Caiti Baker
{{Short description|Australian musician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Caiti Baker
| image =
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| birth_name =
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| birth_place =
| origin = Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
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| website = {{URL|http://caitibaker.com}}
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| associated_acts = Sietta, James Managohig
}}
Caiti Baker is an Australian singer-songwriter, producer, harmony arranger, and vocal engineer.
Early life and education
Caiti Baker is from Darwin, Northern Territory.{{Cite web|last=Baker|first=Caiti|date=2020-11-11|title=Caiti Baker on Darwin and the warm storytelling of Mark A Hunter|url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/caiti-baker-darwin-mark-a-hunter-ausmusic-month-home/12844938|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Double J|language=en}} Her father is a blues musician,{{cite web|url=https://theharbouragency.com/artist/caiti-baker/|title=Caiti Baker About|website=harbouragency|accessdate=8 September 2020}} and Baker was raised on gospel, jazz, big band, rock & roll, blues, and soul music and developed a love for R&B and hip hop in her adolescence.{{cite web|url=http://caitibaker.com/about|title=About Caiti Baker|website=Caiti Baker|accessdate=8 September 2020}}
At the age of 12, Baker was given an 8-track digital recorder and she learnt how to write and record songs. Baker says she was inspired by the like Aretha Franklin, Big Mamma Thornton, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Etta James and Little Walter.
Music career
=2009-2014: Sietta=
From 2009, Baker and James Mangohig (AKA Kuya James) formed the duo Sietta. Sietta released two studio albums, two extended plays, touring nationally and internationally before splitting in 2014.{{cite web|date=19 June 2020|title=Caiti Baker releases new album Mary of the North|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/caiti-baker-new-album-mary-of-the-north-2691330|website=NME|accessdate=8 September 2020}}
=2015-2019: Solo work and ''Zinc'' =
In 2015, Baker signed to Perambulator Records in Darwin. In mid-2015, Baker toured with and supported Dr. G Yunupingu on his The Gospel Album Tour.
In 2016, Baker featured the A.B. Original track "Dead in a Minute" before releasing her debut single "Heavy On My Heart" in August 2016.
Baker released her debut studio album Zinc in October 2017 which received 4 Star reviews from Rolling Stone, The Music and the Weekend Australian. Zinc was Album of the Week on Double J and ABC Darwin and came in at number 44 in Double J's Top 50 Albums of 2017. In that same year, Baker was awarded Northern Territory Best Live Voice of the Year at the National Live Music Awards and performed at festivals, BIGSOUND,{{Cite journal|last1=Pica|first1=Emily|last2=Pozzulo|first2=Joanna|date=2017-03-21|title=The elimination-plus lineup: Testing a modified lineup procedure with confidence|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jip.1477|journal=Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling|volume=14|issue=3|pages=294–306|doi=10.1002/jip.1477|issn=1544-4759|url-access=subscription}} and WOMADelaide.{{Cite web|date=2017-08-31|title=Getting in zinc with Caiti Baker|url=https://blankgc.com.au/getting-in-zinc-with-caiti-baker/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Blank Street Press|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Caiti Baker - WOMADelaide 2017|url=https://www.womadelaide.com.au/artists/2017/caiti-baker|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.womadelaide.com.au}}
In 2018 Baker continued her national tour, which culminated with the release of the B6 project, a collection of songs that serve as an accompaniment to her debut album Zinc.{{Cite web|date=2018-10-01|title=Live Review: CAITI BAKER @ Yah Yah's, 27.09.18|url=http://syn.org.au/live-review-caiti-baker-yah-yahs-27-09-18/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=SYN Media|language=en-AU}} The 3-track EP titled B6 was digitally released, featuring songs left over from Zinc.{{cite web|title=B6 EP|url=https://caitibaker.bandcamp.com/album/b6-ep|website=bandcamp|accessdate=8 September 2020}} The AIR Awards ceremony in that same year, included performances from BAD//DREEMS, Baker Boy, Alex the Astronaut, Fanny Lumsden, Stella Donnelly and Caiti Baker.{{Cite web|last=Trainor|first=Matthew|date=2018-07-27|title=2018 AIR AWARDS ANNOUNCED|url=https://theupsidenews.com/2018/07/27/2018-air-awards-announced/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Upside Adelaide|language=en}}
