Baker Boy suits Jessica Mauboy, down to a tee
Co-ordinated by music industry charity Support Act, the annual Ausmusic T-shirt Day last year raised $600,000 through donations and fans buying exclusive clothing designs.
When Jessica Mauboy opens her wardrobe while in the mood to show off her music fandom, there’s a few Australian rock ‘n’ roll classics she reaches for: T-shirts representing Yothu Yindi, Midnight Oil and Cold Chisel are all likely to be chosen, as they each influenced her as a young artist growing up in Darwin.
For the annual Ausmusic T-shirt Day fundraiser on Friday, though, the pop singer-songwriter will sport threads bearing the name and face of one of her peers in Baker Boy, the Arnhem Land-raised hip-hop artist.
“I’m a huge fan of Baker Boy,” Mauboy, 33, told The Australian amid a studio session to finalise her fifth album.
“I love him because he identifies with his culture, and you can hear it in his music. I love how he represents community in his music and how he shares his language Yolngu Matha.”
Co-ordinated by music industry charity Support Act, Ausmusic T-shirt Day last year raised $600,000 through donations and fan purchases. This year, artists including Paul Kelly, Midnight Oil, Hoodoo Gurus and Casey Donovan have offered unique clothing designs, with 100 per cent of net proceeds directed to help music industry workers in crisis via the charity.
At the ARIA Awards in Sydney next Thursday, Baker Boy is a finalist in five categories including best solo artist and album of the year for Gela, his 2021 debut.
A few days later, on November 27, the 26-year-old otherwise known as Danzal Baker will share the stage with Mauboy at First & Forever, a debut music festival to be held at Hanging Rock.
Curated by hip-hop artist Briggs, the star-packed line-up also includes Dan Sultan, Christine Anu, Busby Marou and King Stingray.
Since 2010, Hanging Rock has chiefly been used as a concert location to attract international performers such as Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, Elton John and Eagles.
Two of Mauboy’s favourites in Cold Chisel and Midnight Oil have also headlined there, in 2015 and 2017 respectively, while later this month, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis will play two shows at the outdoor venue.
Of First & Forever, said Mauboy, “I am so excited to be a part of it because I’ve never heard of a festival like it before. To be sharing the stage with other First Nations artists will be history-making, and an unforgettable experience.”
As well as the young man she’s representing on her T-shirt, who else is Mauboy hoping to catch before her performance next Sunday?
“I love Thelma Plum, and this will be the first time I will get to see her live in a festival setting,” she replied. “I’m looking forward to singing all her songs with her while I’m in the crowd.”
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