BAKER BOY DOMINATES
Territory talent tops list at National Indigenous Music Awards
TERRITORY- BORN and raised singer Baker Boy has dominated the winners list of this year’s National Indigenous Music Awards, including taking out the top prize — for the second year running.
The Arnhem Land dancer turned rapper, real name Danzal Baker, won Artist of the Year, as well as Song of the Year and Film Clip of the Year for his single Meditjin, at the virtual event broadcast live from Darwin on Saturday night.
Fellow Arnhem Land artist Rrawun Maymuru took home the Indigenous Language Award for his song Nyapililngu (Spirit Lady) performed with Nick Wales.
Baker said he was thrilled to win the top prize again.
“I was really shocked,” he said. “I feel so blessed and honoured.
“There were so many incredible nominees, I didn’t expect to win anything at the NIMAs this year. I’m just really honoured to be acknowledged amongst the best.”
Baker won Artist of the Year at the NIMAs in 2019, and Best New Talent and Best Film Clip the year before that.
The 23-year-old’s achievements are all the more impressive because he only began rapping in 2016 after an early career as a dancer.
“I wanted to start making music as well for everyone to enjoy, and I was trying to see if I could rap in language and get it out there to show how strong language is,” he said. “I started doing it for fun, and then it ended up blowing up.”
Baker said the past year had been “amazing” for him as an artist, with highlights including a reign as Young Australian of the Year and the release of several new tracks. One of those was award-winning single Meditjin, which has received good airplay and was even picked up by the AFL as the soundtrack of its 2020 ad campaign.
“That song is a really a banging track. When I listen to it, it just gives me the energy, the enthusiasm where I can just go nuts,” he said. “I’m starting to really miss performing on stage every time I hear that song. It’s upbeat and it gets everyone going.”
The 2020 NIMAs were forced to be held virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and were broadcast on TV, online and on radio. Other big winners included Archie Road (Album of the Year), Miiesha (New Talent) and KDA Crew (Community Clip).