“Imagination has to do the work of the money we don’t have!”: Rising star Bailey Tomkinson on new tunes, nepotism and the near future

Bailey Tomkinson and her band The Locals are on the verge of breaking out of their beloved St Ives, Cornwall and into the magical cess pit of musical stardom. Recently releasing teasing tune “Supermoon”, Tomkinson is heavily influenced by legendary artists and is working hard as an independent artist to have her name up on that bill, but of course still having fun with her tracks. 

Could you tell me a little bit about “Supermoon”? Such a fun track!

I wrote Supermoon on my acoustic guitar, about that small jolt of guilt when someone catches your eye even though you are happy where you are. The band then took my bedroom demo and gave it some shine: Jordan added a bright eighties-style riff, Dan improvised the sax line, and suddenly the song felt light and playful instead of heavy and serious. It is the most carefree single I have put out so far, and I like that it owns a feeling most people know but rarely admit.

I saw you advertising it in a really fun way at Neil Young BST (love the When Harry Met Sally reference). Is getting creative important when marketing your music?

Definitely. We are independent so imagination has to do the work of the money we don’t have! My songs hide little film nods, so using a classic movie reference for the poster felt natural. Harry and Sally are also the names of my in-ear monitors! We also shoot a lot of our visuals on old film cameras and a Super 8. Creativity isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity when you don’t have Brit School contacts, a famous aunt or rich parents!

If you were headlining BST yourself, who would you have on your lineup?

It would probably run for about three weeks if I could have everyone who’s music I love on there! I would have to invite Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks, Billy Joel and The Eagles. Each one has shaped how I write or perform, from Bruce’s big-hearted rock shows to Taylor’s storytelling and Billy’s piano hooks. Playing on a bill with all of them would feel like a full circle moment!

Fleetwood Mac was a band that thrived on stage; what’s the experience for yourselves at live gigs?

Live shows are where the music proves it is real. This is a bit my soapbox issue at the moment because we prioritise Live over everything else. There is nothing else like it when the drums hit, voices join in, and for however long the show is the people in the room looks up from their phones and forgets everything else. We are a live band, so we bring big energy, we stretch some songs, swap solos and let the crowd take the big lines. We once played an airfield while planes roared overhead and the buzz was the same: sweat, smiles and a feeling no algorithm can copy. We live in a world where, increasingly you can’t trust anything you read, see and sometimes even hear so I’m of the view that more and more people are going to value the real thing. That’s what we deliver live. Come see us!

You’re playing The Waiting Room in autumn, eek! Does this mean some new stuff will be debuted?”

Yes. The set will include at least a couple of new songs from the EP we are finishing now, one with the loudest sax break we have ever let Dan record. Bring a sharp ear; the lyrics will be brand new as well! We’re so excited to play this show.

With 90s music very much at the forefront of today’s trends, and as a 70s-inspired band, can you ever see your image and sound changing and almost ageing eras?

That’s a good question – I can understand why people might see us as a 70’s inspired act because the heart of the band is the kind of storytelling and live feel that people might associate with maybe Fleetwood Mac or bands of that era but we are happy to borrow colours from other decades, Supermoon already leans into an eighties pop sheen, and if a nineties fuzz pedal suits the next track we’ll use it. Clothes change; the voice underneath does not.

What’s next on the horizon for you guys – EPs, singles, gigs? (Apart from getting married, congrats!)

Thank you! The plan is a follow-up single and the full EP in the autumn, and a UK run that includes The Waiting Room plus we’ve just announced Boardmasters along with some other festivals. BBC Introducing very kindly called us their Ones to Watch for 2025, so we are keen to back that up with steady releases and more miles on the van!