New music video from Basia Bułat

Montreal-based artist Basia Bułat is a celebrated pop sensation who’s enjoyed a decorated musical adventure so far. Her impressive career spans over a decade, marked by a series of acclaimed albums that have seen her transition from folk-inspired beginnings to a more expansive, experimental pop sound.

Basia has performed at tributes for musical legends such as Leonard Cohen, Daniel Lanois, Nick Cave and The Band and has played live alongside a whole host of esteemed artists including St. Vincent, Sufjan Stevens, The National and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Her early albums, Oh, My Darling and Heart of My Own, were heavily influenced by folk stylings and recorded with punk-rock producer Howard Bilerman. Tall Tall Shadow explored themes of grief and friendship, while Good Advice, a breakup album, was infused with the rich production of My Morning Jacket’s Jim James. Their collaboration continued with her introspective 2020 release Are You in Love?, recorded in the stark beauty of Joshua Tree, showcasing her growing inclination towards atmospheric and lush soundscapes.

Throughout her career, Bułat’s work has been revered not only for her stunning voice but also for her emotional depth and sonic versatility. This is perhaps most evident in her 2022 album The Garden, where she reimagined some of her best-loved songs with the help of a string quartet, adding a new layer of grandeur to her already impressive musical output.

Now, Basia Bułat is gearing up for the release of her latest album, Basia’s Palace, set to drop in February next year via the Secret City Records imprint. Co-produced by her longtime collaborator Mark Lawson, who also worked on Tall Tall Shadow and The Garden and mixed by the renowned Tucker Martine, known for his work with Beth Orton, Neko Case and The National, this new album promises to deliver a softer yet engrossing sound.

Ahead of the upcoming record, she brings us her brand new single titled “Baby,” a graceful, dance-inflected pop outing, framed by the stunning strings arranged by Grammy-nominated composer Drew Jurecka. Led by her dazzling vocals and with a rhythm that’s both graceful and gently propulsive, “Baby” distils the essence of Bułat’s newfound sonic direction, one that embraces both the sweeping, cinematic qualities of orchestral pop and the intimate, personal storytelling she’s known for.

Accompanying the release of “Baby” is a visually striking, one-take video directed by Nora Rosenthal. Shot on film, the video’s simplicity and retro charm perfectly match the song’s mood, creating a cinematic experience that feels at once timeless and immediate. With Basia’s Palace on the horizon and the announcement of a forthcoming North America Tour, Basia Bułat is once again proving why she’s one of Canada’s most compelling musical exports.

Commenting on the single, she shares, “I wrote this song many years ago but never could get the lyrics and performance quite right. I wanted to try it again after becoming a parent–it’s about how we can’t control how or when we’re going to evolve even when we desperately want to. We keep making the same mistakes until we notice a pattern repeating, and even then, change is hard when we have to fully surrender to it. Could I make that predicament something I wanted to dance to? Could I sing the lyrics with joy instead of the sorrow I was channeling in the past?”

Adding, “Nothing in my life has made me want to evolve faster, better, stronger than parenthood and the universe keeps throwing that desire back at me with a laugh and a wink, reminding me that things take time and to just love myself for being human. So this song from my past I couldn’t let go of finally made it onto a record–after all the times I tried to get it right I knew I finally had ‘the take’ when my daughter kept asking to hear it again.”

Watch the music video for Baby below