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A New York Times survey found Switzerland to be the "Best Country in the World" in 2017 and Swiss singer/songwriter Bastian Baker won't argue. His native country allowed him to go down to Montreux with "Funky Claude," play pro hockey, foxtrot on Dancing With The Stars (France), perform for Hilary Clinton and earn the title of platinum-selling recording artist. He's shared his positive demeanor and lighthearted songs with the world, performing over 850 shows in 40 different countries - including Shania Twain's ongoing Now world tour - and finding himself a little along the way. Always eager for a new adventure, the 27-year-old set his sights on uncharted territory in the U.S. and landed in the city that has always fascinated him: Nashville. He makes his official American debut today with the release of his self-titled fourth studio album, available across all digital retailers now.
Bastian Baker is available for streaming and purchase HERE.
The genre-defying project was brought to life by producers and songwriters around the globe including GRAMMY Award-winner Jacquire King (Shawn Mendes, Niall Horan, Kings of Leon, Bon Jovi). Bastian has penned a catalog of over 60 songs while in Nashville and holds a co-writing credit on each track of the new album.
He shares, "I don't look at this record as my fourth album because it feels like my first in so many ways. I've grown a lot both personally and musically the last few years and that has profoundly influenced my sound, the way I look at life and my purpose in it. Music is about bringing people together in good times and bad. This is truly the best job in the world." He recently shared with HuffPost, "My goal is to always have people leave my shows with a smile on their face and a better next day ahead. That's what I hope my record will do for them, too."
He had the chance to dazzle nearly a million people with his "confident stage presence and pleasant voice" (Nashville Scene) during this summer's US leg of Shania Twain's Now world tour. He had no issue keeping all eyes on him with his acoustic opening set, leaving critics raving he won the crowd over with his "voice handed down by some deity or other" (Popdust) and "witty banter" (Music Mayhem Magazine). The ladies line up outside his merch table each night to meet and take a selfie with the "charismatic," (Rolling Stone) "blue-eyed hunk" (Billboard) before he returns to the stage to duet with Shania for two songs.
A lot of lessons the "Swiss troubadour" (Boston Globe) has learned are showcased on the new album, including some he's gained from his tour mate, the reigning "Queen of Country Pop." He shared withSounds Like Nashville, "an artist doesn't need to pick a particular lane when it comes to music. After all, music is the universal language." While he speaks 5 languages fluently, he's always opted to write and sing in English. His "Ed Sheeran meets Keith Urban" vocals (Hollywood Life) incorporate multiple elements - pop, folk, country, alternative, singer/songwriter - on this passion project. He shared with The Times, "That's what's good about touring with Shania. She's not country, she's not pop, she's not rock, she's all of it. We're the same that way."
Bastian Baker's track list includes the previously released "melancholy tale of love and loss, hope and tragedy," (Parade) "Six," the "sexy" (Hollywood Life) "Stay," "an uplifting tune that acknowledges the love that's prevalent in an often tumultuous world," (Billboard) "All Around Us," "Love on Fire" and his first country track, "Blame It On Me." He told The Tennessean, "the whole Nashville experience has been pretty sensational." Fellow Switzerland native and captain of the Nashville Predators, Roman Josi is partly responsible for Bastian's recruitment to Music City. Josi even booked his first gig in town at the Douglas Corner Café.
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