That’s a rap: Baker Boy wins five ARIA trophies
See all the red carpet looks from the night and the best performances here.
See all the red carpet looks from the night and the best performances here.
Five years after he burst onto the national music scene with a bold new hip-hop sound, Baker Boy has been feted on the biggest stage in Australian music at the annual ARIA Awards.
At a ceremony held at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Thursday night, the Arnhem Land-raised artist born Danzal Baker took home five awards, including best solo artist.
“I’m a proud black Yolngu boy with the killer flow / Listen to the yidaki, listen to it blow,” he rapped at high speed on Marryuna, an early single that put him on the map with an exclamation mark while referencing the Yolngu instrument known more widely as a didgeridoo.
By rapping in both English and Yolngu Matha, he has brought his Indigenous language to a wide audience. Since 2017, his recording career has been a jog rather than a sprint: after a string of singles, Baker took his time to work on a debut album.
That patience paid off. Titled Gela – after his “skin name”, which indicates his blood line – the 14-track work was named album of the year by ARIA voters.
As well, Gela was named best hip-hop release and best cover art, while its three recording engineers – Pip Norman, Andrei Eremin and Dave Hammer – were awarded best mixed album, completing the quintuple win.
A livewire performer who pulled big crowds to his shows at WOMADelaide and Bluesfest earlier this year, the 26-year-old rapper and dancer has become a firm fixture on the live circuit.
Baker flew the proverbial flag for Australian artists at the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in Birmingham three months ago, where he performed his song Meditjin, a single that appeared on Gela and remains one of his most popular tracks, with its booming chorus claim that music is his medicine.
Having been nominated for ARIA Awards six times previously, his five-trophy haul was widely seen as a well-deserved win for a singular artist with much to offer.
Hosted by the Australian Recording Industry Association before a live and in-person audience for the first time since 2019 due to Covid interruptions, the televised ceremony was hosted by pop singer-songwriter Natalie Imbruglia alongside fellow artists Ruel and G Flip.
Melbourne punk-rock act Amyl and the Sniffers was named best group and also won best rock album for its second release, Comfort to Me.
The lead nominee, Sydney alternative dance act Rufus Du Sol, received just one award from its seven nominations, taking out best produced album for Surrender, its fourth release.
Arnhem Land surf-rock band King Stingray was named winner of the breakthrough artist category for its self-titled debut, while the late singer-songwriter Archie Roach was awarded best independent release for One Song, the final track released before he died in July.
Roach and fellow ARIA Hall of Fame members Judith Durham and Olivia Newton-John were each given tribute performances in their memory.
The tribute to Newton-John closed the show, and saw Imbruglia switching from host duties to singing alongside Toni Watson, aka Tones and I, whose track Cloudy Day was named song of the year in the publicly voted awards.
Below is the live coverage from earlier in the night.
Thelma Plum, Budjerah and Jessica Mauboy pay tribute to the late Archie Roach. Ahead of the performance, Briggs shared Roach's parting words:
"Be strong in what you do. Love what you do. Love, love, love.”
Best Live Act goes to… The Wiggles…
"We know the responsibility we have for children to inspire them,. We hope they want to go out and play music,"the Blue one.
Alright, Amyl and the Sniffers are about to play. I'm about to go ape shit. I'm going to attempt to open the first Wall of Death this noble ceremony has ever seen. In the words of both Baker Boy and Luude: "Let's goooooooo."
Producer Best Produced Album (not to be confused with Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer story) has gone to RÜFÜS DU SOL
The Kid Laroi wins Best Pop Release. He's not here tonight. Ruel, who will be in Los Angeles next week, has vowed to attempt to smuggle his spiked instrument of death through customs.
The Aria for Best Hip Hop/Rap goes to Baker Boy. The kid is on fire. “Come on give me another one, LET’S GOOOOOOOOO”.
“I want to dedicate this to the young people back home, you can make it. I know what you mob can do.”
G-Flip thanks Tones and I for introducing them to their beau Chrishell, of Selling Sunset fame. "Tones wrote a smash hit and wanted to buy an LA Mansion."
"Oi, oi!" Amyl and the Sniffers take out best group. They are having the time of their life. "How good's this?"
Genesis Owusu and G-Flip are presenting the award for Album of the Year. Owusu is wearing a cape. Baker Boy wins for Gela, Incredible. He has given a speech in Yolngu Matha. It's all very emotional.
Okay, we're back. Four champagnes in. It's time for Song of the Year. It's Tones and I. This is her fifth ARIA award. She's wearing a matching Adidas tracksuit a lá Sue Sylvester from Glee.
Harry Styles, The People's Prince, has taken home the Best International Act. Of course he has.
Luude has taken out the Best Dance Electronic Release “Bloody oath you legends let’s gooooo.”
Amyl and the Sniffers have taken home the Best Rock Album for Comfort to Me. It's the second time they've taken out this award. They are so cute. “Let’s have a pint.”
