Kurt Baker Reveals “Undetow Afterglow” Single

Power pop lifer Kurt Baker kicks off 2026 with the release of his brand new single, Undertow Afterglow, that is out today via Wicked Cool Records. The release marks the label’s first single of the new year and continues Baker’s long running relationship with Little Steven Van Zandt’s imprint. Undertow Afterglow finds Baker channeling personal upheaval into pure melodic immediacy. Written in Brooklyn with collaborator Dan Miraldi, the song came together almost instantly, its hook arriving as fast as the emotions behind it. Lyrically, it captures the push and pull of relationships: being dragged under by circumstance while still reaching for something brighter on the other side. The single also features a cover of Paul McCartney‘s My Brave Face, that was originally co-written with Elvis Costello. The song’s bittersweet contrast of bright pop melodies masking emotional wreckage mirrored exactly where he found himself.

“2025 was a rollercoaster of a year for me. I moved to New York City, got divorced, and started to work more behind the scenes in the music industry. I didn’t end up doing hardly any gigs. I went through some challenging times creatively, but I was lucky to start working on some new music with a friend named Dan Miraldi. He came over to my apartment in Brooklyn, and we ended up writing ‘Undertow Afterglow’ in minutes… the chorus just came to me instantly. This song really exemplifies the ups and downs of life, especially in relationships, getting pulled in by the undertow, yet holding out for the light at the end of the tunnel, the afterglow.” (Kurt Baker)