xj bailey's 'Green Grows on the Sea of Black' is a Luscious, Hopeful Rebirth
At The New Underground, we’re constantly sifting through the digital ether for sounds that feel not just new, but necessary. xj bailey’s latest offering, Green Grows on the Sea of Black, is exactly that: a necessary, deeply personal document of destruction and regrowth, masterfully woven into a luscious tapestry of sound that defies easy categorization.
On first listen, the album is an immersive experience. bailey crafts a world where the hazy, textured guitars of shoegaze bleed into the improvisational spirit of jazz and the glitchy, fragmented beats of avant-garde electronica. It’s a headphone album in the truest sense, designed to pull you into its intimate, often melancholic, but ultimately warm embrace. Nowhere is this more evident than on the standout track, “iiintricate,” a song that feels almost physically warm and fuzzy, as if laced with a gentle dose of THC. It’s a perfect auditory representation of the album’s central theme: finding comfort in the complicated.
In a conversation with The New Underground, bailey revealed the profound personal journey that birthed this record. “The album itself is about my experience moving to Portland from SoCal after a horrible break up,” they explained. This wasn't just a change of zip code; it was a flight towards a fresh start, and the album is the meticulously detailed audio diary of that voyage. While their previous LP, d i s s o n a n c e, thrived on angst, Green Grows… is a “slow burn,” exploring the complex aftermath of messy breakups, love, lust, obsession, and navigating life with bipolar disorder, all while touching on the self-medication and therapy that often accompany such struggles.
This raw honesty is matched by a painstaking writing process. “God it took me so long to write the final versions of these songs,” bailey admits, describing a habit of constant creation. Tracks like “lorelei,” “HUH?,” and “break time’s over” evolved through countless iterations, with piles of cut verses and abandoned instrumentals left on the cutting room floor. This meticulous refinement is audible; every sound feels intentional, every fuzzy layer serves the song’s emotional core.
The album’s profound theme is perfectly crystallized in its cover art and title. Driving north to Portland a year after the devastating wildfires, bailey was struck by the scarred landscape. “Then I saw a beautiful little cluster of greenish yellow trees surrounded by the burnt forest and snapped a pic,” they shared. “It made me feel like everything was gonna be fine, and that things still grow after burning down.” Green Grows on the Sea of Black is that philosophy set to music—a testament to the resilience of life and hope emerging from absolute desolation.
This spirit of growth extends to the album's collaborations. True to form, it features a verse from bailey’s sister and Pink Jacket Music confidant, Kosmo. But for this chapter, the circle widens, welcoming a stunning feature from 2zenith on “lorelei” and, most poignantly, a reunion on the closer “clean break.” The track features drums and bass from Nathan Morgan and Andrew Lawrence, former bandmates from bailey’s 2019-era project, Beach Shade. “I wouldn’t be here without them,” bailey states, making the collaboration a full-circle moment that beautifully bookends this new beginning.
Based in the Pacific Northwest but with a heart still in California, xj bailey (a Capricorn whose disciplined artistry is evident in this refined work) is plotting a return to the stage for the first time in five years. If these live shows channel even a fraction of the detailed, emotional depth of Green Grows on the Sea of Black, they will be unmissable events.
This album is more than a collection of songs; it’s a map of a healing psyche. It’s the sound of green shoots stubbornly pushing through the ash, and it’s one of the most compelling and beautifully crafted records you’ll hear this year.
‘Green Grows on the Sea of Black’ is available now on all streaming platforms. Stay tuned to The New Underground for news on upcoming shows.