Today, New Zealand artist / producer, Louis Baker releases anthemic indie soul duet, 'Been and Gone' ft Wallace.
Joining forces with long-time friend Wallace, 'Been and Gone' seamlessly merges a laid-back drum groove, Motown-inspired bass lines, Wurlitzer keyboards and retro-sounding wah-wah guitars. The song is further elevated by its honest and compelling lyrical content with the sultry vocals of both artists.
Reflecting on the song's concept, Baker explains, "The themes of empowerment, self-knowledge, and knowing your worth were at the forefront of our minds during the writing process".
Accompanying the release is a feel good music video, shot by Director / DOP Tom Grut featuring the duo spending the day together in their beloved hometown of Wellington.
"Louis and I have known each other since we were teenagers, and were in the same year at jazz school. We've been following and supporting each other's music since day 1 so it's been lovely to finally combine our powers and write something together", shares Wallace.
'Been and Gone' is the second self-produced release from Louis in 2023, following the soul-infused boom bap track 'Misty in Matakana', which was released earlier this month. The songs mark the beginning of a new era, reaffirming the proof of his versatility as an artist.
In July, Louis sets off to tour with one of the world's finest live draws, Fat Freddy's Drop on their nineteen date European Summer roady.
Been and Gone is available now on all major streaming outlets via his independent label, Ngākau Records.
ABOUT LOUIS BAKER
Louis Baker is undoubtedly one of the most soulful voices to emerge from New Zealand’s fertile musical landscape. With a powerhouse voice that’s capable of a primal RnB scream or tear-inducing plea, and a love for soul, hiphop, and jazz music, Louis has gathered a loyal following that spans the world over.
From his self-titled first EP, all the way to his widely acclaimed 2019 debut album 'Open', and his most recent EP, Love Levitates - described by Rolling Stone Magazine as “luxurious funk-soul”, Baker has toured the globe, gathering fans and tastemakers along the way - resulting in over 38 million Spotify streams, sold out shows and nominations for prestigious music awards including the APRA Silver Scroll Award, Taite Music Prize and Aotearoa Music Awards.
ABOUT WALLACE
Wallace’s music has been described as a vibrant mosaic of soul, hip-hop and pop, her trademark jazz-influenced vocals and magnetic presence demonstrating her evolution as a songwriter to watch.
Her refreshing talent has granted her the opportunity to work in the studio with Dutch legends Kraak & Smaak, Australian hip-hop staples Thundamentals, Botswana-raised, Melbourne-based rapper Sampa The Great, laying vocals over beats by Godriguez, and working closely with producer Simon Cohen (behind Justin Bieber's global #1 song “Love Yourself”).