Hak Baker

Name, where are you from?
My name is Hak Baker from Isle of Dogs, East London.

Describe your style in three words?
Nonchalant, Relaxed, Assured.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I don’t go to many gigs, to be honest, It's something I tell myself I must start doing. I recently saw Lauryn Hill perform at Boomtown. That was just an inspiration. Seeing all the pain in her face released somehow through all these stories and words. With all the visuals of her life and misconduct in America behind her. Was just a powerful thing. When she performed the track 'To Zion' at the end. Icing on the cake - Big up Loz.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
It would be Gil Scott-Heron and Mr Bob Marley. I'm trying to fit in right in between both those two legends, to become the ultimate current storyteller. You gotta levitate right between them two ain't ya know what I mean.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I’d say defo Ska and Punk. They both came at an important interval of time.
Where for whatever reason a sense of unity was needed amongst the tyranny. Music always prevails in these times. A reason for everyone to draw together. Beautiful and similar again to our current times. Ska defo represents that to me. Punk was just ferocious man. You need that shit too when you need to be heard. There are obvious other influences like reggae but that's not really a subculture anymore is it.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Bob Marley innit. Facing adversities from all angles. From his own people and country to his corporate and federal oppressors. You know death threats, shootings. Yet, still, the man persevered and sang his songs and passed his messages. I'd just like to cross-examine the man. See if we are on the same page. Did he feel the same head f*cks I feel. Did he nearly lose his mind. On the outside, he looked so calm in his proclamations. He was the heavyweight champ.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
Easily Bethnal Green Working Men's Club. The gaff is everything I stand for really. Well, it was, lol but you can still get the feel. Lads work all day and it’s a place to get together and that's what it felt like on my tour dates there. Full to the brim with Misfits with not a f*ckin' care in the world except for that moment. Double sweaty, mosh pits, pints flying all over the place, people smoking weed. That's how I NEED it. It was perfect.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Elana Tonra, from the band Daughter. She just pours her heart out man unapologetically. Man, it's awesome, learned a lot from her. She’s great.

Hak Baker is a proud East-London musician with roots in grime challenging preconceptions with his self styled G-Folk. Providing ultra-honest, relatable and raw tales of modern British life.

He headlined on day two at Fred Perry Subculture's All Our Tomorrows festival in 2019, playing alongside Master Peace, Badgirl$ & Nayana IZ. Read more about it here.