Bailey Tomkinson – I Wish (It Didn’t End Like This)

Bailey Tomkinson embodies the rare artist who turns hometown salt spray into sonic gold. Her "Kernowfornia" fusion—where Cornish waves crash into country twang and pop hooks—feels effortless because it is. Growing up in St Ives, she's as likely to paddle out at Porthmeor as she is to pen a chorus that cuts straight to the bone. No manufactured vibe here; just a voice that carries the grit of real life.

Her path sidesteps the glossy London grind. At 15, songs poured out with wisdom beyond her years. By 18, Germany's FBP Music scooped her up, kickstarting an indie streak that's all about organic growth. Tracks like "Movie Scene" racked up 100k+ streams on pure merit, earning Spotify's Very Nearly Nashville nod. Then came the big leagues: gigs with KT Tunstall, Boardmasters headlines, BBC Radio 2 airplay, and that ultimate stamp from Brad Paisley, likening her to early Taylor Swift.

Yet the magic isn't in the milestones—it's in the mess. "I Wish (it didn’t end like this)" was scrawled in one tear-soaked take on a bathroom floor, her voice cracking with the kind of raw ache that perfection can't touch. That's her superpower: embracing the tremble, the seams, the human fray. Her O2 Academy Islington headline wasn't a slick spectacle; it was a room full of strangers nodding along to shared heartbreaks, like passing a secret note in class.

She's the sun-drenched surfer by day, the 3 a.m. lyric-dissecting insomniac by night. Breezy enough for a coastal cruise, devastating enough to wreck you in the dark. In a world of trend-chasers, Bailey proves you can root down in St Ives, ride your local swells, and craft songs that ripple globally. She's not building an image—she's validating every late-night overthinker who knows the ocean's calm hides a powerful undertow. Dive into her playlist; you won't resurface unchanged.