Think he looks like a star? Wait until you hear his music. BAKER channelling vintage hollywood. Photo by Bryan Alano Photography.

Sometimes the most amazing outcomes have the humblest beginnings.

In our particular case, this piece started out by a simple email from BAKER’s, PR Managers’, assistant.

“We represent an artist that has a great sense of style and we think would be a great match to your online magazine.  You have a music section right?”

Right.

BAKER bringing his music to the people. Image from Bryan Alano Photography.

So we performed our due diligence and checked out his official website http://www.bakermusic.com/ to see what we were getting ourselves into.

Upon review, we thought to ourselves: Great website.  Good looking dude.  Nice sense of style.

But the thing that really got us interested was this song:

BAKER – ALL I’M GONNA SAY by BAKERmusicofficial

We actually listened to it a few times and the main reason this song piqued our interest was because it sounded like something which was already getting airplay on the radio.

But it wasn’t.

So we thought to ourselves, he’s got the look, he’s got a classic sense of style and he’s got the music.  Why wouldn’t ESM take this opportunity to feature what could possibly be the next big thing?

BAKER turns down modelling offers to pursue his passion for music. Image from Bryan Alano Photography.

As we dug deeper, we found out more information that got us excited about featuring BAKER.

• His family owns and operates one of the oldest men’s custom clothiers in the United States
• His dad races vintage Porsches on the East Coast
• He’s a Harvard grad who is also a classical cellist

Finally, he has songs like this:

BAKER – CONVINCE ME by BAKERmusicofficial

For us here at ESM, BAKER’s music is the amalgamation of style, the best in pop music and a persona that has every possibility to become very successful in the music industry.

Right now, it’s just a matter of time and exposure.  And we’ve got #2 handled.

Can't take a better photo than this. Vintage car, sunset on PCH and the next big thing in music. BAKER photo by Bryan Alano photography.

Finally, it’s hard for us to write this article without talking about the photo shoot and video interview.

We collaborated with BAKER’s team and came up with the concept of a modern interpretation of a James Dean photo shoot.  Over the course of a few weeks of continuous preparation, the final product is something we were very happy with.

We were even fortunate enough to use a vintage Speedster replica from the folks at TruSpeed Motorsports for the shoot.

This photo looks like it could have been taken in 1955. Classic style never goes out of fashion. BAKER image from Bryan Alano Photography.

So in the future when you hear one of BAKER’s songs on the radio, turn it up and remember you heard it here first on ESM.

Like we said in the beginning, sometimes the most amazing things come from the humblest beginnings.

Want more BAKER?  Check out the behind-the-scenes video and interview below:

BAKER behind the scenes video and interview with Essential Style for Men from Essential Style on Vimeo.

Special thanks to Bryan Alano (http://www.bryanalano.com/) for the photos and video for the shoot, Milsa Watson (stylist), Megumi Wakabayashi (hair and makeup), Christine Kim, TruSpeed Motorsports and the entire BAKER management team for helping make this photo shoot happen.

BAKER looking forward into the future. Image from Bryan Alano Photography.

For more photos, music and information on BAKER, you can check out his official site at http://www.bakermusic.com.

Want more photos from the shoot?  Check out the gallery below:

Life's Good by PHAZE. High five to Zac on the drums.

Isn’t it weird how you come across new music?

Most of the time it’s probably because you heard it on the radio.  On occassion, you’ll get recommendations from friends.

In today’s case, our friend just happened to play the drums for the music video. 

Check out “Life’s Good” by PHAZE.  The song is pretty good, the drummer is our friend Zac Blakeley and we think you will enjoy the video below.

Just disregard the fact the artist looks like he is 16.

For more information about PHAZE, you can check out his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phaze-Music/161230240595804 and his YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/SavagePhaze?feature=watch.

In these days of the post-Napster era, we’re lucky if we see an artist reach album number three on a major label. And this is not due to the quality of music these days (or is it?), but rather due to the short attention span of an iTunes generation of listeners accustomed to 30 second snippets and mixtapes. With that being said, enter Chicago MC, Common and his ninth studio album The Dreamer/The Believer.

The Dreamer/The Believer on paper sounds like a wet dream for the die-hard Common fan. The production is handled primarily by No ID who produced Common’s now classic 1994 LP, Resurrection. To some this may appear to be a ploy to create hype and monetize nostalgia, but upon first listen it’s evident that the Common/No ID collaboration doesn’t disappoint although not quite a classic.

On the opener (half title cut), The Dreamer, Common flows effortlessly over a vocal sample stating, “A legend like John….Lennon, I’m a dreamer/Tried to f*ck the world but she only let me finger.” Common quickly lets you know he’s not holding back with witty wordplay nor censorship this time around. Poet, Maya Angelou, closes the track with a positive poem about “dreaming big” like ancestors of the past thus creating a dichotomy that pulls you in on the most basic human element of positive versus negative.

