Ian Barham gets under your skin with his beautiful and cathartic new single Afraid To Bleed — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
After supporting Ché Aimee Dorval on tour and receiving BBC airplay, the British singer-songwriter returns with a captivatingly heartfelt tribute to losing someone you love. While navigating his own personal journey of loss, this single is an incredible return to releasing for Bareham, and is a comfort to those of us struggling with similar sentiments.
Delving into the depths of loss and love, Afraid To Bleed captures the thoughts, feelings, and fears that arise during grief. The soundscape is rooted in indie-folk, with thick guitar lines swimming underneath Ian’s soul-stirring melodies and light synths floating in the sonic atmosphere. From the opening refrain, Ian’s direct and emotive lyrics speak directly to the heart, while his captivating tone keeps you locked into the emotion at the core of this track.
“Music is a great healer,” he says. “Songwriting has always been a way for me to navigate through the various highs and lows of life. After losing my mum, it helped me work through my grief, finding moments of comfort and understanding.”
Hailing from Yorkshire, Bareham is an indie-folk singer-songwriter who has been offering up heartfelt singles over the past few years. His debut EP Perfect Storm launched him into the scene, and was a showcase in the incredible intricacy of his songwriting. With tender lyricism and mesmerising melodic harmony, each of the three tracks delved deeper into his artistry. His second release Stay The Night racked up nearly one million streams.
With his immersive and immediate songs of beginnings, heartbreak, and hope, Bareham delivers intimate live performances and draws the audience with the thump of his old suitcase kick-drum and the luscious tones of his mahogany guitar. Influenced by Glen Hansard, Vance Joy and Damien Rice, his honest tone and emotive guitar lines power achingly beautiful and vulnerable songs of love and loss.
Check out Afraid To Bleed above, hear more from Ian Bareham below, and join him on his website, Facebook and Instagram.