The NT Song of the Year in the Blues and Roots category was awarded to Baker in 2018 with "I Won't Sleep" by Caiti Baker, Greg Baker, James Mangohig, and Michael Hohnen.{{Cite web|date=2018-07-07|title=NT Song Of The Year winners for 2018 announced|url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/music-news/nt-song-of-the-year-winners-for-2018-announced/10265596|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Double J|language=en-AU}} Baker was awarded Best Live Voice of the NT in the National Live Music Awards.{{Cite web|title=Caiti Baker|url=https://theharbouragency.com/artist/caiti-baker/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=The Harbour Agency|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=administrator|date=2018-12-06|title=Baker Boy, Stella Donnelly and Tropical F*ck Storm among the big winners of the 2018 NLMAs; Magic Dirt Inducted as Live Legends|url=https://www.nlmas.com.au/2018/12/07/baker-boy-stella-donnelly-and-tropical-fck-storm-among-the-big-winners-of-the-2018-nlmas-magic-dirt-inducted-as-live-legends/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=National Live Music Awards|language=en-AU}}
Baker released an AIR Award-winning 2019 EP, Dust (Part 1){{Cite web|date=2019-11-06|title=Premiere: Caiti Baker takes the musical power back with new EP, 'Dust (Part 1)'|url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/premiere-caiti-baker-ep-dust-part-1/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Tone Deaf|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|title=ABOUT|url=http://caitibaker.com/about|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Caiti Baker|language=en-US}} and performed at Bluesfest in the same year, she said of Bluesfest, "I kinda grew up at that festival."{{Cite web|date=2018-12-11|title=Caiti Baker set to debut brand new material at Bluesfest|url=https://blankgc.com.au/caiti-baker-interview-bluesfest-2019/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Blank Street Press|language=en-US}}
= 2020 =
The single "Worth It" was released on 8 March 2020, International Women's Day, and was the title track to the podcast Birds Eye View, recorded in collaboration with women in the Darwin Correctional Centre, shining a light inside the prison walls.{{Cite web|date=2020-03-06|title=Caiti Baker releases 'Worth It', her first single of 2020|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/caiti-baker-releases-new-single-worth-it-2621159|access-date=2021-08-25|website=NME|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|date=2020-03-09|title=CAITI BAKER Unveils Single 'Worth It' For International Women's Day Pod Cast Launch|url=https://gclive.me/2020/03/09/caiti-baker-unveils-single-worth-it-for-international-womens-day-pod-cast-launch/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Good Call Live|language=en-US}} The podcast went on to win the award for best Australian podcast of the year at the Australian Podcast Awards 2020.{{Cite web|title=Winners 2020|url=https://australianpodcastawards.com/winners-2020|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Australian Podcast Awards|language=en-US}}
Baker produced a live collective show called "The Settle Down Sisters"{{Cite web|date=2020-07-27|title=Settle Down Sisters|url=https://www.offtheleash.net.au/features/music/2020/07/settle-down-sisters|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Off The Leash|language=en}} (six artists) which was performed at the Darwin Entertainment Centre and supported Jimmy Barnes. The Settle Down Sisters is a collective of women from a diverse range of backgrounds in the NT coming together with the common thread of voice, empowerment, laughter, and food.{{Cite web|title=Caiti Baker|url=https://bluesonbroadbeach.com/artist/caiti-baker/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Blues on Broadbeach|language=en-US}}
On 19 June 2020, Baker released Mary of the North. Baker dedicated the album to the Northern Territory and its unique characters. The album was produced by James Mangohig and featured the single "Carry", a re-recording of the Sietta track "Carry You". Baker said of the album she, "was inspired by the amazing humans that make up my community here in the NT, I want listeners to hear the textures, colours and tones that make this place the incredibly unique and interesting home that it is to many."{{Cite web|date=2020-06-30|title=Caiti Baker Takes Us Track By Track Through New Album, 'Mary Of The North'|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/features/caiti-baker-takes-us-track-by-track-through-new-album-mary-of-the-north/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Music Feeds}}
Despite so many live performances being cancelled in the year 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, including Baker's national tour with George Benson,{{Cite web|title=Oztix {{!}} News {{!}} Caiti Baker Lends Voice To New Women's Prison Podcast Theme Song|url=https://www.oztix.com.au/news/archive/2020/03/06/caiti-baker-lends-voice-to-new-womens-prison-podcast-theme-song-themusic/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.oztix.com.au}} Caiti performed a once only set (twice) with guest musicians from Perth{{Cite web|title=Caiti Baker @ Nannup Town Hall|url=https://www.bandsintown.com/e/102126435-caiti-baker-at-nannup-town-hall|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Bandsintown}} and longtime collaborator, James Mangohig at Nannup Music Festival in February.