Common shines brightest on Blue Sky where he rhymes, “Daylight beams/night life schemes/this is my Inception, I’m writin’ my dreams” while effortlessly weaving in and out of a No ID crafted Electric Light Orchestra sample atop huge 808 kick drums. This song in particular works well due to the fact that the singing vocal hook can appeal to an audience wider than the core hip hop fan while at the same time not alienating them. Whether created purposely or out of inspiration, producer No ID managed to walk that line perfectly. The album as a whole doesn’t feel like they’re aiming for sales or to capture the ears of as many listeners as possible, which is refreshing.

Another standout cut is the reggae tinged Raw as Common tells a vivid story of picking up the girl that has caught his eye while avoiding the obnoxious, guy that had one too many drinks. “Seen a girl she had bottom like a spea-ker / Wanna put hands on her like a prea-cher” Upon first listen, it’s obvious that Raw will be released as a single but doesn’t stray away from the album’s core objective of being a ‘classic’ style hip hop album.

The Dreamer… is by no means a perfect project. The album almost manages to fall on its face on dull tracks such as Celebrate and the forcefully positive/preachy Windows. Common is well known for his positive hip hop and is held in high regards for it, but this time around (on Windows especially) it feels forced to the point where you have to press forward (or skip for you iPod kids). Luckily these two lacklustre songs are sandwiched back to back making the press of that forward button feel that much more guilt-free.

All in all, Common manages to deliver what his fans have been waiting for to the best of his ability. The Dreamer manages to deliver 12 songs without conforming to current trends of auto tune or monotonous subject matter. Common managed to cover everything from machismo/cocky MC to positive, uplifting tracks on the album like The Believer and Pops Belief. If you long for a solid hip hop album, then this is a release that you need in your life this New Year.

RATING – 3.75/5 

The mixed tape. Still in full effect even if tapes no longer exist. Image courtesy of iStockphoto/Thinkstock.

For those of us who still remember using cassette tapes, we truly remember what it took to make a legit “mixed tape”.

Back in the day, you couldn’t just download the songs.  To make a mixed tape, you had to either:

• Record the song from a record player (wow going ultra old-school)
• Record the song from a CD which you purchased (yeah, actually purchasing an entire CD)
• Record the song from the (gasp!) radio

In fact, to finally get all your songs together took a few days.  You couldn’t just whip one out in an hour or two.

But that is what made the mixed tape so special.

It was truly a labor of love to have the best songs for the moment playing in your car (probably on a Kenwood or Pioneer with detachable faceplate).

Even with the advent of digital music, we are glad mixed tapes (albeit in a different format) still exist.  In fact, we’re glad people still call them “mixed tapes” even if they are on CD’s or a digital storage device.

In the hip-hop world, the mixed tape has found new meaning as well.  It is a way for new and old artists to release underground music to their fans.  It is also a way for multiple artists to collaborate without having to put out a traditional album.

So without further ado, here are the 5 reasons why we love mixed tapes:

Reason #5: They make the best gifts

Now that you can download music and have your favorite music in one place in seconds, mixed tapes are still awesome gifts to give to someone.  From that special person to your best friend, taking the time to put together a list of music for them is a very personable gift which doesn’t cost a lot of money.

Mixed tapes say, “Hey, I am willing to waste half an hour putting this thing together for you.  Let’s hang out sometime.”

Reason #4: They can represent a significant time in your life

Everyone reading this has probably had a vacation or summer or even night out that was exceptionally memorable.

During that event there are probably songs that were playing on the radio or in the car or at the party which were blasting over and over again.  Why not put a mixed tape together that helps capture those moments forever?

In fact, why not give a copy to all your friends and family that shared that moment with you?

Reason #3: It gives musicians a new way to express themselves

I love how previously unknown artists can now express themselves through a mixed tape.  With the latest and greatest in easily accessible technology, almost anyone can put together music that is waiting to be discovered.

Reason #2: You can tell someone you love them without saying “I love you”

For those more verbally challenged, you can express your love to that special someone by throwing down your ultimate love song collection and giving them a mixed tape.

Whether they are soft rock hits or Metallica or R&B, you can test the waters by putting a mixed tape together.

Reason #1: They are easy to make

As we mentioned before, putting music together nowadays is a piece of cake.  In fact, finding that perfect song while you are in the car doesn’t require you to fast forward the cassette player, stop it and hope you land on that perfect spot before the song.

