Park strolls with Baybs’ own Craig Jacobs; press photos courtesy of Nikki Pratchios.

We introduced you to Baybs last year with the single "You're the Only One", bringing sea breezes of sentimentality to match the Bay Area's fog lensed sun beams. With the announcement of the debut Introvertigo EP for Text Me Records; Craig Jacobs presents a first listen to the mental mazes of “These Things in My Head”. Creating endearing, uplifting and introspective pop craft to combat agoraphobia and the anxiety of over-active streams of thought; Jacobs' collaborations with Melissa Russi, Chloe Zelma Studebaker (Zelma Stone), Timothy Vickers (Grandbankss), Kyle Demartini and live percussionist Lucas Siobal create the foundation and framework for building a new Bay Area scene to return to (once the proverbial pacific coast is clear) upon exiting our collective shelters in place.

“These Things in My Head” is an ode to the fears that once were reserved for isolated individuals and events extends to what has become our now all-too-familiar new normal. The spinning of the mind can be heard like whirling reel to reel spools during the intro that gives way to desires to spend the entire day(s) in the safe and comfortable confines of bed. Baybs surveys the ongoing cataloging of surveying obsessively the life and death continuum and the incessant re-visitations of concepts circle around and around the sink or swim polarities. The inner dialogue ping-pong polemics are seen for the inward games of paddle ball that they are with the chorus hook smile of relief recitations of, it's all in my head. "These Things" also has a coded positive mental health message, describing how we run from ourselves and the excessive worry that was always just an exhaustive construct that was given too much concentrated focus. Yet the magic of Baybs is their sound of joy that basks in a state of happiness like the realized respite felt upon realizing that the spirals of despair and repetitive nightmares were just a dream in our head all along.

All in his head — Craig Jacobs of Baybs; press photo courtesy of Nikki Pratchios.

Craig Jacobs shared some candid insights on the creation of the new Baybs EP and more:

I first started writing songs as a way to cope with severe episodes of anxiety and panic that began in childhood. There were periods of my life where I didn't want to leave my house…soon I couldn't leave my room…then I didn't even feel safe in my own body. The times I felt like literally jumping out of my skin the only thing that helped was picking up a guitar and creating a melody. Introvertigo is a true testament to the constant turbulence and distress caused by an overly anxious mind as well as the general feeling of chronic alienation from ones immediate surroundings.
"These Things in My Head" is a song that explores the instability caused by intrusive thoughts, which often make the smallest things seem catastrophic. And when you are in a vulnerable mental state you believe them, as crazy and impossible as the thought is. The further you get away from reality, the truth is that your mind is making the rules and you are running from yourself. As painful and stressful as this may be in the moment, it is truly ironic and even weirdly funny…

Baybs’ Introvertigo EP will be available June 11 courtesy of Text Me Records.

Dedicated to Different Fur Studios legend Susan Skaggs.

PREMIERE | Baybs, "These Things in My Head"