Music Industry News

‘Mighty Tree’ is the third single from acclaimed New Zealand soul musician Louis Baker’s forthcoming album, Trouble, due out 9 October 2026.

Following previous singles ‘All We Need’ and title track ‘Trouble’, which received international support from BBC 6 Music, Radio 2 and Jazz FM in the UK, alongside nationwide media coverage in New Zealand and top 5 chart positions on release. ‘Mighty Tree’ opens up another side of the record, revealing a more vulnerable insight into Baker’s songwriting.

Written as a way of processing the unexpected loss of a friend whose presence was profoundly felt by those around him, ‘Mighty Tree’ reflects on legacy, friendship, and the strength of a person whose contribution and spirit left an enduring mark. At its heart is the Māori proverb “Kua hinga te tōtara i te wao nui a Tāne” – “A mighty Tōtara has fallen in the great forest of Tāne”, the sentiment carried through heartfelt lyrics and a stirring string arrangement. The result is a song that moves beyond loss to consider the music, memories and people that remain, whilst giving us a deeper sense of the emotional breadth of Trouble.

“I wrote pages and pages of lyrics. In the end, I kept only the lines that felt like they mattered most. Words fail when trying to sum up a loss like this in a song” says Baker.

‘Mighty Tree’ opens with punchy 70s-style drums, driving hi-hats and spring-reverb-drenched congas, underpinned by a deep melodic bassline and warm, tape-saturated character. Swirling Uni-Vibe guitar, layered violin and soulful Wurlitzer keys add movement and texture around Baker’s vocal, which sits clearly at the centre of the arrangement.

The track features Louis Baker on vocals, guitars, bass and backing vocals, Cory Champion on drums, congas and Mica-Sonic electronic bongos, Tristan Carter on violin, Leo Coghini on upright piano and Wurlitzer, and Riki Gooch on bells. Baker also arranged the strings, bringing together a rich, organic palette that balances the warmth of the recording with the emotional weight of the song.

‘Mighty Tree’ sits at the heart of the themes explored across Trouble, an album centred on resilience, love, grief, community, social consciousness and personal growth. Across nine tracks, Baker brings together live instrumentation, organic performances and contemporary production, creating a body of work that reflects both his musical evolution and his perspective on the world around him.

‘Mighty Tree’, is available on all digital platforms from 18 September 2026 and is the third single off Louis Baker’s forthcoming album, Trouble due out on October 9th. The album release will be followed by a nationwide headline tour.

Listen to ‘MIGHTY TREE’ HERE

Louis Baker – Trouble – Album Release Tour Dates:

15 October – Pearl Diver, Dunedin *solo
16 October – Sherwood, Queenstown *solo
17 October – Rhyme X Reason, Wānaka *solo
22 October – Paisley Stage, Napier
23 October – Totara St, Mount Maunganui
29 October – Double Whammy, Auckland
30 October – Loons, Christchurch
31 October – Meow Nui, Wellington
06 November – Taranaki Arts Festival

Tickets & info at Louisbaker.co.nz

ade with the support of NZ On Air.

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Celebrated singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Louis Baker 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.