Moving to London

At that point in my life, I felt confident in calling myself a New Yorker: I was born in New York Hospital on the night of the New York City Marathon and had lived in New York City for 15 years of my life, the rest in a nearby suburb. Maybe it was the confidence in my New Yorker-ness that made moving to London such an easy decision. When the opportunity was presented through my wife's job, I didn't have a second thought.

Since I was touring the third Vampire Weekend album at that point, the first summer was a bit of a jumble. It's mildly embarrassing to be back in a city seeing friends two weeks after having your "going away" party. I mostly remember attempting household chores while being wildly jetlagged, doing things like buying trash bins in Highbury (there was a much closer place I could have gone to) & trying to understand the convoluted UK lightbulb system (I still don't understand it).

We were living in Islington, and I guess the first thing I really fell in love with was running on Regent's canal. In the summer time, it could feel a little bit deadly, but by the fall I was enjoying spending free time there, running to Victoria Park. For a very long time I had wanted to make a solo album but didn't know if I ever would. I'd make little instrumentals in my home studio and then loop them on my runs, trying to come up with lyrics.

Watch BAIO's video for "The Names", filmed in London, above

Maybe it was something in the crisp UK air, but I found the lyrics came to me much easier than I thought they would. Living in a new city both gave me a new life and a new perspective to look back on my past life. Every day I'd work a little bit more on what eventually became my album, The Names. I'll tell you the address where I made my album since I don't live there anymore: 21 Arlington Avenue, N1 7BE. Douglas Adams once lived on my old block. I found that out because someone wrote it in chalk on the street. I think that's pretty cool.​

Living in a new place, my wife & I were forced to socialize a bit more and meet more people. It's nice to not be too complacent socially. I'd often find myself at dinner or a party with people from countries I'd never visited. I feel like London has brought me a bit closer to the rest of the world. I think that's a good thing.

Two and a half years in and I feel like I still have so much to learn and experience. I moved South a few months ago. Some North London friends say it's rare but I gotta say I'm enjoying it. If The Names is my North London record, I can't wait to make my South London album. I just unpacked my home studio last week. We'll see what happens next.

BAIO tours the UK at the end of February, including a London show at the Pickle Factory on Feb 26th. His debut album The Names is out now on Glassnote Records.