Bastian Baker is one of the biggest names in music to come out of Switzerland and has been making a name for himself in North America. If you don’t know who Bastian Baker is then read on!
Baker is a platinum selling, Swiss singer/songwriter who has won several awards for his music. To date, he has released four albums: Tomorrow May Not Be Better (2011), Noël’s Room (2012), Too Old To Die Young (2013) and Facing Canyons (2015). Facing Canyons was recorded with Jacquire King (City and Colour, Tom Waits, Kings of Leon) and charted at #2 while Too Old To Die Young charted at #1.
Baker plays sold-out shows all over the world and has shared the stage with such heavy hitters as Elton John, Mark Lanegan and Bryan Adams! He was a coach on the third season of The Voice of Belgium and has competed on Dancing With The Stars in France.
Baker is currently touring North America in support of Canada’s Queen of Country, Shania Twain, for the SHANIA NOW World Tour. The three-month tour began May 3 in Tacoma, Washington and is currently in Canada for the Canadian leg of the tour which began in Ottawa earlier this week on June 25 at the Canadian Tire Centre, The Bell Centre in Montreal on June 26 and Centre Videotron in Quebec June 28.
Baker previously toured with Twain on Canadian soil back in 2015.
Taking time out of his busy schedule, Baker spoke to Music Life Magazine about his life and his music.
Music wasn’t always in his plans as a career. The 27-year old singer had aspirations to follow in his in his father’s footsteps, a professional hockey player in Switzerland. Both hockey and music has been a part of Baker’s life since an early age.
“I started playing guitar at age 7, at the same age I started playing hockey actually. I’ve always loved both but my family background made it easier for me to get into hockey,” Baker said.
In his late teens, Baker decided to focus more on his music and recorded one of his songs, Lucky.
“The transition was smooth, I had the opportunity to record a song of mine, Lucky, sent it to the radios and they started playing it! Lucky me!”
Baker was 19 years old when Tomorrow May Not Be Better came out. Lucky was the first of three singles off the
album and it garnered a lot of attention. When asked what that was like for him back then he responded:
“It was crazy! I remember driving on my way to hockey training and hearing my song for the first time on the radio. I almost crashed my car!! Then a few weeks later I got discovered by Claude Nobs, founder of the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, so many things were happening! ”
So far this year Baker has released two singles – All Around Us and the latest Love On Fire, a song he initially wasn’t planning to write fully, let alone release it.
“I started writing Love On Fire to show a new friend what song writing was. She thought the song was good, so I finished it!”
Baker said up until now he has written all his own songs but has begun collaborating with other writers.
“I’ve just started collaborating with few great writers! Wrote 60 songs last year. A few of them with Canadian writers. I’m releasing more new music soon,” said Baker adding that he is working on his next single and hopes to have a new album out later this year or early next year.
“I’m super excited about it because it includes a lot of very new refreshing sounds that you’ve never heard on my songs before.”
Baker’s musical influences include Bruce Springsteen, Damien Rice, Mumford and Sons, Paolo Nutini and Robert Francis. And although he’s toured with a lot of great artists he said, “With Shania Twain, of course, it’s the best, she’s a friend and always gives me great feedback and advice.”
When asked how he originally hooked up with the Timmons, Ontario native Baker said, “I met her in Switzerland six years ago at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival. She was a guest and I was playing at a little event. Her husband and her loved my music and invited me to lunch at their table. The rest is history.”
Although he’s toured Canada before, in 2015 with Twain, Baker said his first time in Canada dates back further.
“My first time in Canada was in 2004. I took part in the Pee Wee hockey tournament in Quebec. I will always remember this as one of the craziest experiences of my life!”
When touring, Baker said he likes to check out the different places he plays.
“I just love to discover the places I tour! Like the locals! Always try find the best restaurant or bar. And when touring with some other artists we have some pretty crazy late night parties. I won’t give away their names!”
The SHANIA NOW World Tour rolls into Hamilton June 30 at the FirstOntario Centre. When asked if he plans to make a trip to see Niagara Falls while he’s here he said that he already saw Niagara Falls two years ago.
“It’s very beautiful, I felt inspired staring at them for a few hours on a beautiful sunny day!”
But this time around he won’t have time to check anything out after the Hamilton show.
“I have to fly back to Switzerland for the day. I have a show there, we had booked before this tour. So, it’s gonna be hectic travels!”
Baker will reconnect with Shania Twain July 3 and 4 in London at the Budweiser Gardens and July 6 and 7 in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre where the Canadian leg of the tour will end before Bastian and Twain head back to the U.S.
During Twain’s set Baker joins her on stage to sing Party For Two – a song found on her Greatest Hits album (2004) and released as the album’s lead single. It was recorded as both a pop mix with Mark McGrath and as a country version with Billy Currington.
In the meantime, Baker is enjoying the North American tour with Twain which ends August 4 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I love being the opener. I really dig the fact that people come to a show without knowing you and couple hours later they can be fans of yours. Pretty insane!”
Be sure to check out Bastian Baker opening for Shania Twain!
Connect with Bastian Baker online: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
For Bastian Baker’s tour schedule click here.
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