Delaney Bailey Shares Introspective New Single “Wake Up”

Photo Credit: Alexa Viscus

Chicago songwriter Delaney Bailey is here to give herself (and maybe the rest of us) a little shake with her latest release, “Wake Up” Out now via AWAL, the track leans into an electronic shimmer, crawling with tension and dotted with auto-tuned edges, all while Bailey’s vocals glide in soft but determined. It’s a ballad about realising you’re stuck in a rut and—surprise—you’re the only one who can pull yourself out.

There’s something deeply human about the way Bailey builds the track. Synths trickle like early morning light around her voice, but that tension underneath reminds you this isn’t easy work.

“‘Wake Up’ is a song I wrote about realising no one is coming to save you,” Bailey explains. “I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety for most of my life, and living on my own for the first time has highlighted the areas of myself that I now know need a lot of work. I’ve come to realize no one is going to change the voice in your head except for yourself. No amount of encouragement from others will change your brain chemistry. I tend to let myself sit in bouts of depression for much longer than I should, and ‘Wake Up’ is essentially an affirmation that I can and will get myself out of that hole.”

It’s not all gloom, though. Bailey’s growing knack for storytelling means even in her heaviest moments, there’s a spark of resolve, and “Wake Up” feels like one of those songs that will cling to you long after its final note. Vulnerable, atmospheric, and quietly defiant—consider this a sign to open your eyes too.

Listen to "Wake Up":

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