Once dubbed the “Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land,” Yolngu artist Baker Boy is back with his first new music since 2022.
The multi-talented artist reflects on his meteoric rise to fame on “KING,” which is a triumphant anthem celebrating his well-earned place in the spotlight.
“I wrote ‘KING’ back in early 2023 with Jerome and Jacob Farah,” Baker Boy shares. “It was a moment of me having a bit of a brag, really. Not in an arrogant way, but just celebrating my wins and how far I’ve come.”
Following the release of his critically acclaimed debut album Gela in 2021, and following years of relentless touring, Baker Boy (real name Danzal Baker) says he sat back and reflected on his success thus far. “I finally found some time to look back and be like, ‘Damn, I did good,'” he says. “But then also had the space to make music without pressure.”
True to his roots, Baker Boy’s lyrics in “KING” are delivered in Yolngu, English, and for the first time, Buraurra—his mother’s native language, who hails from Maningrida.
“’KING’ is just a celebration of that,” he continues. “It’s about me being me, repping my mob back home, bragging ‘bout my five pyramids (five ARIA wins) and getting to celebrate it with my crew. It’s not that deep.”
The sassy tri-lingual lyrics accompany a mix of G-funk synth whirls, boom-bap percussion, and bright string stabs to create an uplifting, self-love anthem in Baker Boy’s signature style — produced by Jerome & Jacob Farah, Pip Norman and Rob Amoruso.
“KING” has dropped ahead of Baker Boy’s appearance at QLD Music Trails’ Dream Aloud event in Cairns on October 5th, where he’ll perform alongside fellow First Nations artists King Stingray, Bumpy, JK-47, Kee’ahn, and R.3.B.
He will also be headlining BLAKTIVISM alongside Uncle Bart Willoughby, Tasman Keith, Yirrmal Yung Warriors and more, at Arts Centre Melbourne on November 22nd as part of ALWAYS LIVE 2024.
Baker Boy’s “KING” is out now.
