Q&A || Louis Baker

Wellington soul singer, songwriter Louis Baker has made quite a recognisable name for himself across the globe with his compelling blend of Motown and RnB. His latest single Addict is a sensual, slow groove number now sporting a highly complimentary visual accompaniment. Louis is also heading on tour with two dates in Australia, one in Melbourne on September 20th and one in Sydney on September 21st.

Describe yourself with 5 adjectives.

Honest. Smiley. Impatient. Expressive. Loving.

How would you best describe your sound?

Open and truthful.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

They range far and wide, but in terms of my biggest musical influences, I would have to stick with Prince, Joni Mitchell, T.S Eliot, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Jeff Buckley, Jimi Hendrix, D’Angelo and Sly Stone.

You have just released your brand new single ‘Addict’ how are you feeling?

I’m feeling really good about how the whole release went actually. The song was heaps of fun to write, and then to do the video in New York City was the icing on top. It was quite a ride.

What is the message/meaning behind the single?

I think human beings can struggle with the concept of codependency in relationships during our lifetime. We can forget about our own independent selves. Addict sums up the metaphor of being addicted to that feeling of love, and that idea of being withdrawn or cold when you don’t get your fix.

How did you come up with the concept for the music video?

To put it simply, Shae Sterling (Director, DOP) and I are both huge fans of Scorsese and Coppola. We both resonated with the notion of the video being centered around an observer, of some kind, and felt that it was a track that needed to be shot at night because of the imagery in the lyrics and the way it feels when you hear it. Shae did such a great job, and I’m so glad we could make it work in the short time-frame.

You are heading back to Australian in September for a few shows, what are you looking forward to the most?

I love the feeling of playing live. Every time is different. I mostly enjoy absorbing the energy of the crowd, and the way their faces light up in each song.

Is there a single in particular that you enjoy to play live?

I love playing Rainbow because everybody knows the words, and I get to hear a choir (the audience) singing it back to me! It’s pretty humbling.

For those who haven’t seen you perform before, what can they expect from your live shows?

Feel good vibes, and a place to feel free.

What is the worst piece of life advice you have every received?

‘Practice makes perfect’. Yes, we are habitual creatures, but I think this common piece of advice misses the point of what you practice, and how you practice it. The alliteration of the phrase sounds good, and I think that’s probably why we like to say it.

When you are relaxing what music do you listen to in the background?

For relaxation it’s often Al Green, or Chopin.