Caiti was an artist-in-residence on ABC Radio's Double J,{{Cite web|date=2020-05-01|title=Caiti Baker is your Darwin DJ this week|url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/programs/artist-in-residence/artist-in-residence-caiti-baker/12206624|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Double J|language=en-AU}}
In September, Kuya James released an 80s-inspired music video{{Citation|title=Kuya James - REWIND OUR LOVE ft. Caiti Baker and Serina Pech|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZYtminDq7M|language=en|access-date=2021-08-25}} entitled "Rewind Our Love" featuring Caiti Baker & Serina Pech.{{Cite web|last=purplesneakersadmin|date=2020-03-24|title=Get To Know: Kuya James|url=https://www.purplesneakers.com.au/2020/03/interview-kuya-james/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Purple Sneakers|language=en-AU}}
Dust (Part 1) won Best Independent Soul/R&B Album or EP Release in the AIR Awards.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
Baker featured on, produced, an vocal engineered on "Wirrimu" with Manuel Dhurrkay and "Buddy's Lullaby" with Noni Eather{{Citation|title=Compilation - The Moon, The Mouse & The Frog: Lullabies From Northern Australia|date=19 February 2021 |url=https://www.musicme.com/Compilation/The-Moon,-the-Mouse-&-the-Frog:-Lullabies-From-Northern-Australia-0602435725604.html|access-date=2021-08-25}} as part of the ABC's children's album, The Moon, The Mouse & The Frog: Lullabies From Northern Australia.{{Citation|title=The Moon, The Mouse & The Frog: Lullabies From Northern Australia by Various Artists|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/the-moon-the-mouse-the-frog-lullabies/1551582141|language=en-AU|access-date=2021-08-25}}
= 2021 =
At the end of January 2021, Baker released "She's Cruel (Acoustic Version) [feat. Ben Edgar]".{{Citation|title=She's Cruel (Acoustic Version) [feat. Ben Edgar] - Single by Caiti Baker|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/shes-cruel-acoustic-version-feat-ben-edgar-single/1543303317|language=en-AU|access-date=2021-08-25}}
In May 2021 Baker travelled interstate for her first post-pandemic performance at the Gold Coast festival Blues on Broadbeach.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-09|title=Christine Anu, Tommy Emmanuel, Caiti Baker to play Blues On Broadbeach 2021|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/christine-anu-tommy-emmanuel-caiti-baker-to-play-blues-on-broadbeach-2021-2835303|access-date=2021-08-25|website=NME|language=en-AU}}
"Worth it" made number 10 in the "Territory Sounds Countdown 2021"{{Cite web|date=2021-07-01|title=What was Australia's favourite NT song of 2020?|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-02/2021-territory-sounds-countdown-musicnt-abc-radio-darwin-winners/100252064|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}} and Baker donated some of the royalties "to the Women of Worth initiative, helping prisoners and ex-prisoners in the community".{{Cite web|date=2021-07-01|title=What was Australia's favourite NT song of 2020?|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-02/2021-territory-sounds-countdown-musicnt-abc-radio-darwin-winners/100252064|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}
As part of the Darwin International Film Festival, Baker's music video for "Gone", which was directed in 2019 by Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore, was awarded Best Music Video{{Cite web|title=Capricornia Film Awards, The Darwin International Film Festival|url=https://www.diff.net.au/capricornia-film-awards|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.diff.net.au}} in the 3rd Capricornia Film Awards.
