Nine months after releasing his second EP, Love Levitates, the soulful Wellington, New Zealand-based singer-songwriter Louis Baker unveils two new electronic remixes of the title track from Love Levitates and his pre-album single ‘Overdrive’ (featuring Kings).
For the remix of ‘Love Levitates’, Louis called on his longtime musical collaborator Cory Champion, best known for his dub techno, ambient and deep house productions as Borrowed CS, and his cosmic jazz band project, Clear Path Ensemble. Reimagining the song’s jazzy soul vibe in a sleek club-tempo style, Borrowed CS surrounds Louis's smooth vocals with the glossy shades of 2-step garage and UK funky. In the process, he puts an Antipodean twist on the rich traditions of syncopated UK dance music.
Alongside this, the ‘Overdrive’ (featuring Kings) remix sees the Auckland keyboardist, beatmaker and producer BHaru (of the Ladi6 band) giving the uptempo boogie bounce of the original song a nocturnal, stripped-down refresh. Setting Louis and Kings vocal performances against screwed-down, syrupy synths and a 4/4 bass bounce, BHaru lets the beat build. After the first chorus, he twists the song into the sort of dynamic synth-funk shapes that brought him to the fold of US super-producer Timbaland’s Beat Club last year.
“I love the flavours that both these guys have. When I thought about getting these tracks remixed it was a no brainer for me. What they both delivered was the artistry and flavour that only Bharu and Borrowed CS could make. I love the sonic colour palettes they find when making music, which are always distinctive and sick to listen to” says Louis on the remixes.
Both remixes will be available via all digital platforms this Friday 25th March, 2022.
LOUIS BAKER ONLINE
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ON LOVE LEVITATES
Love Levitates, released on 18 June 2021 marked the first full-length follow up to Baker’s critically acclaimed debut album Open released in 2019 — which received a prestigious Taite Music Prize nomination, and Aotearoa Music Awards nominations for Best Soul Artist and Best Māori Artist. Previous singles ‘Back On My Feet’ (2014), ‘Rainbow’ (2016), and ‘Black Crow’ (2018) have been recognised with APRA Silver Scroll nominations.
The EP's first released single ‘Overdrive’, featuring NZ rapper/producer Kings, shot to No. 1 on release and has clocked over 1.3 million Spotify streams. Youth influencer site Sniffers praised the single writing: "lush vocals from Baker over grooving soul production conjure the blissed-out ecstasy of the initial rush of an enchanting encounter."
On the uplifting and deeply personal opening track, 'Brighter Day', Baker pays tribute to the triumphs and adversities faced by his grandfather Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Baker (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Tu) who served in the 28th Māori Battalion. The single charted at No. 11 and earned Director Anahera Parata a nomination for Best Video at the 2021 Aotearoa Music Awards.
International support for Love Levitates
"Infectious neo-soul” — Rolling Stone AU
"Louis Baker establishes himself as both a rarity and necessity” — Happy Mag
“Solid soul goodness” — KCRW