges, the vehicle for the music of singer-songwriter Zach Hurd, is ramping up for the release of their new EP, “New Daze,” arriving Friday. Bay Ledges have released four singles since the 2018 EP “In Waves,” and the latest, “Stay,” represents a continuing but subtle shift in sound.

“Stay” starts with a simple guitar lick but what really drives this song is the groovy bass line and drum beat. This song sounds like summer romance, in a sensual way. Overall, “Stay” feels more mature than Bay Ledges’ previous work, which was full of upbeat, beachy vibes, no matter the lyrical content. As Hurd said previously , “I like the idea of writing about heartbreak but having the music feel optimistic” regarding their 2018 single, “Wherever You Sleep.” And you could hear that in just about all of their music.

Now, however, Bay Ledges has taken a slightly different tack. “Stay” and two other singles, “Up” and “Cloud Vision” have a much more introspective feel to them. The shift in dynamic has its roots in the project’s changing landscape: Bay Ledges departed their label, S-Curve Records, and Hurd has carried on without the involvement of his sister Georgia (who last year released a solo EP). In fact, Hurd played all the instruments on the new EP and recorded, engineered and mixed it all, mostly in recently months during the pandemic.

“Up,” released in July, sounds psychedelic and laid-back. The guitars have heavy chorus and tremolo effects, making for an easygoing groove that has you nodding your head ever so slightly.

“Cloud Vision,” the first single to emerge this year, is a song that sounds like it’s transitioning away from an old sound and into a new one. The chorus chants “I wanna be free” and in a way, feels like a proclamation about Hurd’s newly found independence and freedom.

||| Stream: “Stay”

||| Also: Check out “Up” and “Cloud Vision”

||| Previously: “Wherever You Sleep”