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BAKER BOY & ALICE SKYE FOR SXSW
Baker Boy and Alice Skye are amongst the artists for Sounds Australia's Online SXSW Showcases. SXSW will be a completely different event for 2021 with the showcases all online and the events occurring at venues all over the world.
Events will take place in suburban and bush backyards across Australia, a Taoist temple, a machine factory and an indoor shrimp fishing spot in Taiwan, a cable car in Norway, a Los Angeles freeway overpass, Abbey Road Studios and the 606 Club in London, the historic Leith Theatre in Scotland, a café-floriculture in Brazil, The Powerstation in New Zealand and Austin hometown favourites Hotel Vegas and Empire Control Room & Garage.
With that a whole new round of showcasing artists have been announced and Maningrida’s Baker Boy is on the list as is The Grampian’s grrrl, Alice Sky.
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The Top End's Baker Boy
Danzel Baker aka Baker Boy grew up on the Northern Territory coast in the Maningrida and Milingimbi Island communities, where his nickname was The Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land. He recently took out 2nd prize in the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition.
Baker Boy expressed his delight, "When I first started writing bars and I made 'Cloud 9', I never thought that my lyrics would take me as far as they have. I’m blown away by all of the love for my language!"
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Danzel is a Yolngu man from Milingimbi North East Arnhem Land and a young rapper who is doing things his way by fusing together traditional language Yolngu Matha and cultural elements and current modern hip hop culture.
For many years he toured as an accomplished dancer with Djuki Mala (Chooky Dancers), then joined Indigenous Hip Hop Projects out in the remote communities, and is now performing solo all over the country combining hip hop and traditional styles. He also dances and plays didjeridu.
Danzel sites his influences as his own father (he believes he is following in his footsteps), Yirrimal, the late Dr G Yunupingu, Briggs, Gawurra and Yothu Yindi.
Asked what we can expect from Baker Boy, he says, “Is a whole lot of energy, dancing, playing the Yidaki, inspiring youth and a young role model for the next generation.”
Recording for Island Records Australia, he is described by the label as, "Striking the Australian music industry with his unashamed optimism and love for music, dance and his connection to his culture."
"Since his debut in 2017, fans have been able to see as his releases have continued to roll out in following years, that Baker Boy is not simply a one-off success story."
"The release of ‘Better Days’ continues Baker Boy’s growing list of recent accomplishments, sitting alongside recent wins at the National Indigenous Music Awards (including Artist of The Year), his first Gold ARIA Certification (‘Cool As Hell)’, and numerous APRA and ARIA Award nominations (‘Cool As Hell’)."
A Lass Called Alice
Wergaia woman Alice Skye is a singer- songwriter, and universal little sister. Now living in Melbourne, homeland to Alice Skye is country Victoria. Growing up beside the Grampians she ahd no shortage of inspiration – music was unavoidable. Her style is simple, it’s just her and her piano.
In 2015 Alice entered the Alukura Competition (Alukura meaning ‘women’ in the Arrernte language), run by Australia’s longest running Indigenous music label CAAMA Music. CAAMA selected eight incredibly talented and passionate women from all corners of Australia to record at their studios in Alice Springs. During the recording process the women participated in music business workshops, were mentored by musical duo the Stiff Gins, and connected to the country and culture of Central Australia.
Two of Alice’s original songs were selected to lead the compilation album the young women would produce, and soon after received regular plays on the Triple J platform. Funnily enough until she was selected for The Alukura Compilation her family and friends had no idea she could write music and had never seen her perform!
Alice was a finalist in last year’s triple j Unearthed NIMA competition and returned to CAAMA to record her debut EP.
Her single ‘You Are The Mountains’ is a piano driven, melancholic lullaby showcasing her skills as both singer and songwriter. An emotionally powerful ode to her father who passed away before she was born; he was her connection to her Aboriginality. “I take great pride in my heritage and to combine both music and my background brings me an unexplainable amount of pride and happiness,” says Alice.
Alice Skye’s songs sparkle with a sensitivity and maturity well beyond her years, accompanied by the gentle and hauntingly sparse melodies of a piano score. Very like young British singer-songwriter Birdy,
Alice’s voice is a combination of hopeful and haunting, naturally sweet and slow and dreamlike. Her stripped back piano melodies elevate the gentle moodiness of her songwriting, transforming her once bedroom scribblings into well-crafted and articulated lyrics on love, loss and life.
With a debut album, Friends With Feelings in 2018, Alice toured nationally with Emily Wurramara and in March 2020 she performed at the 2Worlds Festival