Baker Boy has shared the fourth single from his forthcoming second studio album Djandjay, ‘Thick Skin’. He enlisted what he has described as a “Blak choir” of acclaimed female Indigenous vocalists to feature on the track – namely Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee’ahn and Jada Weazel. In a press statement, Baker Boy explained that he wrote the song following the Indigenous Voice referendum.
“It wasn’t anger at the result, as much,” he said. “I think it was [more] the way mob became a topic of conversation, and mottos like ‘if you don’t know, vote no’ encouraging ignorance. It highlighted the everyday experience of being Yolŋu, [and] being Indigenous in this country, and that hit me hard.” The single’s accompanying music video has also been shared, directed by the team of Aurie Indianna and Jordan Ruyi Blanch. Indianna and Blanch have been creating a linear story between all of the music videos for Djandjay, with this video picking up where the one for ‘Lightning’ left off.
Baker Boy – ‘Thick Skin’
Working with collaborators Pip “Count Bounce” Norman and Robert Amoruso, who co-wrote and co-produced Djandjay, ‘Thick Skin’ is sonically inspired by punk rock – which, per Baker Boy’s statement, is a sound he has wanted to pursue “for awhile”. “This felt like the perfect track for me to let loose in that space,” he said.
“It’s not natural for me to express anger through my music – I have this reputation for positivity – but I think the punk inspired production allowed me to really say what I wanted to say in a way that’s new and experimental for me, but also really authentic. It just came out of me.”
“There’s nothing like bringing it in on a chorus like this with three amazing sister songwriters coming together on this track,” said Donovan in a statement to social media. “Really reminds me of the power and strength that we have as Aboriginal women, coming together to support our brother. [This song is] a huge reminder of the thick skin I have had to have growing up in this country, and even more so today with how I need to stand strong. My songs and messages I put out will always be my way of survival and strength to continue my voice and age old culture.”
Djandjay is set for release next month on Friday, October 10th via Island Records Australia. It includes the tracks ‘Peacekeeper’, ‘Freak Out’ (featuring Briggs and Haiku Hands) and the aforementioned ‘Lightning’, a collaboration with Redd. It can be pre-ordered and pre-saved here.
Further Reading
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