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Title
! Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Zinc
|
|
| scope="row"| Mary of the North
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Title
! Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| B6
| |
| scope="row"| Dust (Part 1)
|
|
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
==As featured artist==
Awards and nominations
=AIR Awards=
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2018{{cite web|url=https://theindustryobserver.thebrag.com/2018-air-awards-nominees-announced/|title=2018 AIR Awards Nominees|date=17 April 2018 |accessdate=20 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.air.org.au/awards/history|title=History Wins|website=Australian Independent Record Labels Association|accessdate=20 August 2020}}
| Zinc
| Best Independent Blues and Roots Album
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2020{{cite web|url=https://scenestr.com.au/music/2020-air-awards-nominees-20200707|title=2020 AIR Awards Nominees|website=scenestr|date=7 July 2020|accessdate=8 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://theindustryobserver.thebrag.com/2020-air-award-winners/|title=That's a wrap: 2020 AIR Awards winners and celebrations|website=the industry observer|date=1 October 2020 |accessdate=1 October 2020}}
| The Dust (Pt. 1)
| Best Independent Soul/R&B Album or EP
| {{won}}
{{end}}
=ARIA Music Awards=
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2018
| Caiti Baker for Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)
| {{won}}
|-
{{end}}
=National Indigenous Music Awards=
The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) is an annual award ceremony and recognises excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the Northern Territory music industry.
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2016{{cite web |url=http://www.musicnt.com.au/national-indigenous-music-awards/about-the-awards/2016-winners/ |title=2016 Winners |website=National Indigenous Music Awards |accessdate=10 August 2020}}
| "Dead in a Minute" (A.B. Original featuring Caiti Baker)
| Song of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
{{end}}
=National Live Music Awards=
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| rowspan="2" | Caiti Baker
| Live R&B or Soul Act of the Year
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2" | {{cite web|url=https://www.nlmas.com.au/2017/10/09/national-live-music-awards-reveals-2017-nominees-and-venues/|title=NLMA reveal 2017 Nominees|website=NLMA|date=9 October 2017|accessdate=5 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nlmas.com.au/winners/|title=Winners 2017|website=NLMA|date=December 2016|accessdate=5 September 2020}}
|-
| Northern Territory Live Voice of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2018
| rowspan="3" | Caiti Baker
| Live Voice of the Year
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="3" | {{cite web|url=https://www.nlmas.com.au/2018/10/02/national-live-music-awards-announces-2018-nominees-live-legend-induction-aaa-award-expansion-ros-ogorman-tribute-and-more/|title=NLMA announce 2018 nominees and Live legend|website=NLMA|date=2 October 2018|accessdate=5 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nlmas.com.au/2018/12/07/baker-boy-stella-donnelly-and-tropical-fck-storm-among-the-big-winners-of-the-2018-nlmas-magic-dirt-inducted-as-live-legends/|title=Winners of the 2018 NLMA|website=NLMA|date=December 2018|accessdate=5 September 2020}}
|-
| Live R&B or Soul Act of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| Northern Territory Live Voice of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| 2019
| Caiti Baker
| Live R&B or Soul Act of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2020
| Caiti Baker
| Northern Territory Live Act of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2023
| Caiti Baker
| Best Live Act in the NT
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2" | {{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/industry/nominees-announced-for-the-2023-national-live-music-awards/SrrwXF9eQUA/05-09-23/|title=Nominees Announced For The 2023 National Live Music Awards|website=The Music|date=5 September 2023|accessdate=11 September 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/industry/genesis-owusu-and-amyl-the-sniffers-win-big-at-the-2023-national-live-music-awards/ias3nZyfnoE/11-10-23|title=Genesis Owusu And Amyl & The Sniffers Win Big At The 2023 National Live Music Awards |website=The Music|date= 11 October 2023|access-date= 12 October 2023}}
|-
| Caiti Baker
| Best Live Voice in the NT
| {{nom}}
{{end}}