A nine-song debut steeped in blue-collar grittiness, all in Spatial Audio

Plenty of country singers try to capitalize on the genre’s connection to the working class, finding ways—some genuine, others not so much—to link their own backstories to those of blue-collar listeners. Only a handful of these artists actually have the working-class cred to back up their own claims, but genre newcomer Bailey Zimmerman has that and then some. The 22-year-old Illinois native spent his teen years working in a meat processing plant and, later, on a gas pipeline, experiences that, alongside a difficult breakup, partially inform the nine songs on Leave the Light On, his debut project. Though Zimmerman only began releasing music in 2020, he landed a record deal in Nashville after songs “Never Leave” and “Fall in Love” found viral success. Both tracks are reprised on Leave the Light On, as are standouts “Rock and a Hard Place,” a down-on-your-luck breakup song that features one of Zimmerman’s finer vocals, and the rollicking kiss-off “Where It Ends.”