16 Oct 2019

This Time it’s Personal: Louis Baker on the music of Chopin

From Upbeat, 12:30 pm on 16 October 2019

As a child, NZ soul singer-songwriter Louis Baker listened to whatever music his parents put on – everything from Schubert, and Chopin to psychedelic rock.

Louis Baker

Louis Baker Photo: The Property Pilots 2017

Now a successful singer-songwriter, Louis Baker still loves classical music and in RNZ Concert's classical music countdown Settling the Score, he’ll be voting for a Chopin piano prelude, Prelude in E minor.

“It just washes over you… I find it deep and beautiful, sad and bright,” Louis says. It's a description that could easily apply to his own, soul-influenced music.

“I think I might have been about five or six… Mum probably had it on tape. I’ve got lots of different memories of listening to music at that age.”

It’s the ending of the piece that leaves Louis with a particular impression: “It’s sort of like a question’s been asked… then it feels for a second like there’s a shining light.”

But the overall feeling of the Prelude in E minor almost leaves Louis lost for words: “It’s just a deep, beautiful, rich piece… it’s hard to describe.”

Related:
  • Drax Project's Shaan Singh on the Bach Cello Suites
  • Louis recently released this extended cut of his song "Black Crow" for Mental Health Awareness Week.