All of my songs are written by the divinity of the Holy Spirit says American Artiste Bruce Baker

Bruce Baker is an American contemporary Christian worship leader, songwriter, singer, producer and recording artiste. Bruce started singing and writing songs at a very early age with hundreds of songs to his credit. His love for music is like a flaming fire that can’t be quenched. Bruce shed more light on his music and what is to come as a recording artiste. Babatope Adefunmilayo brings you excerpts;

Who is Bruce Baker? Just give us a little background of yourself. –

I am a kind hearted very compassionate, very frugal, very charismatic, very immature, very outspoken, outgoing and all about the ministry of music.

How long have you done music? 

I started my professional career at the age of 18 when I had the opportunity to sign with a major record label known as LaFace Records.

ALSO DOWNLOAD I AM YOUR HEALER BY BRUCE BAKER

How many songs and albums do you have to your credit?

I have over 370 songs and 20 albums in my portfolio that have not been released to the world yet. I don’t release songs until led by the spirit of God and that is the beauty of being an independent artist. You don’t have to move when the label says to move.

How do you write your songs?

All of my songs are written by the divinity of the Holy Spirit and by different canvasses of seascapes. My writing has transformed over the years as I have grown. My main form of writing is spending time with the Holy Spirit in prayer, sitting by the beach or by steady waters and I write a lot by going to different places and looking at different people as they live their everyday lives. Through personal trials, struggles, success and downfalls. Most importantly I allow the Holy Ghost to lead and guide me.

Do you write for others?

Yes. As a professional Lyricist I am delegated and in demand by different artists. From contemporary reggae, contemporary gospel, contemporary pop, contemporary rock, neo soul and more.

 What’s your opinion about music ministers and Charges? (that charge people)

First off I would like to say I live a very abundant life by the grace of God. I don’t do what God has called me to so do solely for financial gain. However, I believe the gospel should be free across the board just like the bible says freely you have received freely give. Jesus never put a price on the gospel. Laundering or verbally expressing that we use our music as a ministry falls under the department of ministry which makes our music unfeasible. So basically you are saying that you are doing it for free. With that being said there is nothing wrong with someone sowing seeds of monetary assets into the artist and there is nothing wrong with the artist asking for monetary assets. Paul said if I sow into you spiritual can I get natural. If you pass the test of using your ministry as a platform and without fee, God will make a way to raise up people to sow into your life. Prove to God that it is not about the money and God will make a way for the money to come to you.

Do you charge to honour invitations?

My only monetary request are for my travel and lodging. I do not charge to minister but I do charge to travel that I can minister for free. To be honest the average minister charges because they are fronting the cost and they want to get back what they have spent.

Speaking in tongues on studio records, what’s your take?

If it’s authentic and genuine then there is nothing that I or anybody on the face of this earth can say to stop God from using the individual that he has favored to touch.

What’s your opinion about who do such songs live on stage and still speak same tongues as in recording?

The bible says try the spirit by the spirit. For a person to speak in tongues in one setting and use the same tongues in a different setting is not uncommon. The Bible says that we grow in grace and the more we grow in God our tongues will grow in him. The Bible says when a man or woman speak in tongues no man on earth can understand what they are saying. So why should I worry about what they are saying when I have to look at the fruit. The fruit will tell about the person not the tongues.

What’s your definition of Hit songs ?

A song that is properly arranged musically and lyrically that makes musical and lyrical sense. The message and the delivery. Every song is not a hit to everyone, but every song is a hit to the lyricist and musical composer that created it. But, society says in order to have a hit it must have what society calls key factors.

Do you have any hit song or songs?

Yes. I Am Your Healer is a hit and this is why. 1. It’s a hit because it hit the devil with a low blow. 2. It hit the hospitals and cancer wards with hope. 3. It hit the gospel community to show that someone is still walking in holiness in the entertainment industry as being a musical Christian artist 4. Out of all the 370 plus songs in my portfolio that I thought was a hit, this was the song that the Lord wanted to hear. So, it’s a hit because I obeyed God by singing a song that he specifically wanted to hear.
People go to Studio these days wanting to sample other person’s work, is that acceptable and do you do that as well?