In true ARIA's form, they've given the best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal award to a decidedly not rock or heavy band. It's The Chats with 'Get Fucked'. Good for them, they seem like sweethearts. "They've accidentally awarded the best hard rock/heavy metal to The Chats. We hope someone will get fired for this colossal blunder."
Luude has taken out the Best Dance Electronic Release “Bloody oath you legends let’s gooooo.”
Okay, so I am in the actual ARIAS. I didn't have a ticket but this place is lawless. It's the first time the ceremony has been held at The Hordern Pavillion. It's usually held at the Crown Casino which I felt always had a weird Melbourne Cup vibe. This feels right. Champagne count one.
It's the ARIA Awards.
We're down here at the Hordern Pavillion, sweating our bollocks off in this concrete hell. There is someone filming a YouTube short about "RnB-inspired dumplings". I can't hear myself think, but that's fine — it's the music industry's night of night's baby, and we're live blogging all the action.
It's a hell of a year for Melbourne punks Amyl and the Sniffers and their tremendous album Comfort to Me. Amyl are up for Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album, Best Video, Best Australian Live Act and Best Produced Album. Baker Boy and his record Gela are close behind, earning nods for Album of the Year, Best Solo Artist, Best Hip Hop/Rap Release, Best Video, Best Australian Live Act, Best Cover Art, Best Mixed Album and Best Produced Album.
Also up for Album of the Year are realtime angels Gang of Youths for Angel In Realtime, King Stingray for their self-titled debut, and RÜFÜS DU SOL for Surrender.
Meanwhile, Baker Boy, Budjerah, Courtney Barnett, Daniel Johns, Flume, Ruel, The Kid LAROI, Thelma Plum and Vance Joy will fight over the much-coveted title of Best Solo Artist.
LIVE: THE RED CARPET
And early arrivals at this year's awards have already started gracing the carpet!
Former Wiggle Emma Watkins is first to appear.
Father-son duo Christian and Richard Wilkins arrive at Hordern Pavilion together, and couldn't be more contrasted in their looks.
Sparkles seem to be a feature of this year's carpet, with singer Reigan Derry arriving in a glitzy, structured gown.
Donned in a sheer, rainbow raincoat (?), Sydney-based musician Nick Ward chucks up a peace sign to a roaring crowd.
Frontier Touring Company founder Michael Chugg arrives in a patterned button-down paired with a navy blazer.
Emerging Australian talent Jxn (aka Jacko Brazier) stands tall to be photographed, working a matching Fendi bucket hat and bag.
Maori-Australian rapper Day1 (L) arrives in all black, accented with a Burberry cross-body bag and lemon yellow sneakers. His partner stuns in a skin-tight while long-sleeve dress, spurting into a mermaid finish at the floor-length hemline.
Draped in a red silk scarf, artist AMARNI throws an over the shoulder smoulder at the enthralled crowd.
Half-Australian, half-American indie-folk singer Grace Pitts (aka Graace) floated along the carpet, throwing coy smiles at the waiting photographers.
BARKAA, once dubbed "the new matriarch of Australian rap", arrives in a shadowed, monotone get-up.
Australian music sweetheart Dami Im rocks her trademark thick fringe, with a blouson-sleeved, Marimekko inspired frock.
Simple. Elegant. Chic. Kita Alexander poses on this year's ARIA's red carpet.
Lucinda Price (aka Froomes) is all smiles as she walks the carpet in a pink satin gown.
Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause and Australian musician G Flip walk arm in arm down the red carpet.
Rocking a fluro-green fluffy bucket hat, singer Tones and I waves delicately at the crowd.
Canberra-local Genesis Owusu rocks a tight mesh top covered in a fur vest, complete with bug-eyed shades.
Music legend Natalie Imbruglia stuns in a winged suit dress, offering big waves to the adoring crowd.
Three-time ARIA winner Vance Joy is the pinnacle of understated chicness at this year's awards.
