Louis Baker releases new single Mighty Tree ahead of album Trouble

New Zealand soul artist Louis Baker has returned with his latest single, a deeply personal track written to process grief and loss ahead of a major album campaign. Released on 18 September 2026, the song follows earlier promotional singles and arrives as a precursor to his forthcoming full-length body of work, marking a significant emotional milestone in a career built steadily over more than a decade.

According to reporting from Scoop and Music and Gigs, the new single was born from the unexpected passing of a close friend. At the emotional core of the composition sits the traditional Māori proverb Kua hinga te tōtara i te wao nui a Tāne, which translates to A mighty Tōtara has fallen in the great forest of Tāne. The phrase is customarily invoked in Aotearoa when a person of profound significance passes away. Baker utilized this poignant imagery to anchor a song that deals frankly with legacy, friendship, and enduring spirit.

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"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"

Louis Baker, via Scoop

The sonic palette of the track reflects a deliberate, organic approach. Outlets note that the production features punchy seventies-style drums, driving hi-hats, spring-reverb-drenched congas, a deep melodic bassline, and warm tape-saturated character. Swirling Uni-Vibe guitars, layered violins, and soulful Wurlitzer keys complement Baker's central vocal performance. Baker handled vocals, guitars, bass, and backing vocals, alongside string arrangements, while collaborating with instrumentalists Cory Champion, Tristan Carter, Leo Coghini, and Riki Gooch.

'Mighty Tree' acts as the third single lifted from Baker's upcoming debut record, Trouble, according to Music and Gigs and Scoop. Previous releases from the project—namely 'All We Need' and the title track—found considerable traction, securing top five chart positions in New Zealand alongside international backing from BBC 6 Music, Radio 2, and Jazz FM in the United Kingdom. Spanning nine tracks, the upcoming record explores themes of resilience, love, grief, community, social consciousness, and personal growth.

Music and Gigs highlights that Baker has built his reputation the slow, credible way since the early 2010s from Wellington, the capital city of Aotearoa (New Zealand). Scoop adds that celebrated international figures and media outlets have previously shown appreciation for his work, including India.Arie, who remarked Louis Baker, you sing my soul, alongside coverage from Rolling Stone, Clash Magazine, and Earmilk. This independent artist profile frames his journey toward a major full-length statement.

What happens next for the artist involves taking the new material directly to audiences. Following the arrival of the full-length record on 9 October 2026, Baker will embark on a National Album Release Headline Tour. The itinerary spans intimate solo shows in locations such as Dunedin, Queenstown, and Wānaka, followed by full-band dates scheduled for Napier, Mount Maunganui, Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and the Taranaki Arts Festival through October and November 2026.