Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
It's a good time to be an unusual vocalist, so St. Louis native Brandon Baker may get noticed now in a way that could have been more difficult in previous years. Baker has a taut, emotional voice pitched somewhere between Devendra Banhart and Joan Armatrading, and his delivery also seems to reflect both genders equally. Add a pinch of Billie Holiday (one of his musical idols) and fine acoustic guitar playing that recalls both Nick Drake and early Bruce Cockburn, and you've got a pretty compelling sound. The five songs on Baker's self-released EP are eminently listenable, if a tad on the tart side. There's real heart and soul on display, with an occasional primal howl of angst that lets you know this is truly an emotionally self-aware artist. "The monster under my bed is the voice inside my head/Fright inside my mind/It's a bit surreal, but it's the self-inflicted kind," sings Baker in a particularly startling moment. "Startling" is a good word for the edgy acoustic brew here, and it's a good bet Baker has the sort of unique talent we're gonna be hearing more from in the near future. | Kevin Renick - Playback STL
http://www.thecurrentonline.com/media/paper304/news/2006/01/17/NightLife/Soulful.Songs.And.Tinkering.Toys.The.Music.Of.Brandon.Baker-1434194.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.thecurrentonline.com
This is a link to the interview we did with the paper. - The Current (UMSL college paper)
Discography
"The Child-Like Hymns E.P." 2005
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Brandon Baker allows a close look into the center of his mind. A place more delicate to him then anyone has yet to reach. Even I have not quite made it to the basis of his thoughts. Thoughts come too quickly until they are gone like dirt from under the tire of politics. Brandon hits you with this mess of words that create images in your mind that you may or may not want to see. Still you have no choice but to open your eyes and let your mind create pictures from his words. Brandon has been playing shows all around St.Louis and getting his music out to people. He has recently recorded a four song demo/EP entitled " the child-like hymns EP." Speaking on the subjects of growth in life. From a child's point of view up to an elderly being. He is currently writing for his full-length LP to be released in 2006. "My influences will definitely show on upcoming work. Considering that life, death, nature, people, science and many other things influence me." People have used such names as Jeff Buckley, Devendra Banhart and Thom Yorke when speaking of Brandon's unique voice. All though he is no carbon copy to any of those nor does he try to be. "I believe my vocals were influenced by early jazz singers. I listen to tons of early artists. I'm sure it's all influenced me in different ways but, I don't sit around and say how would Billy Holiday sing this line or how would Bjork annunciate this word. I just simply sing and if it sounds good to me and fits, then I keep it." You can listen to Brandon's recent recordings at www.myspace.com/brandonbaker. " I believe that by playing shows as much as possible and getting the music out there to as many people as possible is what I'm shooting for. I want to be heard and document my life through song. I want to make timeless music that will be remembered not by whatever the current trend happens to be."
Links
