Shooting star blazes from a distant solar system

ACCLAIMED

Memphis songstress Julien Baker wins legions of new fans wherever she goes, and she is bringing her honest lyrics, pure vocals and stripped-back performance style to Hobart for the first time next week.

Influenced by ’90s indie rock and alt-country, 21-year-old Baker cofounded a band called The Star Killers (later renamed Forrister) in 2010, and then started writing solo songs during her freshman year at Middle Tennessee State University.

In 2014 she recorded and selfreleased an EP that would later be fleshed out and re-released as her debut album, Sprained Ankle.

A hit with critics and fans alike, Sprained Ankle topped several 2015 album-of-the-year lists and also led to the New Yorker and the New York Times running feature stories about Baker.

She soon found herself being invited to open for acts such as Death Cab for Cutie, Conor Oberst and Belle & Sebastian.

Baker visited Australia for the first time late last year, selling out shows and mesmerising audiences across the country as she toured to promote Sprained Ankle.

Now, after sharing stages with The National and Band Of Horses at recent US, UK and European concerts, Baker is returning to the country this month to play at Splendour In The Grass and headline her own gigs, showcasing new tracks such as Funeral Pyre and Distant Solar Systems.

Julien Baker plays at the Republic Bar in North Hobart from 9pm on Wednesday, supported by Texas singer-songwriter Adam Torres.

Tickets are $33 (plus booking fee) pre-sale from the venue and www.moshtix.com.au