Josh Baker: Songs and Collaborations
Manchester DJ who moves between house, techno and rave in a single set and takes you somewhere you didn't expect to go.
The sound of Manchester right now
Manchester's house scene has thrown up plenty of names, but Josh Baker is the one currently pulling you into the booth. He fell for house music at seventeen and has been building outward from that moment ever since. His sound sits across house, techno, electro, minimal and '90s rave. Not as a gimmick, but because he genuinely moves between them in a single set. If you're into ANNA, Solomun or Amelie Lens, you're already halfway to knowing what you're getting.
Why rooms matter
Baker isn't just making tracks. He's thinking about the entire culture around the music. He's proven himself in rooms that don't let mediocre DJs hide: Fabric, DC10, The Warehouse Project, Awakenings and Parklife Festival have all had him on the bill. He's shared the stage with Moodymann, Jaguar and Todd Terje. That's the company that matters. When a room like Fabric books you, it means something. When Moodymann wants to share a bill with you, it means more.
Building ecosystem
Baker runs You&Me Records, his own label. He founded Hide&Seek Festival. He launched SYNTHO, an online learning community for people who want to actually make this kind of music rather than just listen to it. That's someone thinking about the whole culture, not just the next single. That's building something that lasts beyond one good track.
Where he is now
"Something to Me" and "Bass Up to the Top", both from 2024, are the clearest snapshot of where his sound is right now. His 2025 EP Come Closer pushes that further. These tracks show groove-first thinking, production built for a room that wants to move rather than think.
The collaborations shaping the story
Collaboration is a big part of the picture. "Back It Up" with Omar+, "You Don't Own Me" with Prospa and RAHH, plus studio work with Poppy Wright and Trick Shady, and with Egyptian Lover and Rome Fortune. Each one brings something distinct to what Baker does. Each one shows a different way of thinking about house and techno and what they can hold.