3 Must-Hear Songs by Julien Baker

Most might know Julien Baker as one-third of boygenius, her indie rock supergroup with Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus.

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But Baker has also released three solo albums. Her music can be intimate and loud. Searching and revealing. Some of the recordings rely only on Baker’s voice and cathedral guitar. While others expand into a full band setting.

Her songs are at home in indie folk, emo, pop, and punk. Like her bandmates in boygenius, Baker represents a new generation of confessional songwriters who appear to be descendants of Elliott Smith. But you can also hear the influence of emo bands like My Chemical Romance and Death Cab for Cutie in Baker’s voice.

It’s all an attempt to understand the human condition. And Baker often writes with religious imagery. Whether she’s appealing to some higher power, or hoping to discover a power within herself, the songs remain in constant pursuit of redemption.

Meanwhile, Baker’s new country duo album—Send a Prayer My Way—with Torres arrives on April 18. To get you in the mood, here are three songs to introduce you to Baker’s solo work.

“Turn Out the Lights” from Turn Out the Lights (2017)

This song describes the restless hours in the middle of the night when one stares at the ceiling in overwhelming silence. Baker said it’s confronting the parts of her she hasn’t “come to terms with yet.” Using a hole-in-the-wall metaphor, Baker sings about being comfortable with the way things are. Put it off until tomorrow. She’ll get around to it. Her voice reaches a cathartic peak when she acknowledges, There’s no one left between myself and me.

And I’d never do it, but it’s not a joke
I can’t tell the difference when I’m all alone
Is it real or a dream, which is worse?
Can you help me? I just wanted to go to sleep

“Appointments” from Turn Out the Lights (2017)

Writing “Appointments” helped Baker manage her relationship with herself and others. It’s searching for who we are and putting that discovery against the person we’re perceived as. The title is a reminder to keep what’s scheduled with her therapist—to stay accountable and continue working on her mental health. Her guitars are treated with massive reverb, and the production is both ethereal and minimalist. A cosmic tumbling, like it’s hurling toward bliss. The track was born from improvisation, where she looped layers of guitar chords using effects pedals. Improvisation is a kind of discovery, too. Excavating, perhaps, to reveal what’s already there.   

You don’t have to remind me so much
How I disappoint you
It’s just that I talked to somebody again
Who knows how to help me get better
Until then I should just try not to miss any more
Appointments

“Faith Healer” from Little Oblivions (2021)

On paper, “Faith Healer” addresses the moment faith collides with reason. However, Baker wasn’t only talking about preachers, shamans, etc. She said, “I think that ‘Faith Healer’ is a song about vices, both the obvious and the more insidious ways that they show up in the human experience.” People find escape in all sorts of ways. Religion or addiction might leave one feeling empty. What happens when this remedy no longer works? I’ll believe you if you make me feel something, she sings. Christianity and addiction are regular topics in Baker’s songwriting, and those realities crash into each other on “Faith Healer.”

Come put your hands all over me
A snake oil dealer
I’ll believe you if you make me feel something

Photo by James Klug/Getty Images