“I have the perfect song!” (fast forward, play incorrect song, fast forward again, went past the song, rewind tape, middle of song, rewind again, too far back, fast forward, play)

So the next time you have a phenomenal experience with friends, family and loved ones, think about making a mixed tape to commemorate the event for eternity.

Just make sure you handwrite that album cover to ensure the mixed tape is as legit as possible.  Label it something like “{Your Name Here}’s ultimate love songs 2011″.

Screen shot of Mayer Hawthorne's video for "The Walk".

Don’t be ashamed to admit you liked the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

We loved it.

That’s why we’re glad Mayer Hawthorne did his take on the movie in his video for The Walk.

For anyone not familiar with Mayer Hawthorne, here’s a quick excerpt from his Wiki:

Mayer Hawthorne (born Andrew Mayer Cohen on February 2, 1979) is an American singer, producer, songwriter, arranger, audio engineer, DJ, rapper and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The stage name “Mayer Hawthorne” is a combination of Cohen’s real middle name (Mayer) and the name of the street he grew up on in Michigan (Hawthorne Rd). “Mayer Hawthorne and The County” is a name Cohen often uses when performing or recording as Mayer Hawthorne with other artists. In Cohen’s words, “The County” is basically anyone who plays an instrument or sings on his album. It’s also his band when he performs live. Cohen also performs and records hip hop under the stage name Haircut, sometimes as part of the groups Now On & Athletic Mic League.

To the person that is managing his Wiki page, you can also add “gunslinger who shoots girls in the butt” to his list of accomplishments.

For more videos from Mayer Hawthorne, you can check out his official YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmfcYli6vV4&feature=player_embedded.  You can also check out his official site at http://mayerhawthorne.com/.

If you haven’t heard as of yet, there has been tremendous buzz surrounding the release of the super duo album, Kanye West and Jay-Z, “Watch the Throne” and all hip hop fans have been watching the throne closely. Personally I’m always skeptical about any type of super duo/awesome team coming together to do anything. Of course it always sounds good on paper, but that doesn’t equate to chemistry. I really only go out of my way to listen to something of this nature if four of my friends tell me I need to hear it (has to be exactly four, not three).

Well, at midnight (last night) the album was released and word on the street is that the record went platinum already. But Fresh, we don’t care about sales…is the album the best thing since the invention of donut holes? In short, no. But it is a very solid album. They managed to pick great beats (you hear that Nas?) and the lyrical content was honest, socially relevant, and strong. That doesn’t happen often in hip hop these days which is ironic since it is supposed to act as the voice of a culture. The only weak point of the album is that I felt their chemistry was “off” on certain songs but I sum that up to them probably not recording all of the album together in the same room.

This will get a repeat listen from me but don’t take my word for it (even though you should). You be the judge…

For the essential man, style is the number one priority on the list when making decisions….ok, maybe number two or three but its up there. ESM would like to introduce you to The Whaletone piano. Throw one of these badboys in your living room and you’ll rank up there with James Bond on the cool-o-meter (sidenote: please make sure your living room is big enough to accommodate other furniture AS WELL as the piano if you do decide to purchase).

What’s dope about the Whaletone is that its ‘guts’ consists of a Roland RD-700 digital stage piano (*audiophile/nerd alert) equipped with MIDI ports, headphone out, and the option of a CD player just to name a few. And let’s not stop there, this pretty lady also comes with B&W loudspeakers and a 4 channel amp built in! Are you as excited as we are right now? Why not? I bet you Robert is….

Designer, Robert Majkut, says the idea came to him in a dream….no, really a dream.

“Although I was moved by the dream, I did not appreciate its meaning at first. I realized how little had changed in this instrument over so many years. Intrigued with this discovery, I began to chase the dim picture trapped in my memory. At first, my mind lead me astray, struggling with habits, experience, intuition and beliefs. It took me a long time to sketch the form, which came across as something vaguely imitating the vision concealed in my mind. And then, one day, while working on this concept already a bit obsessively, my mind unlocked and my hand drew the piano from my dream. I immediately recognized it. I instantly knew I got it.”

So how much will this dream set you back? We don’t know yet….nor do we care. You can’t put a price on style.

For more information about The Whaletone Piano and Robert Majkut, you can check out their official site online.

What do you get when you combine a trumpet, with a synth player and a soulful Lithuanian? Nope….guess again. That’s right! You get BrassBastardz. Daiva and band describe their sound as “colorful, energetic and constantly changing.” And they are right to say the least. The unique textures created from a horn and synthetic keys make their music stand out from anything you’ve ever heard in pop music.

They’re also up for an award at the Bing sponsored People’s Music Awards this Saturday which is the first award show for unsigned bands. I’ll be a bit surprised if they don’t snag an award in the dance/electronica category.

Brass Bastardz are definitely a fun, pop act to watch in the next couple of years. Remember where you heard it first…or else, we’ll find you and remake you.

