Northern Essex Community College freshman and Amesbury native Andrew Baker has spent months working on his first full length project, a melodic rap and R&B album titled AB8. With the unofficial release date set for Oct. 17, Baker said he’s ready to try and make his mark in the music world.
“I’ve been dreaming of releasing an album since I was a kid,” Baker said. “It’s always been one of the biggest goals of mine, and now that the day is finally coming, it feels surreal.”
After graduating high school in 2023, Baker took a job in electrical work but said it didn’t feel like the right fit at the time. That experience pushed him to pursue his true passion: music.
“I realized that electrical work might now be for me, right now” Baker said. “Music has always been what I’ve wanted to do, so I figured there’s no better time to really give it a shot.”
The 10 song album mixes rap and R&B melodies, getting inspiration from artists like Tory Lanez and PARTYNEXTDOOR. Baker said the project represents not only his sound, but also his drive to carve out a place in the industry.
“I just want people to hear who I am through the music,” Baker said. “This album is really me putting myself out there for the first time.”
Ryan Baker, Andrew’s younger brother and a senior in high school, said he wasn’t surprised to see Andrew finishing a project like this.
“He has always loved music, so I figured he’d put something out eventually,” Ryan said. “I’ve heard a couple of the songs, and they’re pretty solid.”
Producer Carter Landry, who graduated high school with Andrew in 2023, helped create the beats and polish vocals. Landry said AB8 is also a milestone for him, since he’s just starting out in music production and this is his first full album.
“I’m new to producing, so this was a big project for me too,” Landry said. “Andy wanted a mix of rap and R&B that felt melodic. We have been experimenting with a lot of different sounds until it started to come together.”
Baker said he hasn’t done much to promote the album ahead of its release because he wants listeners to come across it naturally.
“I want people to find it on their own and give me honest feedback,” Baker said. “That way I know if the music really connects with the listener.”
Baker said the album will be available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and Pandora.
“It’s crazy to think that people all over the world will be able to hear my songs,” Baker said. “That’s something I’ve dreamed about for years.”
While releasing an album is an achievement, Baker said he’s focused on what comes next.
“This is just the first step,” Baker said. “I want to grow, keep improving, and hopefully build a career in music. Right now, I’m just excited for people to hear and hopefully enjoy AB8.”
