Joel Baker

Originating from Nottingham, England, Joel Baker crafts soulful folk-pop in a style echoing fellow U.K. musicians James Morrison and Paolo Nutini. Guitar playing began for him in his preteen years, when he launched a band alongside a school friend. Additional groups came later, prompting his move to London once he had obtained a political science degree. There, Twitter introductions to several producers encouraged voice lessons along with purchases of songwriting guides, after which he started booking studio time following his parliamentary workday. His opening EP, Long Sleeves, appeared in 2013 and was followed by the self-released Every Vessel in 2014. Placement on a BBC Radio 1 playlist spotlighting emerging acts led him to resign and begin touring full-time.

A further landmark arrived in 2016 with his signing to Virgin Records, which issued Bag of Dreams Mix Tape in 2017. That project contained collaborations with Maths Time Joy and rapper Abra Cadabra. Winter Dreams EP arrived in 2018 and featured the single "Rupi Kaur."