Elles Bailey – “Take A Step Back”

Review by Glen Parkes, Jace Media Music

Elles Bailey returns with her new single “Take A Step Back”, the second offering from her forthcoming album Can’t Take My Story Away, due out January 16th via Cooking Vinyl and Outlaw Music. The track is a swaggering slice of soulful rock, bursting with groove and confidence — the kind of song that makes you want to walk a little taller.

Bailey’s smoky, unmistakable vocals glide effortlessly over a live, organic soundscape that feels both intimate and electrifying. There’s a palpable sense of empowerment running through the song — a message of knowing when to pull away from chaos and reclaim your strength. “Sometimes relationships can be all fire, all pleasure and all pain,” she explains, and that tension is beautifully captured here in every note and lyric.

Having already been crowned Live Act of the Year at the 2024 UK Americana Awards and taking home multiple honours at the 2025 UK Blues Awards, Bailey continues to prove why she’s one of Britain’s most compelling voices. Take A Step Back isn’t just a song — it’s a statement of growth and resilience from an artist who’s mastered the balance of vulnerability and power.

With her UK and EU tour set for 2026, including a date at London’s Islington Assembly Hall on March 19th, Elles Bailey’s next chapter looks brighter — and bolder — than ever.