2022 ARIA AWARD NOMINEES
Album of the Year
Amyl and The Sniffers – Comfort To Me (Virgin Music Australia)
Baker Boy – Gela (Island Records/Universal Music Australia)
Gang Of Youths – Angel In Realtime. (Mosy Recordings/Sony Music)
King Stingray – King Stingray (Cooking Vinyl/The Orchard)
RÜFÜS DU SOL – Surrender (Rose Avenue Records/Warner Music)
Best Solo Artist
Baker Boy – Gela (Island Records/Universal Music Australia)
Budjerah – Conversations (Warner Music Australia)
Courtney Barnett – Things Take Time, Take Time (Milk! Records/Remote Control Records)
Daniel Johns – FutureNever (BMG/ADA)
Flume – Palaces (Future Classic)
Julia Jacklin – PRE PLEASURE (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
Ruel – Growing Up Is____ (RCA/Sony Music)
The Kid LAROI – Thousand Miles (Columbia/Sony Music)
Thelma Plum – Meanjin (Warner Music Australia)
Vance Joy – In Our Own Sweet Time (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
Best Group
Amyl and The Sniffers – Comfort To Me (Virgin Music Australia)
Gang Of Youths – Angel in Realtime. (Mosy Recordings/Sony Music)
King Stingray – King Stingray (Cooking Vinyl/The Orchard)
Midnight Oil – Resist (Sony Music)
RÜFÜS DU SOL – Surrender (Rose Avenue Records/Warner Music)
Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist
Beddy Rays – Beddy Rays (Independent/Ditto Music)
Bella Taylor Smith – Look Me In The Eyes (EMI Music Australia)
Harvey Sutherland– Boy (Clarity Recordings/Virgin Music Australia)
King Stingray – King Stingray (Cooking Vinyl/The Orchard)
Luude – Down Under (ft. Colin Hay) (Sweat It Out/Warner Music)
Best Pop Release
Flume – Say Nothing (feat. May-A) (Future Classic)
RÜFÜS DU SOL – On My Knees (Rose Avenue Records/Warner Music)
The Kid LAROI – Thousand Miles (Columbia/Sony Music)
Thelma Plum – Meanjin (Warner Music Australia)
Vance Joy – Clarity (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
Best Dance / Electronic Release
Confidence Man – Tilt (I OH YOU/Mushroom)
Flume – Palaces (Future Classic)
Harvey Sutherland– Boy (Clarity Recordings/Virgin Music Australia)
Luude – Down Under (ft. Colin Hay) (Sweat It Out/Warner Music)
RÜFÜS DU SOL – Surrender (Rose Avenue Records/Warner Music)
Best Hip Hop / Rap Release
Baker Boy – Gela (Island Records/Universal Music Australia)
Barkaa – Blak Matriarchy (Bad Apples Music/Island Records Australia)
Chillinit – Family Ties (420 Family / Virgin Music Australia)
Day1 – MBAPPÉ (feat. KAHUKX) (db Music / Warner Music Australia)
The Kid LAROI & Fivio Foreign – Tokyo to Paris (Columbia/Sony Music)
Best Soul / R&B Release
Budjerah – Conversations (Warner Music Australia)
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks – Under These Streets (Cooking Vinyl Australia/The Orchard)
KIAN – SHINE (EMI Music Australia)
Vanessa Amorosi – City Of Angels (Scream Louder/MGM)
Best Independent Release
Archie Roach – One Song (Bloodlines/Mushroom Group)
Ball Park Music – Weirder & Weirder (Prawn Records/Inertia Music)
Courtney Barnett – Things Take Time, Take Time (Milk! Records/Remote Control Records)
Genesis Owusu – GTFO (Ourness)
Julia Jacklin – PRE PLEASURE (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
Best Rock Album
Amyl and The Sniffers – Comfort To Me (Virgin Music Australia)
Ball Park Music – Weirder & Weirder (Prawn Records/Inertia Music)
Gang Of Youths – Angel in Realtime. (Mosy Recordings/Sony Music)
King Stingray – King Stingray (Cooking Vinyl/The Orchard)
Spacey Jane – Here Comes Everybody (AWAL Recordings)
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Alex the Astronaut – How To Grow A Sunflower Underwater (Warner Music Australia)
Julia Jacklin – PRE PLEASURE (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
Missy Higgins – Total Control (Eleven: A Music Company / Universal Music Australia)
Vance Joy – In Our Own Sweet Time (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
Vika & Linda – The Wait (Bloodlines/Mushroom Group)
Best Country Album
Adam Brand – All Or Nothing (ABC Music)
Amber Lawrence – Living for the Highlights (ABC Music)
Andy Golledge – Strength of a Queen (I OH YOU/Mushroom)
Casey Barnes – Light It Up (Casey Barnes Entertainment/ Chugg Music)
Georgia State Line – In Colour (Cheatin Heart Records/Virgin Music Australia)
Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Album
Dune Rats – Real Rare Whale (BMG/ADA)
Northlane – Obsidian (Believe/Rocket)
Shihad – Old Gods (Warner Music NZ)
The Chats – Get Fucked (Bargain Bin Records / The Chats via Ingrooves)
Thornhill – Heroine (UNFD/The Orchard)
Best Blues & Roots Album
Charlie Collins – Undone (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
The Bamboos – Hard Up (BMG/ADA)
The Teskey Brothers with Orchestra Victoria – Live At Hamer Hall (Ivy League Records/Mushroom Group)
Thornbird – Thornbird (Thornbird/MGM)
William Crighton – Water and Dust (ABC Music)
Best Children’s Album
Benny Time – Benny and Friends (Independent)
Teeny Tiny Stevies – How To Be Creative (ABC Music)
The Beanies – Let’s Go! (ABC Music)
The Wiggles – ReWiggled (ABC Music)
“Where is the money?” Azealia Banks in pay dispute with Australian promoter
“You’re trying to use a character assassination as a means to not pay someone for work that they did," says the US rapper.
Margot Robbie in Barbie throws back to A Space Odyssey
Greta Gerwig has swindled us all with the first trailer for her upcoming film.