Bailer are an unusual band. It’s not that their music is or their backgrounds or even their sense of style; they’re unusual in that they’re an entirely self-made band who after a decade in the music business are still as positive and up-beat as newborn musicians in a teenagers shed.

Speaking to Caitriona McGuinness, lead singer of the band is like conversing with sunshine itself; and this energy and hope is what the band have projected into their new single “Daylight”.

“It’s uplifting and quite positive” McGuinness tells me as she explains the reason for choosing the song as their new single. “We had come out of a bit of a dark time and that [the single] is us coming out of it… it was quite positive for us.”

Positivity is what this band does well and hard work is built into their ethos. “We’ve got a lot of positive feedback and some really good gigs last year… I’ve met a few really nice people along the way… the lads from Aslan have been really good to us” McGuinness said.

Things haven’t come easy for the threesome and it’s been a long way since McGuinness responded to songwriter and guitarist, Maurice Brennan’s ad in Hot Press magazine looking for a singer for a band.

“You have to work hard to get the contacts, to build up a relationship at the start… but once that opportunity has been given to you, you just have to make the most of it.”

Make the most of it indeed; the band has supported Aslan, Hot House Flowers and Brian Kennedy to name a few and show no signs of slowing down in 2011.

Bailer have definitely made the most of their opportunities, leading to them working with engineer Kevin Killen on their new single. Killen has worked with U2, Shakira and Peter Gabriel and McGuinness explains how he ended up working on “Daylight” in NYC. “In this day and age you have access to these people…with computers and stuff you can actually send your stuff away.” And that is exactly what Bailer did with Killen and he took the bait. “It’s great that you can access people you wouldn’t have before” McGuinness adds.

However, the music industry is still a tough business to make it in and I ask McGuinness how the band copes with that. “There’s always things that you’re battling against” she replies. “And obviously at the moment the country is battling against a recession… I suppose it was always going to be something… We just keep driving forward. We have faith in ourselves and belief in what we do. We’re really happy to do it so I think if you weren’t happy, you probably would’ve dropped out a long time ago.”

Driving forward is exactly what the band wants to do. Their hopes for the future? “Make a living out of it, doing it full-time, rehearsing each day, recording each day and gigging at night. That would be amazing” McGuinness responds.

While it remains to be seen if that dream will become a reality, what is certain is that this band aren’t bailing any time soon.

For more information about Bailer, see their site and their new single, “Daylight” is available on iTunes.

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