No I dont sample, remix, rearrange or recompose any instrumentals or lyrics from music artist creations. The Bible says be ye holy, for I the Lord your God is holy. The Bible also say how can bitter and sweet, come out of the same fountain. I go by the word of God and what it says and it says that we should be around the unsaved to reprove them and to tell them what the Bible says. So, I don’t reproduce, recompose or collaborate with secular artist unless they are willing to give their lives to the Lord and bare the fruits of the spirit. They must let go of their wicked ways and obtain a repor that the change is genuine and not just for play. They must get saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. If you ever see me standing, talking or sitting with a secular artist I am not talking about music but how their soul can be saved.

Who are some of the singers and producers you have worked?

Right now I am under an entertainment contract so I cannot speak on any other artist without their consent. But I have worked with national and international artists both known and becoming known.

Are you signed to any Record label?

No and it’s not because I haven’t had the opportunity. I have been approached by several major American record labels and I have decline. I’m not willing to mix worldly and Christian music together. My spiritual birth right in Christ are important to me.

Who are your musical influences?

Rock band called Skillet and my favorite song from them called Rebirthing, Pastor Elijah Oyelade, Churchboy-Samsong, Switchfoot and my favorite song from them is Dare you to move, News Boys, Since October, Chris Tomblin, Michael W Smith, Mercy Me, David Crowder, Toby Mac, Jeremy Camp and the list goes.
Q.What challenges have you faced doing gospel music?

The rollercoaster of trust, jealousy and shysterism. Having to fly seven different places in one week.

What are some of the successes recorded as a gospel music minister? 

I have been in the background writing for different artist. I have had the pleasure of making them successful by the grace of God. In this season I believe it’s my turn to use the gift and talents God has given me for I Am Bruce Baker Music.

Do you think there is a difference between a gospel music artiste and a gospel music minister?

Yes there is a big difference but they are one in the same. To me one is more entertaining and the other is going to elaborate more on the Word of God.

 

Would you say Gospel music is doing well in Nigeria at the moment, if yes can you explain, and if no can you tell why ?

Yes it is doing very well and no its not doing very well. Africa’s musical sense of worship is pure, unadulterated and senseless of the fact to compromise because it is not known among them. It is pure and so holy that it is literally like African worship has not been tampered with. It’s one of the purest forms of worship still on the earth.

Here is the reason why I say no. Now I am starting to see certain artist and I dare not mention any names trying to critique their voice and trying to sound americanized. It is taking away from the authenticity of what God gave them. What Africa has America lost and is trying to find. Which is pure and unadulterated worship which is given by a pure non-compromising life.

If you would do a comparison between gospel music in Nigeria and the USA, What are some of the major differences?

Like I said in the previous question. Africa has what America has lost and is trying to find again. Africa has pure worship that hasn’t been tampered with and America more so has compromised the standard of what worship is and who it is for.
If you can change anything about the gospel music circle and its operations in Nigeria what would it be?

If I could change anything it would be the love of money that I see among Christian artist in Nigeria. It’s not that they love money more than God but the lifestyle of having money is playing on their sense of direction in the Nigerian Gospel music scene.

Do you have plans to plunge into the Nigerian gospel music scene any time soon?

Yes because I love Nigeria first and I love Nigeria’s worship of the Lord. With that being said, God has given me an assignment in Nigeria for my music. Until my assignment is up, I pray Nigeria will pray and support my ministry because you will be HEARING and SEEING a lot of I Am Bruce Baker Music.

Do you have plans to stage concerts or shows in Nigeria or USA in 2020?

Yes. We are working with a couple of major Nigerian Gospel Artist now and when we stage a concert believe me it’s going to be epic.

 Any awards or nominations yet?

For my work in the Kingdom of God I have received thus far the Heart of Ministry Award, the Outstanding Servent Award, the Award of Affirmation and the Trinity Award. I have also been honored by cancer centers and they have given me the Koman Foundation Awards, the Hope Award and the Cancer Prevention Award. Paul said I Am what I Am by the grace of God. I thank God for using me to minister and for him to be recognized in me.

If not music what would you be doing?

Preaching the gospel and winning the lost souls for the Kingdom of God. There is nothing else for me to do because that is my life. Preaching the gospel full time as a pastor, evangelizing to the world, loving my family, helping people get delivered from drugs and additions, helping widows and single mothers and opening up charities around the world.

How do you relax?

The strangest thing is I relax by watching classic movies like the Proud Rebel, Marty, Casablanca etc. Fishing and working on music as well.

What’s the one thing you can’t be caught doing?

Living a life that will ruin my character.