Alyssa Baker may not have graduated high school yet, but she is already taking some smart steps in the music industry. Last year, the Vancouver-based musician released an EP entirely filled with her own songs.
“I realized writing is a really big part of the music industry,” said the 17 year-old.
Writing isn’t a new venture for Baker, however. The musician remembers writing “some really silly songs about friendship” around the same time she started singing lessons at age six. That being said, Baker didn’t start writing seriously until age 12 or 13 and she then spent a few years creating music in different genres until she found her fit.
Baker describes the sound she has settled into as “indie quirky pop with folk influences.” The combination, she said, suits her self-given criteria of having something that is “unique” but has “mass appeal.”
This is the same sound showcased on Baker’s self-titled storytelling EP, which is a collection of four songs that follows the course of a relationship.
“We narrowed it down to the ones we though were the strongest,” she said of the songs.
While Baker mentioned she would eventually love to record a full-length album, the young musician also said she would like to take some post-secondary courses focusing on the music industry. In particular, Baker said she is interested in learning the business side of things in order to become a stronger artist.
In the meantime, the young musician has taken other steps to get her name out. Last year, Baker had her first tour throughout B.C. and Alberta. She also made it to the second round of CBC’s Searchlight competition with her song Timebomb and took a trip to Nashville, which she had heard was a “really big writing city,” to look for industry connections.
This month, Baker will continue showcasing her work, only this time on Vancouver Island.
Baker will perform on Friday, April 17 at the Smoke ’n’ Water Restaurant in Nanoose Bay from 7-11 p.m. She said she will play a selection of new originals, like her EP songs and a few covers. There is no cover charge or tickets for the event and the kitchen will be open during the performance.