Interview: Kurt Baker
GUEST POST: Curt Vance
I recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Kurt Baker, a true power pop lifer.
We spoke about his move to New York and starting a brand new chapter in his life, along with some insight into his latest single. Baker has always been an artist in motion, and this move feels like a natural evolution, planting himself in a city built on reinvention, momentum, and big ideas.
I first became aware of Baker back in the days when he fronted The Leftovers, a band that combined breakneck energy with airtight hooks and a DIY work ethic that set them apart. Baker wasn’t just writing great songs, he was out there making sure people heard them.
Long before self-promotion became a survival skill for independent artists, Baker had it down cold, touring relentlessly, connecting directly with fans, and building a buzz the old-fashioned way, one show, one record, one conversation at a time.
That drive carried straight through to his solo career, where he really cemented his reputation as one of the most consistent voices in modern power pop.
A few years later, he released Brand New Beat, an album that instantly landed as a personal favorite and has been on steady rotation at Power Pop Overdose headquarters ever since. It’s one of those records that feels timeless without sounding retro. It’s unmistakably Kurt Baker, the kind of album you keep coming back to.
Over the years, Baker has proven himself not just as a songwriter and performer, but as a connector, collaborator, and believer in the scene itself. Now, with new surroundings and new creative fuel, he’s entering another phase of a career that’s never stood still for long.
From Maine to international stages to a fresh start in New York City, this is a conversation with someone who’s still delivering great songs, played loud, with heart.
Kurt Baker Interview
Your new single “Undertow Afterglow” was just released on on Wicked Cool Records. What was the spark for that song, and where does it fit in your current creative headspace?
Kurt Baker: I had a pretty turbulent 2025... I moved to NYC and got divorced. Obviously not a fun thing to go through, and since everything was such a transitionary time, I ended up getting into another relationship that made things even more complicated. Luckily, I’m out of that now, and also left with a large amount of song material. I started to write songs with my friend Dan Miraldi as soon as I got to NYC. He’s been great to work with and a wonderful artist himself.
“Undertow Afterglow” came out of one of the first songwriting sessions that I had with Dan once I arrived to the city. There were so many things going in my head at the time—really dealing with the ups and downs of relationships that weren’t working out, but trying to stay positive and strive for the best. I guess both tracks, “Undertow” and the B-side cover of “My Brave Face,” occupy a lot of what was in my headspace. Now that the record is out, I’ve noticed things are starting to get better!
Sonically, “Undertow Afterglow” feels both classic and forward-looking. How conscious are you of balancing timeless power pop with keeping things fresh?
Kurt Baker: Honestly, I just always try to write a great and memorable song. With this track, interestingly enough the influence was taken more from ‘90s pop rock records, but I guess I just kinda have, no pun intended, a knack for keeping things in that late ‘70s power pop vibe. The most important thing for me is that the chorus hits hard and is memorable, which I feel is a real important element when it comes to “power pop,” so I always wanna make sure I’m keeping things in the catchy department.
You recently made the move to New York. What prompted that decision, and how has the city influenced your songwriting or outlook so far?
Kurt Baker: I was offered a job to work with Wicked Cool Records and produce radio for Little Steven’s Underground Garage on SiriusXM. This all came about when my show on the Underground Garage ended. Steven wanted me in the city and coming into work at his office in Manhattan and I really couldn’t refuse the offer. I owe a lot to that guy and I’m so grateful he believes in what I do musically while also trusting me to work for him and the label.
NYC is a pretty wild place, some days you can really get caught up in the craziness, and other times you just kinda take a step back and can appreciate just how incredible this melting pot of a city is. There is something for everybody here, and with that, plenty of influences to draw on when you wanna be creative.
You’ve now added music producer to your resume. What pushed you toward producing, and what do you enjoy most about being on the other side of the glass?
Kurt Baker: I’ve always loved the “producing” element to music, but just being a songwriter and creating demos you kind of already are a music producer of sorts. If you have a vision and see it through then that is essentially producing, but then again, it’s kind of different when you are doing your own material.
