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What if a passionate writer, performer and pianist jumped around from synthpop to high-energy emo to musical theatre? Ranging from the quirky to the desperately serious, Zaq Baker dares to ask.

Zaq Baker’s original music was just featured in film How to Break a World Record (Apple TV, Amazon Prime), and his quintet recently performed on Art-a-Whirl’s biggest stage, Liquid Zoo. His songs have been broadcast on internationally recognized 89.3 The Current, he just appeared on Minnesota Tonight! as talk show entertainer and musical guest. Most importantly, his Instagram stories have been re-shared by U-Haul, La Croix, Grainbelt, Boy Meets Girl, The Academy Is..., Marigold (MN), Owamni, and more. 

In exploring love, mental illness, and growing up, Zaq Baker and his material have been described as “really whiny” and “like the male Taylor Swift.” Zaq’s albums, streaming everywhere, include:

  • If It’s Not Zaq Baker Live at the Green Room, I’m Not Going (2023)

  • Solarbaby (EP, 2023)

  • This Time It’s Personal (2022)

  • Maddie’s Delivery Service (EP, 2021)

  • Cardio (2020)

  • Getting Younger (2018)

  • Housewarming (EP, 2017)

Zaq’s standalone singles:

  • “theatre girls will break your heart” (premiere) (feat. Corzine) (2024)

  • “spearmint” (neon redux) (2024)

  • “jetlag” (feat. Maria Coyne) (2024)

  • “treadmill” (feat. Corzine) (2024)

  • “Nervous (Anne’s Audition Song) (feat. Anne Brown)” (2023)

  • “Molly’s Song” (2021)

  • “Cavemen” (2021)

  • “Ojos” (2021)

  • “Never Getting Older” (2021)

Zaq’s debut novel, Unspectacular, will be published on January 25th, 2025. A family dramedy and immigration story, Unspectacular deals in daydreams and ambition and takes place almost entirely within the rock/pop undercurrents of the American Midwest.

Zaq’s concept music videos include “Get the Message” (83K views), “Someone to Believe In” (74K views), “I Wanna Be Your Night Owl,” and “Spearmint.” In 2024, he has been releasing the official concert filmography of each song on If It’s Not Zaq Baker Live at the Green Room, I’m Not Going. Zaq’s additional video releases include the Good Kid Manic Summer live sessions: “Down for Whatever” (feat. Lydia Pelletier) and “She’s Nocturnal.”

Zaq has been co-writing a musical, Hometown, since 2022. A creative nonfiction writer, he has been published twice in literary journals and music magazines. 

In addition to work under his own name, Zaq has been a member of pop-rock quintet Maria and the Coins for over a decade. Zaq is also a full-time member of synth-punk sextet Toilet Rats, indie pop outfit Corzine, theatre-punk band Poison Ivy And The People, Nina Luna’s live band, and more. Zaq frequently co-writes with other artists and contributes piano and keyboards to albums and performances as a freelance session musician.