BAKER HOMETOWN: New York City INFLUENCES: David Bowie, Jack White, Kanye West ALBUM: The Baker EP, out now WEBSITE: bakermusic.com CHRISTOPHER BAKER WAS PLAYING CELLO BY AGE 5, eventually played Carnegie Hall and graduated from Harvard University. Since transitioning his career path from classical cellist and vocalist to electro-pop singer, he has earned rave reviews with his cover of Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box.” Since releasing a seven-track EP, Baker has also emerged as a viral sensation. Baker’s debut video, “Echo,” has received more than 300,000 views on YouTube. Baker’s ambition is to create the “catchiest, most danceable pop album ever,” and he’s now collaborating with producers Cutfather and Damon Shape (Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Lopez). Their guidance affirmed his decision to JUNE 2012pursue ISSUEa pop-music career path. “Pop has always resonated with me,” MMUSICMAG.COM Baker says, “and it was the people I met in the studio who helped me lano figure out why. I’ve been lucky so far, and feel blessed to have met A such a diverse and talented creative group.” Bryan HALEY REINHART HOMETOWN: Wheeling, Ill. INFLUENCES: The Beatles, Nina Simone, Tony Bennett ALBUM: Listen Up!, out now WEBSITE: haleyreinhart.com AMERICAN IDOL ALUM HALEY REINHARt—wHO FINISHED third in season 10—recorded her debut album Listen Up! following the show’s international tour. “I wanted to wait till I could put all my focus and energy into the album and be very hands-on with every single aspect,” she says. “It was really important to me that the record have an organic, soulful sound that reflects the kind of artist I want to be.” Reinhart co-wrote nine of the 10 tracks on Listen Up! and collaborated with leading writer-producers including Mike Elizondo and Busbee. The result was a mainstream pop album “with elements of soul, rock, R&B and even some jazz,” she says. Reinhart’s parents are both musicians, and she credits their eclectic taste for rousing her own curiosity. “I’m lucky to have grown up in a olff W house where good music was always playing,” she says. “It’s a huge part of what makes me the artist I am.” Christine 17 M mag 20_cs6.indd 17 7/9/12 12:19 AM JUNE 2012 M MUSIC & MUSICIANS MAGAZINE MARCH/APRIL 2011 M MUSIC & MUSICIANS MAGAZINE.