Caiti Baker

Caiti Baker is an Australian singer-songwriter, producer, harmony arranger, and vocal engineer.

Early life and education Caiti Baker is from Darwin, Northern Territory. Her father is a blues musician, and Baker was raised on gospel, jazz, big band, rock & roll,

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.

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. and WOMADelaide.

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. The 3-track EP titled B6 was digitally released, featuring songs left over from Zinc.

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. Baker was awarded Best Live Voice of the NT in the National Live Music Awards.

Baker released an AIR Award-winning 2019 EP, Dust (Part 1) and performed at Bluesfest in the same year, she said of Bluesfest, "I kinda grew up at that festival."

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. The podcast went on to win the award for best Australian podcast of the year at the Australian Podcast Awards 2020.

Baker produced a live collective show called "The Settle Down Sisters" (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.

On 19 June 2020, Baker released Mary of the North. Baker dedicated the album to the Northern Territory and its unique characters.

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, Caiti performed a once only set (twice) with guest musicians from Perth and longtime collaborator, James Mangohig at Nannup Music Festival in February.

In September, Kuya James released an 80s-inspired music video entitled "Rewind Our Love" featuring Caiti Baker & Serina Pech.

Dust (Part 1) won Best Independent Soul/R&B Album or EP Release in the AIR Awards.

Baker featured on, produced, an vocal engineered on "Wirrimu" with Manuel Dhurrkay and "Buddy's Lullaby" with Noni Eather as part of the ABC's children's album, The Moon, The Mouse & The Frog: Lullabies From Northern Australia.

2021 At the end of January 2021, Baker released "She's Cruel (Acoustic Version) [feat. Ben Edgar]".

In May 2021 Baker travelled interstate for her first post-pandemic performance at the Gold Coast festival Blues on Broadbeach.

"Worth it" made number 10 in the "Territory Sounds Countdown 2021" and Baker donated some of the royalties "to the Women of Worth initiative, helping prisoners and ex-prisoners in the community".

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 in the 3rd Capricornia Film Awards.

Discography Albums Title Details Zinc Release date: 6 October 2017 Label: Perambulator Records (PRAM170808) Formats: CD, Digital download, LP, streaming Mary of the North Release date: 19 June 2020 Label: Settledown Records Formats: CD, Digital download, LP, streaming

Extended plays Title Details B6 Release date: 2018 Label: Settle Down Records Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles As lead artist Year Title Album 2016 "Heavy On My Heart" Zinc 2017 "Make Your Own Mistakes" "Wolf" "I Won't Sleep" 2018 "Believer" "Gimme" B6 "Yep Yep" "La La La" 2019 "Over the Horizon" Zinc "Gone" Dust (Part 1) 2020 "Worth It" Mary of the North "Green Eyes" 2021 "She's Cruel" (acoustic) "Mello" 2022 "Freak"

As featured artist Year Title Album 2016 "Dead in a Minute" Reclaim Australia 2017 "Here" 2020 "Sophie's Song"

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. 2018 Zinc Best Independent Blues and Roots Album 2020 The Dust (Pt. 1) Best Independent Soul/R&B Album or EP APRA Music Awards The APRA Music Awards were established by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 1982 to honour the achievements of songwriters and music composers, and to recognise their song writing skills, sales and airplay performance, by its members annually.

"Adore Me" by Emily Wurramara (Wurramara and Caiti Baker)

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. 2018 Caiti Baker for Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) Best Cover Art

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. 2016 "Dead in a Minute" (A.B. Original featuring Caiti Baker) Song of the Year

National Live Music Awards The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.

Live R&B or Soul Act of the Year

Northern Territory Live Voice of the Year

Live Voice of the Year

Live R&B or Soul Act of the Year Northern Territory Live Voice of the Year 2019 Caiti Baker Live R&B or Soul Act of the Year 2020 Caiti Baker Northern Territory Live Act of the Year

Caiti Baker Best Live Act in the NT

Caiti Baker Best Live Voice in the NT