Black Crow by Louis Baker

Good things take time. Not only is that true in the case of New Zealand songwriter Louis Baker, who we haven’t heard from since the single “Addict” a year ago, but also of the music that Baker returns with,the soul-fuelled, introspective groover that snaps and bumps with the piston fire of the rawest locked groove, smoothed, warmed and informed by one of the finest voices in contemporary music - “Black Crow”.

Written and produced in Sydney in six hours, “Black Crow” sounds like alchemy freed from an artist’s DNA, rather than the chiseled result of time and toil. Produced by Grammy-nominated Steve Rusch (Solange, Miguel, Ryan Tedder), the song’s deceptively simple, deeply organic production initiates a song about exorcising your demons, leaving the past behind and gaining wisdom through experience.

Speaking about the inspiration behind “Black Crow”, Louis Baker says:

“Black Crow symbolises being heavyhearted and out of control, but is hopeful in the sense that it’s also about embracing change and breaking free of negative emotions.”

As we may strive to grow wise with age, this is a record that doesn’t try to sound more classic with every revolution, it just does so, effortlessly. It is soul forged from a voice that gets richer with every year, aligned with writing that gets more resonant with every listen. “Black Crow”’s implications of regret, loneliness and hope are moon-shadowed by Baker’s multi-instrumental finesse, pushing us from sentence to stanza, demanding that his story be told.

Black Crow is the first offering off a new record Baker is due to release later this year.

louisbaker.co.nz
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