Michelle Bakker Is A Coach For Creatives: Interview

Michelle Bakker is an Auckland-based Life Purpose Coach who is integrating her music management experience with yoga and meditation. These are tough times for the working musician and Michelle is here with some solutions to these unique problems.

The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke with Michelle with an eye to offering some positive solutions amongst all of the negative vibes swirling around the New Zealand music community. Tours are being cancelled and albums postponed and its tougher than ever to earn any money making music. So, if you feel like you need some help, watch and listen to Michelle Bakker. Or contact Michelle here: [email protected]

Note: Michelle Bakker runs a company called Evolve and here is her CV:

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

 Michelle’s Testimonials:

‘Michelle Bakker is so important to the survival of myself, and many others in the music industry. Michelle has taken artists to the next level and her skills shine through in her eyes, as she is like no other in this industry of emails and texts and false pretense.’

Rami Jaffee – Foo Fighters

   “I’ve been blessed to know Michelle for many years now! Her passion, intellect, knowledge of mu- sic, and, innate drive to help her projects succeed, are second to none! Michelle’s been a great resource for myself, and my business, as we often speak about what would be in the best interest of the various artists I work with! Her opinion is something I value greatly, and often defer to her judgement over my own. Her perspectives on what may be in the best plan of action, going for- ward, has always been “spot on”! I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND Michelle to anyone else who maybe looking for competent management with a very positive and passion filled person.”

Doug Goldstein – 2021 – Guns & Roses Manager

“I have known Michelle for over 10 years now and have worked with he Ron several projects and can attest she is one of the hardest working and truly creative independent artist manager I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She always brings enthusiasm and passion in all she does and I know that I can always trust the talent of the bands that she recommends.If Michelle is man- aging and act that I have interest in I can always rest assured they will deliver all of the responsibil- ities required t get them to the top levels it takes to really be something in this business.”

Tommy Nast – 2017 – Rock Band Entertainment. Los Angeles

‘Your advice has been fantastic Michelle’

Dan Sperber

‘I was given Michelle’s name from a mutual friend as I was looking to start promoting my daughter’s album and had no idea where to start. Michelle came highly recommended, so we met up with her for our first mentoring session. Both my daughter Alanah and I were blown away by Michelle’s approach. We came away feeling totally inspired and have already started putting in place the advice and steps Michelle gave us.

We look forward to seeing her again and continuing the exciting journey.’

Leila Mcintyre

‘Thanks so much Michelle for the fantastic work you have done for us. People like you are so rare – well-connected, knowledgeable, experienced, intelligent and enthusiastic, encouraging yet very honest, but most of all with buckets of passion and positivity. The band and I learned so much from you, and I’m certain you have saved us a lot of time and money. If anyone out there feels they have something to offer in music, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend that they engage you. I for one am very grateful that we met.’

Craig Cartwright – The Jam Unit

Click here for more about Michelle Bakker