Music News - International music manager Michelle Bakker launches new venture: Evolve
07 October 2021 - 0 Comments
World-renowned music manager Michelle Bakker is back home in Aotearoa and launching a new venture, Evolve, which specialises in life purpose coaching, mentoring, music consultancy and management.
After running Michelle Bakker Management for over twenty years in both Los Angeles and Auckland, Bakker realised this is the perfect time to expand her scope – to evolve, if you will. Her clients have included international stars Dave Grohl and Rami Jaffee (Foo Fighters), Jaz Coleman (Killing Joke), The Crying Spell, Dead Poet Society; beloved New Zealand artists Greg Johnson and Annie Crummer, and young local high-fliers No Wyld, who scored a string of high-profile song placements for the likes of McDonalds, WWE and popular games including NHL15, Need For Speed and the FIFA series.
Born in Takapuna and of Samoan heritage, Bakker moved to Los Angeles in the early 1990s to follow her dream of becoming an artist manager, and after years of honing her skills and becoming integrated into the LA recording scene, that dream came true
Upon arriving in LA, Bakker’s first job was at the legendary Record Plant Studio in Hollywood, where Ariana Grande, Frank Ocean, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and other musical luminaries have recorded. After a couple of years she accepted an invitation to travel the world with then-boyfriend, producer/engineer Fraze (ACDC/Metallica/Aerosmith), saying, “Spending long days and nights in the studio listening / observing was hands down amazing”.
At a Van Halen recording session in LA Bakker met the late Eddie Van Halen's guitar tech Matt Bruck. She began managing his band Zenboy, Zany Productions Management was launched, and the rest is history.
Fast forward to 2017, and a decision by Bakker’s daughter to return to New Zealand and study at Otago University brought her home too. The musical landscape was changing, and Bakker says, “I wanted to find a way that I could evolve with it and still contribute, add value, and share the knowledge I'd learnt as an artist manager”.
Her new venture Evolve integrates Bakker’s existing management skills and knowledge of the music industry with her other passions of life purpose coaching, yoga and meditation. She has tailored the course ‘Coaching for Creatives’ to offer a holistic, mindful DIY approach in helping musicians to navigate their way forward.
Bakker says, ‘As a music fan I am passionate about artist development and identity, and I work closely with artists to develop a vision for their future, and to guide them toward growing their potential into reality. I genuinely love helping others to ‘be seen’ and feel like they ‘can’.
‘Everyone has a purpose in life, a unique gift or special talent to give and share with others. Together we can figure out how you can find your lane, be who you were born to be and live your best life.’
Coaching for Creatives
Sessions run for 60mins either in person/ phone or zoom
Contact [email protected] for more information
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- APT.
ROSÉ And Bruno Mars - DIE WITH A SMILE
Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Billie Eilish - TASTE
Sabrina Carpenter - I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
Gracie Abrams - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - SAILOR SONG
Gigi Perez - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - GOOD LUCK, BABE!
Chappell Roan
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
There are currently no comments for this article. Please log in to add new comments.