Sanjay Michael puts guitar riffs, groove and a conversational vocal at the centre of Baby Baby, a new single drawing on the high-energy rock of the ’70s and ’80s.
The Singapore-based singer-songwriter and guitarist pairs a fuller production sound with the blues influence running through his earlier releases.
His almost spoken delivery gives the song its character, leaving room for attitude and tongue-in-cheek humour alongside the guitars. Influences including Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses and Van Halen provide the backdrop, with an emphasis on direct hooks and the physical pull of the rhythm.
Raised between Malaysia and Australia, Michael now works independently from Singapore. His debut album, Rocking Into Midnight, introduced his commitment to original guitar-led music, while the subsequent Wall Street Blues EP explored a more stripped-back approach.
Baby Baby takes that sound into a bigger arrangement while retaining its rawness. The production gives the riffs more weight, with the vocal’s informal phrasing keeping the performance loose and immediate.
The accompanying video pairs remastered audio with Michael and his band performing in a bar setting. That setting suits a song whose main ingredients are already built for the room: a blues groove, a prominent guitar part and a chorus that invites a response.