What’s fun and exciting for me is to work with other artists now. I had a very great experience co-producing a Basque rock and roll band called John Dealer & The Coconuts with my friend Ola Ersford. They were a great band and working with them from the demo stage to the recording stage was just so much fun. I’d love to produce more and more artists if time permits!
As a producer, what qualities immediately grab your attention when working with an artist or band for the first time?
Kurt Baker: For me it’s really about the arrangement and the song, the vibe, and the feel. My work as a producer is much more the “organic” approach as I’m not really too well versed in audio engineering. So, with that said, it’s kind of the same deal with my own personal music... just trying to get the best performance and the best song possible.
You’ve been part of several great bands and projects over the years. How does working solo compare to collaborating in a band setting at this point in your career?
Kurt Baker: I must say that even Kurt Baker as a “solo” artist isn’t really just me by myself. I’ve been so fortunate to work with my best friends, make records with them, write tracks, play shows... so, you know, it’s me on the front cover, but I’ve got to really pay respect to my brothers and sisters that have always been there for me—in the studio, at the show, on stage, or in the audience. We are all in it together, and it works because it is a collaborative thing in the end.
Power pop has always been at the core of what you do. Why do you think the genre continues to resonate with listeners decades after its supposed “peak”?
Kurt Baker: I’m really impressed by this new generation of power pop bands that have been coming out recently—notably, Mod Lang and The Lemon Twigs—but there are a ton of awesome groups keeping power pop alive. It resonates because it’s accessible, it’s authentic music, and it’s rooted in the “pop” genre which generally means you’ve got to have great song structures, great melodies and, yeah, a great guitar lick or something to draw you in. I think the genre will never be as huge as it was back in the day, but it’s never gonna go out of style with the people that know what’s what.
Has producing other artists changed the way you approach your own recordings or arrangements?
Kurt Baker: Not so much, but it has kind of opened up my mind a bit to different sonic textures, different ways of approaching arrangements.
Looking back, what advice would you give your younger self just starting out, especially about navigating the music business while staying creatively true?
Kurt Baker: You’ve gotta stand up for yourself and believe in what you do. The music business is full of sharks and people with ulterior motives; but it’s also filled with some of the most amazing people out there. I’ve been very lucky to have worked and to continue to work with some of the best people I could imagine working with in music—and that’s because I’ve always tried to put that positive energy and enthusiasm out there. Normally, it comes back—but I’d just probably give a younger Kurt the advice to be aware of who is around you and what they want from you, and to always stick up for yourself and the music you are making.
What’s next after “Undertow Afterglow”? Should fans be expecting more singles, a full-length release, or new production projects in the near future?
Kurt Baker: I’ve got lots of songs to write and record. I’m building up an album slowly but surely. I’m not in any rush though, I want it to be the best that it can. I used to feel like I had to get songs and albums done just to get them done, but now with the perspective that I have and the experiences I’ve lived, sometimes forcing things doesn’t yield the best results and sometimes it’s better to let things come naturally. This last single for “Undertow” is really a perfect example of that, and the response so far has been nothing but great, so I’m really excited and happy about that.
Obsessed with music all is life, Curt Vance established Power Pop Overdose in 2007 in order to share that passion with others. After a brief hiatus, PPO was reformatted as a radio show in 2019. You can hear the PopCast on Saturday’s at 7PM Eastern, 4PM Pacific on Mad Wasp Radio. Archives can be heard wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple and Tune-In.
Pacific Northwest Power Pop ('75-'85)
In the late 1970s, the Pacific Northwest, especially Seattle, saw a surge of melodic, high-energy rock that would later be known as a local power pop explosion.
Stellar interview! What realy caught me was Baker's point about the music business being full of sharks but also incredible people - thats the duality that nobody talks about enough. The way he's navigating reinvention by leaning into community (working with Little Steven, collaborating on production) rather than isolating as a solo artist is super smart and something I've treid to do in my own creative work.