Nina Baker – ‘Quite Frankly’

With distinctive vocals and lyrics that touch on love and being loved, ‘Quite Frankly’ is, quite frankly, exquisite.

A classically trained pianist, Nina Baker was handpicked by BBC Introducing to attend their 2013 Master Class – and beat over 500 others into the final round. She was also runner-up in MTV’s ‘Brand New for 2013’ unsigned competition. Not bad!

‘Quite Frankly’ is Baker’s debut album. Opening with ‘Single Bed’, a feisty relationship ending song, it leads into ‘Bruising’, a more sombre song, about the demise of a relationship, and has received extensive airplay, including BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. ‘Breaking Every Rule’ – a more classical song – gives Nina the opportunity to allow her voice to soar – full vocals and piano-led, it’s a gorgeous song and the highlight of the album.

There’s something for everyone in the thirteen tracks on ‘Quite Frankly’ – ‘Tell Me’, is a psychedelic dream, while ‘Clown’, with its poignant lyrics, such as,

“I’m killing my well-being and the world is clearly seeing/that the thought that fills my mind are all the things I left behind”

…is all at once melancholic angst and pain, evoking loneliness through the lyrics.  The entire album feels very personal – when listening one gets the impression that we’re note quite supposed to be here, that Nina is singing her thoughts and ideas to herself, there’s a feeling of almost voyeurism. Dedicated to her late grandfather Frank Baker, it’s beautiful, ethereal, evocative…quite frankly, a lovely album.

‘Quite Frankly’ is available on Amazon and iTunes.