.
.
MANSFIELD — It’s been an unforgettable few weeks for Mansfield’s Robert Baker.
Baker, known for his YouTube channel guitar lessons, flew home recently from Shanghai.
“It’s weird, I’m used to it being 11 p.m. right now. I just woke up from a nap,” the jet-lagged musician said during a noon interview.
Baker returned from two international music conferences, Guit-Con in Markneukirchen, Germany and the Shanghai Music Fair in China.
“I was really excited,” he said of his daily opportunities to play music for hundreds of Chinese Rock and Roll musicians.
He earned the opportunity for the trip because of relationships he has with guitar companies. Baker has a signature guitar constructed by American guitar maker, Acacia. Baker said people from Acacia introduced him to Shanghai guitar maker, VOLA.
“They asked me if I wanted to come to China,” he said.
Yes was the obvious answer.
Baker said he felt at home playing his more “80’s style of rock and roll.”
“I think it’s probably more appreciated over there,” he said. “I think the reason they wanted me to go over there — how do people respond to my originals and stuff like that … Luckily, the responded really well.”
During the Shanghai Music Fair, Baker said he was stationed in a booth but was able to play on a bigger stage because the reception of his playing was so strong.
Baker said what he liked best was meeting musicians and fans.
“There’s a guy who goes by the American name, Chuck,” he said. “We got to play together and we know of each other. Now I have a new friend (to hang with at conferences).”
Three weeks before he left China, Baker was in Germany for a Youtube-based exposition.
There, Baker said he met with other YouTubers and spoke with and to Youtube personalities.
“It was just for YouTube musicians. I got to hang out with so many musicians I really admire: Phil X, Bon Jovi’s guitarist since 2003. Jamming with him on stage for two nights — there were so many guitarists there.”
Baker said his international music trips won’t stop with these two junkets. He has been asked to play again in Shanghai and has been invited to Japan next year.
