Interview with Bailey By Sam Yates
Originally published on UKF
It’s rare to find anyone more fluent in jungle and drum & bass than Michael Bailey. He’s the ultimate veteran – a dual force of innovation for both radio and electronic music since the late-80s.
Vinyl-obsessed and living in South London, Bailey got his start mixing hip-hop and house on various pirate stations before joining Energy FM, broadcasting impossibly futuristic sounds across Greater London. Operating from a cramped broom cupboard – sometimes not in the greatest condition, as he recalled on the 0860 Podcast with Fracture (2024) – he was never in it for the glamour. He was a true music junkie, driven by an insatiable need to absorb everything and share it with the world.
Noticing his dedication, Kemistry & Storm invited Bailey to play at Metalheadz – a pivotal moment that led to a residency, European tours, and recognition as one of the UK’s top emerging talents. His momentum continued in radio, where his passion earned him a place on 1Xtra’s original roster – helming an underground drum & bass show that pushed the genre forward with deep selections and astute nuggets of information.
Bailey has also remained a constant presence at SUNANDBASS, the only artist in its 20-year history to perform at every festival. Now, for their milestone 20th label release, it feels only fitting that he makes his debut EP for SUNANDBASS Recordings. ‘Echoes From The Midwest’ circles back to his roots, echoing the house and techno that got him into the electronic music scene. It’s a tribute to the electronic sounds of Detroit and Chicago – which laid the blueprint for drum & bass in the UK. Crafted with analogue gear and a deep-digging approach to samples and synths, the EP delivers four rolling tracks laced with acid stabs, nostalgic strings, and deep basslines. Bailey envisions it as a reply message from Detroit itself – an imagined response to how the UK reshaped its sound.
Now with a show on Kool FM, and his first full EP release on the way (it’s only been singles until now), it felt like the right time to check in with one of drum & bass’ biggest historians and contributors…