“The wheel turns, it’s always a surprise to see what’s become fashionable and trendy again! But the Blues has to stay true to itself, it’s an emotional medium. Once you remove the emotional impact to chase some kind of successful formula then the blues is gone. It will remain relevant while it’s moving people and hitting that deep place in their hearts.”

Brian Baker: Blues Bullets, Rock Hight Tide

Exciting times for New Zealand blues rock act BB & The Bullets. Their debut album, High Tide (2025), released by iconic French record label Dixie Frog Records. The album was recorded in Whanganui, NZ at producer and band leader Brian Baker's Nixon Street recording studio. The album consists of seven original tunes and five classic blues covers. Band members Brad McMillan (drums), Stu Duncan (bass) and Brian Baker (guitar and vocals) couldn't be happier, Baker says: “Working with Dixie Frog and seeing our record released in Europe, UK, The States and New Zealand is a dream come true for our little Whanganui band”. After returning home from Australia, Brian Baker wasted no time making his mark on the New Zealand music scene with highly acclaimed and critically acclaimed singles and music videos. His solo show, in particular, has seen him perform at concerts and festivals across the country. He joined forces with two New Zealand musicians, Stu Duncan and Brad McMillan, both seasoned artists.

(Photo: BB & The Bullets)

The band, called BB & The Bullets, focuses on blues, covering songs by Albert King, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan and other classics of the genre. They also perform some of Brian's excellent compositions and have recorded a few original tracks. These tracks comprise their debut album, High Tide. The guitar playing that made Brian's solo performances so distinctive is well showcased here, supported by a dynamic live rhythm section. Their concerts have been warmly received wherever they've performed, notably receiving standing ovations at the Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival, where they delivered six remarkable performances in three days!

Interview by Michael Limnios            Special Thanks: Betsie Brown (Blind Raccoon)

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

I’ve been playing and living inside music since I was a child. My sister played classical piano and I think I must have listened a lot as I was growing up. So much so that when I first heard The Beatles, Stones and some unnamed blues artists (via a stack of vinyl 45’s and a mono portable record player the same sister had stashed in the back of a wardrobe), that these recordings sounded like the classical music I was then learning. It was a revelation and I knew I wanted it to be part of my life’s experience.

How do you describe band’s sound and songbook? When and how did the idea of band ‘BB & The Bullets’ come about?

The band’s sound is deliberately created as a raw three piece blues act. I love the sound and approach of Hendrix, SRV, Cream, Led Zeppelin, many more... A three piece is stripped back, raw, music like this is music at it’s essential, and easier to make unexpected twists and turns live. I’m attracted to the Zen nature of the experience where every small action is a vital part of a larger picture.

Songbook wise....well I would say we love to explore classic blues, such as who has written a song, who has covered it and why. Many classic blues tracks are songs that have been worn smooth by a thousand voices. Although BB & The Bullets probably end up being closer to a British Blues sound because of the rock influence. But hearing that reflected back through seminal American artists like Buddy Guy and Albert King is always a revelation and an inspiration!

The band was started in June 2024 after I moved to Whanganui and built the recording studio. The scene is pretty tight here and I first met Brad (the drummer) at a friends birthday party. I contacted Stu to play bass in a live band for the Whanganui Songwriters performance I was the Musical Director for. It was pretty obvious that we clicked so one thing led to another!

“I miss that there seemed to be more opportunities in the past for bands and artists to learn their trade through live performances and also to develop their sound with the help of record labels who were more supportive of new acts. I think it’s important that acts and labels can be allowed to take risks - this is the way new ground is forged.” (Photo: BB & The Bullets, a New Zealand blues rock act)

Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?!

Working with Split End’s Eddie Rayner was and still is a game changer for me. I had been writing and recording for some time but it was working with Eddie in our band called The Makers that I really learned the craft of making great recordings. His experience of working with Geoff Emerick and Paul McCartney taught me those fabulous Abbey Rd/Beatles techniques and having Hugh Padgham mix our first album just bought it all home. Sitting in the studio with Hugh, mixing and discussing his work with Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Sting, The Police, XTC was an absolute top shelf experience for me.

Make an account of the case of the blues in New Zealand and Australia. Why do you think that NZ and Aussie Blues Scene continues to generate such a devoted following?

I think that you have to be dedicated to the Blues to be a follower in Australia and New Zealand because it’s not native to the country. It strikes at such a very deep part of the human psyche and for those that respond, and get it, it sticks. The blues becomes a feeling and an experience that is hard to ignore. It’s support by Blues Clubs and Societies help keep it alive and bring on new artists.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I miss that there seemed to be more opportunities in the past for bands and artists to learn their trade through live performances and also to develop their sound with the help of record labels who were more supportive of new acts. I think it’s important that acts and labels can be allowed to take risks - this is the way new ground is forged.

I think there’s a lot to be hopeful for in the future. The internet, platforms like Spotify etc. have given independent artists a platform where their music can be heard and discovered. Home recording tech advances are amazing too, meaning that artists can produce their own music without too great an expense. Of course both these things have their flip side. Some of these new platforms make billions while paying emerging artists very little, in some ways, that’s no a change from how the music industry has always been - The Beatles were initially on a penny a record royalty rate! Plus artists working alone in an insular situation can miss out on the interaction and experience that working with a group of people can bring to a music project.

“The band’s sound is deliberately created as a raw three piece blues act. I love the sound and approach of Hendrix, SRV, Cream, Led Zeppelin, many more... A three piece is stripped back, raw, music like this is music at it’s essential, and easier to make unexpected twists and turns live. I’m attracted to the Zen nature of the experience where every small action is a vital part of a larger picture.” (Photo: Brian Baker of BB & The Bullets, a blues band based in Whanganui, New Zealand)

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Everybody and every song has their own journey. Don’t dismiss an idea that might not fit your frame of reference right now. Sometimes a flash of insight and inspiration can come from the strangest places. Flexibility is key, there is no absolute correct path, approach or outcome.

How can a band/musician truly turn the blues into a commercial and popular genre of music for the today's audience?

The wheel turns, it’s always a surprise to see what’s become fashionable and trendy again! But the Blues has to stay true to itself, it’s an emotional medium. Once you remove the emotional impact to chase some kind of successful formula then the blues is gone. It will remain relevant while it’s moving people and hitting that deep place in their hearts.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music in today’s society?

It has so many roles that I don’t feel qualified to talk about. I can only talk about how my body responds when I hear it and feel it. It’s uplifting, consoling and confronting, all at the same time. It those ways it will always have a vital role at the heart of any music, in my opinion.

(Photo: BB & The Bullets)