Louis Baker

Louis Baker (born circa 1989 in Newtown, Wellington) is a New Zealand soul musician and singer-songwriter, best known for his live shows and singles (Rainbow, Black Crow and Addict) leading into his debut album (Open), released in 2019. One of Wellington and New Zealand's highest profile independent artists, he has seen success both locally and internationally.

Baker was born and raised in the suburb of Newtown in Wellington, Baker began writing songs at age 11, and at age 17 was a finalist in a national songwriting competition. In 2014, he recorded his self-titled EP in North London with Andy Lovegrove, who has produced for Breaks Co-Op and Supergrass. The EP reached No. 3 on the New Zealand Albums chart, and was well received critically. Baker's music has been influenced by the diverse culture of Wellington, especially Newtown, and acts such as Fat Freddy's Drop and Trinity Roots.

Early life Louis Baker grew up in a "tight-knit" working-class Ngāpuhi family in Coromandel Street, Newtown, and has two sisters. His mother worked in cleaning jobs before eventually starting an art teaching business, and his father has worked as a firefighter for 43 years in the nearby suburb of Brooklyn. He was heavily influenced by American musicians growing up, such as Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, as well as dub and reggae music as part of a cultural renaissance in Wellington in the 2000s, with acts such as Fat Freddy's Drop and Trinity Roots becoming successful.

He spent the summer following his time at the Red Bull Academy in London, and recorded his debut EP, producing a standalone single ' Even in the Darkness' , and 5 other tracks. They sparked critical acclaim in New Zealand, and led Baker to be nominated for the APRA Silver Scroll for his song 'Back on My Feet'. From 2014 onwards Baker released a number of singles (including a collaboration with Jordan Rakei) and then found greater stardom with his track Rainbow. Written in Wellington and recorded at the Red Bull Studios in England with The Nextmen's Brad Ellis

His debut album, Open, was released in 2019 to critical acclaim

Released: March 2014 Format: CD, Digital Label: Louis Baker (LBKR01) 8

Released: June 2021 Format: Digital Label: Louis Baker —

Released: October 2024 Format: LP, Digital Label: Louis Baker 39

Awards and nominations 2007: Play It Strange – Top 5 Finalist 2009: Primal Youth National Songwriting Competition – 1st 2014: APRA Silver Scroll award – Top 5 Finalist / Back on My Feet 2016: APRA Silver Scroll award – Top 20 / Rainbow 2018: ISC Comp, Singer-Songwriter Top 12 2018: APRA Silver Scroll award – Top 20 / Black Crow 2019: New Zealand Music Awards – Best Soul / RnB Artist (Nominee) 2019: New Zealand Music Awards – Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Artist (Nominee) 2020: Taite Music Prize – Finalist