One of the most distinctive voices in modern music, Louis Baker releases ‘The People’, a humble anthem for the modern age. This heart-felt offering is out now, accompanied with a music video directed by Shae Sterling.
‘The People’ takes inspiration from the socially conscious songwriting cues of soul legends Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, alongside a powerful line from Oscar Wilde -
“Why should they be grateful for the crumbs that fall from the rich man’s table?”
“I felt a calling to write something that was all encompassing,” says Baker. “A song that could lift people up, a song for anyone. Music has a tremendous power to unite us as one people, and that is something I truly believe in.”
Baker’s new track comes off his long-awaited debut album, due to be released later this year. Written in his home studio, the track was later brought to life in London, and produced by The Nextmen’s Brad Ellis (Wilkinson, James Arthur, Jorja Smith). Influenced by James Gadson’s drum work for Bill Withers, the high Strat jangle of Mayfield and the Motown punch of Joe Messina’s stabs, this is a song forged in the feelings of our unsteady world. Louis Baker has created a hymn for a point in time when the people have never needed it more.
Speaking on the making of the music video, filmed in Baker’s hometown of Wellington, Baker reflects: “I wanted this video to be honest and upfront. I wanted it to reflect my norm, where I grew up, the diversity amongst our small but international city, the warmth, the art, the people. My dad makes an appearance, he worked for 43 years as a fireman, my best mates, many of my friends, and people I have never met are in this video. There are nods to musical minds that have paved the way before us.”
Baker will take his mesmerising live set around NZ and Australia, supporting American soul, R&B legend Allen Stone on a near sold-out Australasian tour. The tour will stop off in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, before wrapping up in Baker’s hometown, Wellington.
ALLEN STONE, SUPPORTED BY LOUIS BAKER
Sun 14th April - Melbourne
Wed 17th April - Sydney
Thurs 18th April - Brisbane
Wed 24th April - Auckland
Thurs 25th April - Wellington
Over the last 5 years, the world has watched in growing appreciation for the young singer-songwriter as he released a prolific volume of singles, which included ‘Rainbow’ (over 5 million streams on Spotify), ‘Fade’, ‘Gave It All Away’ (which premiered by MTV), ‘Addict’, and APRA AMCOS Silver Scroll-nominated ‘Black Crow’.