| KURT BAKER ANNOUNCES NEW 7-INCH / DIGITAL SINGLE “UNDERTOW AFTERGLOW” b/w “MY BRAVE FACE” OUT JANUARY 9, 2026 VIA WICKED COOL RECORDSPre-Save Here |
| New York, NY — Power pop lifer Kurt Bakerkicks off 2026 with the release of his brand-new 7-inch and digital single, “Undertow Afterglow” b/w “My Brave Face,” out January 9, 2026 via Wicked Cool Records. The release marks the label’s first single of the new year and continues Baker’s long-running relationship with Little Steven Van Zandt’s imprint.Pre-Save: https://orcd.co/kurtbakerundertowafterglow “Undertow Afterglow” finds Baker channeling personal upheaval into pure melodic immediacy. Written in Brooklyn with collaborator Dan Miraldi, the song came together almost instantly—its hook arriving as fast as the emotions behind it. Lyrically, it captures the push and pull of relationships: being dragged under by circumstance while still reaching for something brighter on the other side.“2025 was a rollercoaster of a year for me. I moved to New York City, got divorced, and started to work more behind the scenes in the music industry. I didn’t end up doing hardly any gigs,”Baker says. “I went through some challenging times creatively, but I was lucky to start working on some new music with a friend named Dan Miraldi. He came over to my apartment in Brooklyn, and we ended up writing ‘Undertow Afterglow’ in minutes… the chorus just came to me instantly.”“This song really exemplifies the ups and downs of life, especially in relationships—getting pulled in by the undertow, yet holding out for the light at the end of the tunnel, the afterglow.”Show Quoted Content“2025 was a rollercoaster of a year for me. I moved to New York City, got divorced, and started to work more behind the scenes in the music industry. I didn’t end up doing hardly any gigs,”Baker says. “I went through some challenging times creatively, but I was lucky to start working on some new music with a friend named Dan Miraldi. He came over to my apartment in Brooklyn, and we ended up writing ‘Undertow Afterglow’ in minutes… the chorus just came to me instantly.”“This song really exemplifies the ups and downs of life, especially in relationships—getting pulled in by the undertow, yet holding out for the light at the end of the tunnel, the afterglow.”The B-side features a cover of Paul McCartney’s “My Brave Face,” originally co-written with Elvis Costello. For Baker, the choice was deeply personal. The song’s bittersweet contrast—bright pop melodies masking emotional wreckage—mirrored exactly where he found himself.“Lyrically it really hit home for me,” Baker explains. “It’s about putting on a cheerful front to hide heartbreak and inner turmoil after a breakup—pretending to be okay when you’re falling apart inside. A classic pop song with a sad, unresolved core. So yeah, it hits home.”Best known for his infectious songwriting and relentless touring across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, Baker has built a reputation for timeless, hook-heavy rock and roll rooted in classic pop structure and punk urgency, often drawing comparisons to Ramones and Green Day. His 2023 full-length Rock ’N’ Roll Club further cemented his status as one of modern power pop’s most dependable voices.A music video for “Undertow Afterglow” will follow closer to the release date.“Undertow Afterglow” b/w “My Brave Face” Out January 9, 2026 via Wicked Cool Records What People Have Written About Kurt Baker:“Power-pop perfection.”- Billboard “…punk-meets-Elvis Costello rocking… definitely fits in the power pop mold, but also has a heavier guitar presence that gives it more energy and intensity. Baker also incorporates a subtle New Wave touch, bringing to mind some of the finest rock gems of the 1980s… gets you excited for when we will finally be able to see acts like them perform live one day.”- Glide Magazine “Would make Elvis Costello proud… a record brimming with sweet harmonies, razor-sharp hooks, and addictive melodies…bringing to mind everyone from Jellyfish to Material Issue at various points of the record… A remarkably fun album by one of the most consistently solid acolytes of power pop working today.”- New Noise “It’s got that new wave/power pop meets early ’80s FM rock (Donnie Iris, Cheap Trick, .38 Special) vibe with just a hint of ’90s Lookout! Records. If you’re into big hooks, punchy guitars, and catchy choruses, this album will not leave you wanting. Say what you will about 2020. But any year that gives us a new Kurt Baker record can’t be entirely bad!”-Faster & Louder “Kurt Baker does the power pop thing like a champ…the hooks are full of pop goodness and the singalongs come from all directions.”- That’s Good Enough For Me “…a 12 track alt-rock masterclass. Traversing varying sonic landscapes such as new romantic, post-punk, power-pop et cetera, this set will thrill legitimate longtime fans and new converts alike.”- Global Texan Chronicles “One of the bright lights keeping the flames of power pop lit.”- Jersey Beat “Confirms Kurt Baker as something of a power-pop genius. ‘After Party’ is a lockdown tonic we should all take a swig of. – RPM Online “……a total spoil of riches for any fan of 80s culture.”- American Songwriter “I don’t know how this guy’s head doesn’t explode with the amount of dynamite power pop melodied he has going off constantly…boy, does it make you smile.”- RPM Online “New England’s Kurt Baker makes some of the finest vintage sounding power pop out there. It sounds like when the Ramones would cover classic rock tunes from the 60’s, mixed with the sweetness of Big Star and the huge guitar solos of Cheap Trick.”– If It’s Too Loud “Kurt Baker continues to impress… sounds like a potential top-ten LP.”- Power Popaholic |