Zach Bailey’s newest single, “The Dive Bar,” is a tribute to the heart and soul of the open mic scene. The sweet and cozy song is a snapshot of a community coming together to share stories, support one another, and create lasting connections. The song’s nostalgic shades and Zach Bailey’s emotional rhymes transport listeners to the intimate setting of a dive bar, where laughter, vulnerability, and raw talent intertwine.
In this exclusive interview, Zach Bailey talks about the inspiration behind the song “The Dive Bar,” and its heart-warming video. Filmed by talented cinematographer Jackie Lee Domi, the video captures the essence of an open mic night, from the nervous energy backstage to the electric performance on stage. It’s a heartfelt tribute to the dive bar as a nurturing ground for artists, showcasing the genuine connections forged within its walls.
We will also get to know the intimate details about his evolution as an artist, the reasons behind his creative decisions for this piece, and the significance of the dive bar setting for him as an artist and individual. His passion for this environment that fosters support for fellow artists is evident as he discusses the importance of listening, sharing, and learning from others.
“The Dive Bar” is a beautiful piece, congratulations. It made me think about the rush and sweetness of a new romance. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind it?
Thank you! Yeah, I initially wrote it about a cute boy who I invited out to the open mic I host. While my co-host was running the show, I invited him out to the back patio, and we talked for what felt like a looong time… it was fun haha :). Although he and I did not work out, the song has grown for me to be about the experience of getting to know everyone who has come out to the open mic each week. It’s been such a special community.
The dive bar is clearly the central location in both, the song and the music video. Can you talk about the significance of this setting and how it reflects your personal experiences?
Yeah, the dive bar is where I hosted a songwriter’s open mic for the past year and a half with my best pal Rachel Baldwin, together as Lazy River Presents. I knew I needed a space that was vulnerable enough to hold and support my tender songs, and I wanted to do it in the community. So we created a listening-room-type setting where songwriters could test out new material and be unafraid to fail. Word-of-mouth spread, and it became a popular Tuesday night spot.
For me, it was a perfect place to practice my songwriting craft alongside my peers.
I’d like to talk a little about the lyrics of the song. How did you manage to create such a vivid depiction of a dive bar?
Haha, well I’ve spent *weeks* of my life in there, so I hope I would know it right by now.
I’m curious about something, the line “Christopher gives me a look” adds some mystery to the story. Can you explain the significance of this character?
Hahaha oh my gosh, Christopher is one of my good friends and a staple of our open mic. He’s been coming since the beginning and performs almost weekly, so we’ve gotten to know each other. So when Christopher gave me a *look,* he knew *exactly* what was going through my head… 😉
Your decision to film the music video during an actual open mic was bold. Can you tell us what you enjoyed the most of it and the challenges it represented?
It had to be filmed at the open mic! I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off without Rachel, who ran the show while we were filming, plus I had a number of friends all helping out. The videographer Jackie Lee was an open mic regular, too. It felt cozy to create it together; we were all very familiar with the space and the cadence for the evening.
Our biggest challenge was to film all our shots without interrupting the run-of-show for the evening. Luckily, we had a plan going into it — mostly filming as much as we could be ahead of time — and it all worked out smoothly! Lots of friends and regulars of the scene were featured, so watching the video feels like home; a perfect time capsule of a typical Tuesday night Lazy River open mic. 🙂
The video showcases various aspects of the open mic experience, fully immersing us in the story. Was there a particular moment or scene that you felt best captured the essence of the open mic community?
I think at the core of the open mic experience is each performer’s one song on stage (five minutes or less) so capturing the on-stage feeling was paramount. Jackie really nailed that with the 360-degree on-stage shots, paired with close-ups of key details — like the disco ball, and peeking out from behind the curtain.
Equally as important were the candid shots of folks talking and connecting with each other, because in my opinion, meeting fellow songwriters and musicians is one of the greatest gifts of a space like this. Sometimes we had to “shhh” folks so we could hear what was happening on stage… folks were connecting too much, haha.
You’ve mentioned the importance of the open mic community. How do you hope this video will contribute to the growth and support of the open mic scene?
In my experience, the open mic scene here in Los Angeles is thriving and vibrant. I feel so lucky to have been a steward of this particular space, but there are many other great spots too!
It has been magical to witness a number of new nights come about as a result of folks meeting at our night — my hope for the future of the open mic scene is that we continue to create spaces where we actively listen to and uplift each other.
How has your involvement in the open mic community, particularly with Lazy River Presents, shaped your songwriting and artistic perspective?
After hearing ~40 songs a night (approximately ~1500 songs from ~500 performers over the past year and a half), I am humbled by the amount of talent there is here. To listen to what everyone is putting out, and to continually hone my craft at the same time — for the first year or so, I was writing and performing a new song each week — it was truly a masterclass in songwriting.
Through this experience, I have been able to hone in on exactly what *I* am offering musically — which sometimes is a sweet story, other times melancholy. In this case of “The Dive Bar” — part romance/part reminiscent / and a bit cheeky. 😉
I remember the first time that I performed a new song (one that I’m recording right now) where the entire audience started singing along in the second chorus (without me prompting them to do so!) It was one of those moments where I thought, “Wow, this is so beyond me; don’t drop it, Z!”
To have the opportunity to perform for and listen to my peers, on a weekly basis, has been a privilege.
After the release of the song and this beautiful video, what’s next for you? Are there any plans for new music or projects?
Yes!! I have two more songs in the works at the moment — one is a sassy breakup tune I co-wrote with my bestie Rachel… and the other is a cute love song about being somebody’s muse… both I am recording with my friend and collaborator, Gal Petel… more to be announced soon! 😉
Thank you for these wonderful questions. I appreciate your time. <3
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