I have an obsession with finding new acts and spreading the word about them as if my life will end if I do otherwise. Enter Sid & Sigala, a barely 21 yr. old pop duo from London. What separates them from all the other millions of bands out there (including the one your mom is in)? Well, they can actually write good songs and play their instruments very well….a combination you rarely find especially at that age.

What initially drew me to them was their ability to break down walls of genre by carefully (not forcefully) combining elements of electro-pop, rock, funk, urban, and trance. Sounds like a train wreck on paper but to the ear its eargasmic (see what I did there?). The video above is footage from a recent London gig that they were able deliver to their fans no more than a day after the show. Its good to see young artists with a DIY mentality.

Its safe to say these guys are one to watch in the coming years and please remember who told you first….that’s right, ESM baby. “Take that, take that” *P-Diddy voice*

Sid & Sigala blog: blog.sidandsigala.co.uk
Free Sid & Sigala music: sidandsigala.bandcamp.com

Because muffins and music are like yin and yang. Audiomuffin.com.

Like muffins?

What about new music?  What about the newest, illest, well-archived collection of new music?

One of our contributors, (let’s call him Frank for this conversation) started this website a few years back with some friends to showcase some of the newest music to hit the streets.

Since then it has become a go-to source for music dorks (er, afficionados) and new bands looking to get exposure everywhere.

If you like music (and I am assuming you do) you gotta check out the Audio Muffin at http://audiomuffin.com/ to get your much needed new music (and muffin) fix.  It’s got great writing, great music and a white dog wearing sunglasses.

Now if I can only convince Frank to push through with my suggestion for the “Hot Muffin of the Week”/”Hot Girls with Muffins”, as a sister program to our Dime Piece articles.  I think that may sell like - dare we say, hotcakes?

I’m coming out of the vintage closet (and I’m loving every minute of it) with this one, but can we speak frankly for a second?

That iPod dock you’ve got in your bedroom just isn’t cutting it. I know it’s probably a recognizable name brand, likely doubles as your alarm clock and takes up an entire 8″ x 3″ amount of space on your bedside table.. but it’s not sexy. It’s not well built, and in about five years you’re either going to donate it to your youngest cousin or chuck in the trash after listening to it just a handful of times.

Why we do this to our music (and style) I’ll never know, but I’ve been guilty of it as well. We spend thousands dialing in that 7.1 DTS surround system for our media centers, then literally live with the crappiest of options in the room we arguably spend the most time in.

Just take a step back and ask yourself a simple question: “What Would Steve McQueen Choose?“  The POS above, or this:

I think the answer is obvious, but you might be pleasantly surprised just how affordable one of these pieces from the late 60′s-early 80′s can be; if you don’t believe me just go check out Ebay and search for “vintage receiver”.

I know, I know.. most of us under 40 are probably wondering what the hell I’m suggesting here- do I actually want you to raid your parents attic and fish out that old receiver or amp? Yes, because that’s exactly what I did:

My Marantz. You can have it after you pry it from my cold, dead hands.

It took a little bit of elbow grease to remove the decades of dust and grime, half a second to source replacement lights, but now I’ve got a total rock star playing my favorite tunes at night.  The stainless steel, the blue dial and the positive “clicks” I get when adjusting it are way more fun than anything made today, and I really just had to add an iPod adapter and some mid-range speakers.

I bet you never thought a woman would sleep with you for your stereo. This might prove you wrong.

This era was easily a high-water mark of stereo design- the boring black/grey boxes they hawk today at Best Buy just can’t compare, and would you really ever consider that iPod dock after checking these out?

Personally, I was used to picturing one of these receivers surrounded by shag carpeting and polyester, but put one in a modern room and it’s easily a focal point that you want to stare at and interact with. I’m far from an audiophile but as an added bonus I now look like one.. and more importantly I’m now enjoying what I hear (and see) instead of just cringing and shutting it off.

Hat Tip to the various posters of AudioKarma.org who have assembled a huge amount of information on almost every receiver/amp on the planet. Make sure to scour their site if you have any questions!

Matt Goss image from mattgoss.biz. Check out the red pocket square.

I got a chance to check out Matt Goss’ show last weekend at Caesar’s Palace and it’s definitely worth the money for the tickets.  Mr. Goss has some ESM sensibilities, some good music and some very hot backup dancers.

Chill out at the show with a glass of scotch or a killer martini and you’ll be transported back to the rat pack days of old Las Vegas.

Although Mr. Goss isn’t that old, he’s got a killer old school classic sense of style.  Check his show out the next time you happen to be in Vegas.

For more information about Matt Goss, you can visit his official site online at http://www.mattgoss.biz/.