Review: Louis Baker - All We Need (Louis Baker Music)

Louis Baker is back with a message of hope - you could say it's 'All We Need'! 

Regular readers will know Mr. Baker from previous releases .from 'Keep On' (see review HERE) and 'The Remixes' (see review HERE) so it's great to hear 'All We Need', the first single from Louis Baker's forthcoming self-released album, 'Trouble'. 

We're told the song serves as an introduction to the record's broader themes of connection, reflection, community and human behaviour, while signalling a subtle evolution in Baker's sound. Written and produced by Baker, the track began with a drum groove before layers of guitar, bass and keys were added to build the arrangement.

Strongly influences by 'golden era' Motown, Daptone Records, Michael Kiwanuka, Aaron Frazer, Gil Scott-Heron and even Sonar Kollective, the song combines groove-driven soul with contemporary production and warm analogue textures.

Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Louis Baker (Ngāti Tu, Ngā Puhi) has won over listeners around the globe with his signature offering: slow-cooked modern soul for the people. A critically acclaimed stylist of richly emotive songcraft, he reinterprets longstanding American and British musical traditions through a laidback coastal lens. 

Since the early 2010s, he has established himself as a captivating guitarist and powerhouse vocalist with an ear for head-nod grooves from Wellington, the capital city of Aotearoa (New Zealand). Along the way, everyone from India.Arie (“Louis Baker, you sing my soul”) to BBC 6 Music, Rolling Stone, Clash Magazine, and Earmilk has shown love for who he is and has become.

He toured extensively through 2024 and early 2025, including runs across the UK, Europe, and Australia with Fat Freddy’s Drop, and featured on the title track of their acclaimed album 'Slo Mo'!

BUY LINK / Pre Order: https://gyro.to/AllWeNeed

Artist: Louis Baker

Title: All We Need 

Release date: 3rd July, 2026

Label : Louis Baker Music

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Louis Baker - Keep On Remixes #2 (Best's Friends Remixes w/ Larse, Delfonic and Gush Collective) (Best's Friends)

If you're a fan of the label Best Works, you'll be a fan of Best Friends as the key partnership of DJ André Lodemann and A&R manager, promoter and radio host Daniel W Best put all their efforts into a mega remix package that Best Friends 'Keep On'.

Of course there's an element of sadness behind this as the Berlin links with New Zealand are ever present, particularly as Fat Freddy's Drop, Chris 'Mu' Faiumu sadly passed away on 17th July this year, RIP), which originally led to the  Louis Baker 'Keep On Remixes #1 (see review HERE).

So keen on this modern soul classic track, the team have gone extra miling with Larse (x4 - remix, extension, instrumental, extended instrumental), Deflonic (x3 - remix, extended remix and instrumental) and Gush Collective and (x4 - remix, dub,extended instrumental and dub): 16 remix version in total!

Now I know you'll be thinking that's all a bit more but wait to you here them all in a row; it's such a great track with such a great message.  It's more than fitting that Sumsuch's tribute to Alex Kentucky includes the Larse remix of the latest Colour & Pitch Sessions mix; our thoughts go out to Alex's family and friends, RIP. 

We know Delfonic from the reverent 'Roy Ayers Delfonic Reworked #1' EP on BBE and other jazzy edits.  This one's more discofied whilst Gush Collective get old skool Co-Op BRUK.

As much as you need Remixes #1, Part 2 metaphorically cleans up so keep on and stay strong with this.

BUY LINK: https://orcd.co/louisbakerbestsfriends

Artist: Louis Baker
Title: Keep On Remixes #2 (Best's Friends Remixes w/ Larse, Delfonic and Gush Collective)
Release date: 12th September, 2025
Label :Best Works
Catalog Number  BSF021
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Louis Baker - Keep On (Best Works Remixes w/ Andre Lodemann, Philippa and Hollis P. Monroe) (Best Works)

If you're a fan of the label Best Works, you'll know that the partnership of DJ André Lodemann and A&R manager, promoter and radio host Daniel W. Best down is only interested in Best Works, especially when it comes to the remix.

Blimey, it's been 15 years since Berlin's Eva Be's 'New Crack' EP on Best Works and even longer since New Zealand's Fat Freddy's Drop/Joe Dukie and DJ Fitchie relased 'The Room' on the forerunner label, Best Seven (Ed. founder member of Fat Freddy's Drop, Chris 'Mu' Faiumu sadly passed away on 17th July this year, RIP). 

So no surprised that the Berlin based label has teamed up with another New Zealand export, Louis Baker and provided a deep remix team of Lodemann himself, Philippa (NZ and last seen on 15 Years Of SlothBoogie - see review HERE) and Hollis P. Monroe.

In fact, the Hollis P. Monroe remix has some resonance with Joe Dukie's soulful vocals that make the track dreamy that you'll want to 'Keep On' and on [NB.Mr. Best first heard Louis Baker, a New Zealand-based soul singer, perform "Keep On" as the opening act for Fat Freddy's Drop at the Tempodrom in Berlin in 2024]

Lodemann weighs in with 3 versions himself, a vocal mix, radio mix and dub.  Regular readers will know what's coming next - where's the combined 20 minute version?  Smooth soul with Lonnie Liston Smith jazz-funk dreams and spiritual bells: it's going to be in all the best (no pun etc) DJ Chart lists this year.

Not to be outdone, Phillipa's 'Don't Lose The Fire' mix that pumps like a train ready for the club with the vocals sounding even more Marvin Gaye with a bit of echo and some crazy synths.

Not only that, we're promised a Part 2 with Delfonic (watch out for 'Roy Ayers Delfonic Reworked #1' coming soon on BBE), Larse and Gush Collective: got to keep on and stay strong with this.

Artist: Louis Baker
Title: Keep On (Best Works Remixes w/ Andre Lodemann, Philippa and Hollis P. Monroe) 
Release date: 1st August, 2024
Label :Best Works
Catalog Number  BWR032
Format: Digital / Bandcamp