Fatty Strap Interviews Brendan Baker on New Single 'Mixed Signals'

I’m beyond excited to announce that I’ve been featured in an exclusive interview on the popular music blog Fatty Strap! They’ve covered my latest single, "Mixed Signals," which drops this Friday, May 26, and dived deep into my creative process, musical journey, and future projects. This marks a significant moment in my career, as "Mixed Signals" is a bold new step for me both sonically and thematically.

The Journey Behind "Mixed Signals"

"Mixed Signals" isn’t just another single for me—it’s the culmination of years of growth, hard work, and experimentation. This track takes listeners through a vulnerable and relatable story about the challenges of modern relationships, particularly the social dynamics that play out in clubs and bars. I wrote this song from personal experience, reflecting on how uncomfortable I often feel in nightlife environments. The song explores the tension between wanting to connect with someone in a fun, lighthearted way and the uneasiness that comes with the casual, one-night-stand culture that often defines those spaces.

In "Mixed Signals," I envisioned myself in a bar, talking to a girl. As the night progresses, I start to get to know her, and we discover shared interests. But there’s a catch—I decide to leave because I’m not comfortable with the idea of a one-night stand, despite wanting to impress her. This internal conflict, this struggle of sending and receiving mixed signals, is something I think many people can relate to. In the Fatty Strap interview, I explained that "Mixed Signals" is a track where I ask: “Is there anyone else out there like me who enjoys the fun and energy of nightlife but doesn’t feel comfortable with how things often end?”

The track itself pairs these introspective lyrics with upbeat, club-like instrumentals, creating a blend of emotions that I hope will resonate with listeners on multiple levels. You can dance to it, but you can also feel the weight of the story behind it.

Exploring New Musical Territory

One of the most exciting things about "Mixed Signals" is that it marks a shift in my songwriting and production style. For the first time, I experimented with a rap verse towards the end of the track. This was a huge step outside of my comfort zone, but it felt completely natural. As I mentioned in the Fatty Strap interview, I’ve been working on incorporating rap into my music for a while, and it felt like the right time to take the plunge.

The production on "Mixed Signals" is also a standout moment in my career. I’ve always strived for a polished, professional sound, but this time I took it to another level. The folks at Fatty Strap compared the production quality to that of an Ariana Grande track, which is such a huge compliment. I spent countless hours layering the instruments and making sure the mix was just right—creating a full, clutter-free sound that feels big and immersive.

In the interview, I talked about how my six-month mixing class in my final semester of college helped me level up my production skills. I always had a basic understanding of mixing, but diving deep into the technical aspects of it allowed me to fine-tune my skills in a way that’s now evident in the track. I even offered some advice for newer artists: “If you’re serious about making music, take a mixing class. It can truly transform your sound.”

A New Release Strategy

During the Fatty Strap interview, I also reflected on the rollout of my debut album Summitless, which came out last year. While I’m proud of how the album performed, I learned that I want to focus on releasing singles for the foreseeable future. As I told Fatty Strap, releasing albums is a big endeavor, and I want to give each song the attention it deserves.

So instead of dropping another album right away, I’m embarking on a new strategy: releasing a single every other month. This will allow me to focus on the individual marketing and promotion of each track, targeting specific audiences and building momentum organically. Once I have a collection of singles that feel cohesive, I plan to release them as part of a larger album. But rather than just compiling the singles, I’ll curate them to create an overarching theme, possibly adding new tracks or remixes to tie everything together.

"Mixed Signals" is the first release in this new chapter of my career. After this, you can expect a new single sometime in July, featuring a collaboration with lofi musician Clarke John. I’m excited about this partnership, and I can’t wait for you all to hear what we’ve been working on.

Engaging With My Fans: Social Media and Twitch

In addition to focusing on my music, I’ve also been putting a lot of effort into engaging with my fans through social media. Over the past six to eight months, I’ve been consistently creating content that not only showcases my music but also my personality and creative process. I believe that building genuine connections with my audience is just as important as getting streams on Spotify.

I’m active on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube, where I post a mix of music-related content, aesthetic visuals, and fun community posts. Recently, I’ve even been experimenting with live streams on Twitch, where I invite my audience to watch me work on new music in real-time. Whether I’m producing, mixing, or just practicing vocals, these live streams give fans a behind-the-scenes look at my process.

I’m a firm believer that social media should be about quality over quantity. Instead of chasing trends or trying to get viral hits, I focus on making content that will attract a niche audience—people who are genuinely interested in my music and what I have to offer. That’s why I always strive to keep my social media authentic and aligned with who I am as an artist. And as Fatty Strap pointed out, it’s often easier to get discovered through platforms like Instagram or TikTok before people head over to Spotify to listen to your music.

What’s Next?

As I gear up for the release of "Mixed Signals," I’m already looking ahead to the future. I’ve got some exciting projects in the works, including new singles, collaborations, and even a music video for "Mixed Signals," which should be out about a week after the single drops. I’m also planning more Twitch live streams where I’ll dive even deeper into the creation of my upcoming tracks.

If you haven’t already, be sure to pre-save "Mixed Signals" to be automatically entered into a contest where you could win a one-of-a-kind T-shirt that I designed myself. And even if you miss the pre-save, make sure to stream the track on May 26. I can’t wait to share this new music with you all.