Delaney Bailey Announces Sophomore Album Concave, Out January 21, 2026

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, Chicago songwriter Delaney Bailey announces her expansive, romanticism-inspired sophomore album Concave, out January 21.

Concave

Chicago-based songwriter Delaney Bailey has revealed her highly anticipated second album, Concave, set for release on January 21, 2026 through AWAL. The announcement arrives alongside the new single “Far Away,” an expansive and otherworldly preview of the record built on propulsive drums and melodic riffs that reflect on the fading illusion of youthful certainty.

Drawing from the art movement of the same name, Concave celebrates the overwhelming power of nature and the glorification of raw emotion, individuality, and rebellion against tradition. Listeners will encounter vast, dramatic landscapes where human figures feel small against monumental backdrops. The songs grapple with grief, relationships, and the uncertain prospect of motherhood, aiming to build an immersive universe that feels both cinematic and deeply personal.

The lead track confronts the realization that growing older often means understanding less than previously believed. What once felt like hard-earned wisdom from early life experiences begins to feel incomplete. Rather than viewing this uncertainty as frightening, Bailey frames it as liberating — a reminder that endless discovery still lies ahead. Meeting new versions of oneself becomes less painful over time, shaped by both increasing self-acceptance and a growing comfort with constant change, especially in one’s twenties.

Delaney Bailey

Raised in Indiana as one of eight siblings and named after Jimmy Buffett’s daughter, Bailey discovered music early, moving from Norah Jones and Adele to My Chemical Romance, Nick Drake, Lorde, and Grizzly Bear. Singing in high school theater and choir sharpened her expressive range, while the chaotic energy of a large family honed her empathy and emotional intuition — skills that now fuel her songwriting.

A devastating breakup during her freshman year at Indiana University Bloomington pushed her to write and share music online. Early uploads struck a chord with listeners, who crowdfunded professional recording equipment. Her breakthrough arrived with “j’s lullaby (darlin’ i’d wait for you),” which has since surpassed 128 million Spotify streams and landed on The New York Times’ Best Songs of 2022 list.

Subsequent releases — including the 2022 project (i would have followed you), 2023’s what we leave behind EP, and 2024’s Chiaroscuro EP — continued to build momentum, earning praise for their emotional depth and atmospheric production.

Evolution Through Recent Singles

This era began with “Lion,” a pulsating gothic house track paired with a striking music video that positioned Bailey as empowered and independent. The song channels anger toward societal expectations around womanhood and motherhood, marking a bolder, more confrontational chapter.

“Wake Up” followed as an electronically tinged ballad crawling with tension, auto-tune accents, and pleas for self-rescue from depression. Most recently, “Retainer” examines moments of painful self-awareness and the internal push toward healing.

Crafting Concave

The album draws inspiration from romanticism, Imogen Heap, and eighties fantasy classics like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Following the passing of her grandmother and an extended writing break, Bailey returned with renewed clarity, channeling grief and life’s impermanence into a cohesive vision that blends light and shadow — continuing the art-history thread begun with Chiaroscuro.

For Bailey, the finished record brings relief and forward motion. Through Concave, she hopes listeners feel deeply seen, validated in their own emotional landscapes, and invited into a world where big feelings are not only allowed but celebrated.

Find more from Delaney Bailey now:

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