SAKER – MIND GAMES (2026)
Most well-known for his collaboration with singer-songwriter Raine Harla, musician Sam Baker breaks out on his own with the solo project SAKER. Tending to live within the realm of alternative rock and indie-rock, Baker slammed his guitar with Radiohead-influenced force; however, this new direction sees him shift from alternative rock to electronic pop. Tackling shimmering synths and bold beats, the UK-based musician brings a trip-hop flair to our ears while retaining the darker, weightier themes associated with acts like Radiohead and The Smiths. Join us as we delve into SAKER’s debut single, ‘MIND GAMES’.
After a quick listen to Raine Harla’s singles ‘Pretty’, ‘Sicker’ and ‘I Hate You More’ – all featuring Baker on guitar – I discovered not only a talented female vocalist, but an insatiable guitarist. Hard-hitting grunge or acoustic indie, the polished performance makes you realise you’re listening to someone special each time. Then, hitting the play button on ‘MIND GAMES’, I found another side to the talented guitarist.
Composed and produced by SAKER, listening to ‘MIND GAMES’ is like setting off on a glistening sonic river. Soft lights bounce off the dark, glassy surface, and you find yourself travelling through a wistful musical fog. Nice, easy, and oddly peaceful; then there’s a bit of an off-kilter sweep that takes you from chilled-out soothing to an apprehensive obscurity where you honestly aren’t sure what the next second holds.
The binding of electronic beats and silvery synths leans toward a cinematic, atmospheric, kind of trippy soundscape. Yet, it is not the melody that truly captures me. For me, the siren-like softness of Harla’s vocals slipping along obscure instrumentation finds that line between “now this is interesting” and “what exactly is this”. Obtuse, eclectic and experimental, ‘MIND GAMES’ is something new but despite its newness, a comforting familiarity lingers.
Sam Baker has the look of that nice kid who lives at the end of the street who you’ll greet, then just carry on walking, but when he picks up his guitar and/or keyboard, he’s the one that stands out amidst the crowd. Highly recommended!!
Find out more about SAKER on his Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
Find out more about Raine Harla on her Spotify.
