NZ Music Month a time to ‘love local’
May is New Zealand Music Month, and artists are making the most of lockdown, churning out new music and attending online events.
Soul singer and songwriter Louis Baker was born and raised in the multicultural, artloving Newtown in Wellington, and from a young age had a fascination with music.
He has vivid memories of music while growing up, whether it was his parents’ records of The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, or later, Michael Jackson on cassette.
His first taste of New Zealand music was that of Fat Freddy’s Drop, Trinity Roots, and Salmonella Dub. ‘‘I just fell in love with [Fat Freddy’s album] Based On A True Story when I was 15.’’
Seeing New Zealand artists on the world stage was so important for young artists, he said. ‘‘Hell yeah. I think when people closer to home do these things that we hold in high regard, they pave the way for us.’’
Music Month was ‘‘one month a year when we specifically shine a light and celebrate our own, and I think that’s a really important thing’’.
Baker got his start at 16 as a finalist in national songwriting competition Play it Strange, before winning a scholarship to attend the Red Bull Music Academy in New York City. ‘‘I think it’s good for kids to enter [Play It Strange] as it has a due date, and for kids that can be the best thing.’’
He recorded his debut EP in London, before releasing his debut album Open in 2019. He was nominated at the NZ Music Awards last year, and for three Silver Scrolls.
Lockdown had been a productive time creatively, had ‘‘helped me turn a page and seek inward a bit further, and think about things in a fresher different way’’.
As well as his next album, with five or six tracks near completion, he was also working on an RNZ session out for NZ Music Month, an ‘‘ode to Fat Freddy’s Drop’’, 10 Feet Tall.
The bottom had well and truly fallen out of the live music scene, which was ‘‘the essence of how I like to enjoy music,’’ Baker said. ‘‘I like to see it and feel it and hear it.’’
Instead, he’d been performing online. ‘‘I just did a Spark session last night, and have been doing appearances on Zoom.’’
He had also been mentoring young artists with the New Zealand Music Commission as a guitar and singing teacher.
‘‘I love what the music commission is doing with that programme, it’s an awesome way for kids to see more of what the industry is about from a first person perspective.’’
This is the month’s 20th year. Special projects and events manager Rodney Fisher said the month was a drive towards recognising the talent on our doorsteps. Overseas acts being barred from our shores by coronavirus restrictions for the time being reinforced the need to ‘‘support local’’.
Local music was also doing well overseas, from the likes of Benee, The Beths, and Marlon Williams.
The best way for people to support local artists was to stream online, follow and share, or better still, buy merchandise and downloads directly from artists’ websites.
People could also donate to MusicHelps, a charity which changed lives through music programmes in vulnerable communities and healthcare facilities.
This was a ‘‘real focus over the month, finding the people who need that help the most’’.
For a full programme of events during Music Month, head to nzmusicmonth.co.nz.