Moosic: Why did you decide to use your real name instead of a stage name?
Baxter Hall: I’ve never actually considered using a stage name! I was in many bands growing up, so when I decided to release solo music it just felt natural to use my name.
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
I grew up in a family of many professional classical musicians. I started playing guitar at age 12 and quickly became obsessed with it. By the time I was 13 I was frequently performing publicly both professionally and at local blues jams. In my later teens, I was writing a lot of music that felt very personal and started thinking about becoming a solo artist as my career!
How would you describe your sound?
I would describe my sound as folk/roots-rock. There are many ways it could be described, but it will always be heavily influenced by roots and folk music even if the form is pop.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
Definitely Bob Dylan and James Taylor for my songwriter. For my guitar playing, I studied BB King, T-Bone Walker and Mike Bloomfield.
What’s the last song you listened to?
The last song I listened to was “Silver Dagger” by Joan Baez.
What’s your source for hearing new music?
My wife introduces me to a lot of music and I introduce her to a lot of old music! Haha. We love listening to music in the car together.
Who is your dream producer?
There are so many producers that I’d love to work with some day, but I’m really proud of the work that I did with Jon Evans. I’ve learned so much from him and I’m really grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with him. Speaking of dream producers, I recently ran into Aaron Dessner on a plane and it was really cool to meet him and tell him that I love his work. He was very nice. His work on Taylor Swift’s Folklore really inspired me.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
There isn’t anyone specific, I can always tell if there’s a creative spark between me and someone. As a songwriter and producer I think a lot about what will serve the song. So any collab ideas would come from me feeling like the song needs something more.
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
Music has always been there for me. Growing up and witnessing my father’s career in music showed me that being a full time musician was even an option. Music is just a part of me. It’s never been a question of continuing to make music, it’s just in me.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
All of my songs start on my acoustic guitar. It’s really important to me that a song works acoustically, not just fully produced. My lyrics have always been very introspective. I aim to bring positivity and self improvement to my work. Not in an idealistic way, but in a way that I feel represents the basic goodness of life.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
I love reading comments on social media. I was blown away by the initial response to my videos of “The Work” single. The comments were actually a factor in my decision to release this song! I’m very active on social media and I encourage people to interact with my posts. I always do my best to get back to everyone.
Connect with Baxter Hall:
‘The Work’ Lyric Video x Homepage x Instagram x TikTok x Spotify
Bio:
It takes a true explorer to simultaneously traverse a familiar path and the road less traveled, but Baxter Hall is nothing if not a musical multi-tasker. With one boot planted in his family’s path of professional musicianship, and another kicking up dirt in the realm of roots rock, the Boston singer-songwriter wields a carefree rock ‘n’ roll spirit fortified by a lifetime of discipline and dedication to his craft. Hall’s hard-earned chops have established him as an old soul offering modern wisdom against an inviting backdrop of shape-shifting rock.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Hall has honed his sound for most of his life. Music was a way of life in Hall’s childhood home, where he was surrounded by multiple generations of professional classical musicians. Symphony Hall would serve as his childhood playground, where he was weaned on the wonders of live music while his father performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops. Peeking at performances from backstage, he learned the meaning of world-class musicianship at a young age, as he watched legendary instrumentalists like Yo-Yo Ma take the stage. But another sound spoke to him as well – a rugged fusion of folk, roots, and rock from visiting acts like James Taylor and Warren Haynes.
Wielding his guitar and a wealth of inspiration, Hall entered the world of professional musicianship early, tapping BSO percussionist Will Hudgins as a mentor. Jam sessions at Hudgins’ home molded Hall into a receptive young artist; by 13, he was working as a professional guitarist, taking work as a session musician and performing with other acts across New England. Hall’s industrious nature soon caught the attention of Grammy-nominated artist Duke Robillard – once a touring guitarist with Bob Dylan and Tom Waits – who adopted Hall as a mentee and collaborator. Recording sessions and live performances alongside Robillard further developed Hall’s sound throughout his late teens, preparing him for a thriving solo career.
Hall took the plunge into solo musicianship with his 2021 debut album Somewhere in My Guitar, which he quickly followed with the Real Conversation / High Vibe Friends EP in 2022. The two-track project furthered Hall’s sense of duality, backing cool tones of soulful pop with hooky roots rock. Philosophical cut “Real Conversation” spurns toxic chatter – what Hall calls “surface level trivialities” – with a low-key but deceivingly strong guitar groove. “High Vibe Friends” revs Hall’s rock ‘n’ roll ethos to double down on his rejection of superficiality, as he seeks meaningful connection in a world that glorifies little more than likes and appearances.
His spring 2024 release “High Road” dug deeper into these meditations, yet reveals a touch of previously unheard twang from Hall. A foundation of stripped-down folk underscores his challenge to find the (often lonely) moral high ground: “You know, the lowest roads are still higher than hell,” he professes on the bridge. A new EP, The Work, led by the magnetic and emotive title track single, is slated for a September 2026 release.
These rich layers – insightful lyrics, extensive training, and a malleable palate of rock, folk, roots and pop – overlap at Hall’s dynamic live shows, which have touched every part of Boston, from the Paradise Rock Club to hotel rooftops downtown. Online, his influence stretches even farther, reaching listeners across the globe through Instagram videos of his performances. As his view tally (which currently soars over a few million) has grown, so has his list of esteemed admirers. Performer dubbed Hall a “gifted axe-slinger” in a longform profile, while VOX Amplifiers, JBL, and Elixir Strings have all backed his vision with brand partnerships.
But ultimately, it’s a lasting, positive impact – not digital plugs and shares – that Hall is after every time he picks up his guitar.
