Music Box season 2, session #16: Hak Baker

Singer-songwriter is preparing to release his debut EP

Roisin O'Connor
Music Correspondent
Tuesday 17 October 2017 11:25 BST
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Music Box #16: Hak Baker

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Hak Baker is one of our favourite artists to emerge this year.

The 26-year-old used to be part of grime collective B.O.M.B Squad as a teenager, before he picked up the guitar and began writing his own music.

Earlier this year we premiered his track "7AM", which he performed for his Music Box session - along with his first single "Conundrum" and upcoming new single "Like It Or Lump It".

Each Music Box session is special in its own way and this one is no different. Hak's sparse, observational songwriting shines through beautifully, with his gruff vocals sung gently over the acoustic guitar.

There's a strange sadness to "7AM" that contrasts wonderfully with the humour and thoughtfulness of the nostalgic reflection in "Conundrum".

He explained of "7AM": "This is the era of the misfitted people. The video is an expression of how they have fun only to eventually, inevitably deal with their own issues and insecurities on their own; in their own world using their own methods. We are all escapists at the end of the day."

Hak is currently preparing to release his debut EP Misfits on15 November and is setting out on a UK tour from early 2018. Check out his Music Box session (above).

Hak Baker's latest single "Like It Or Lump It" is released on 27 October - his debut EP Misfits is out on 15 November

Thanks to: Hak Baker, Ash Houghton, Sennheiser and The Independent video team

Check out all the latest Music Box sessions here

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