Biography
Caiti Baker, a vocalist and front woman raised on the sounds that birthed popular music, released her debut album ZINC on October 6 2017. Born into a household filled with vinyl, CDs and tapes of blues, soul, gospel, jazz, big band and rock & roll, Caiti’s father, a blues musician himself, made sure that she was raised amongst music. Whether it was playing on the stereo, in the car, at a concert or attending week long festivals – music was everywhere.
As a child, Caiti developed a love and appreciation for the pioneering music but was drawn obsessively to Hip Hop, R&B, New Jack Swing and Neo soul. After being given an 8 track digital recorder, she learnt how to write and record songs on her own from the age of 12. Inspired by the greats like Aretha Franklin, Big Mamma Thornton, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Etta James and Little Walter; Caiti began to take notes on Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Destiny’s Child, Lauryn Hill, Janet Jackson and Faith Evans.
She got better at writing and singing and formed an electro-soul act with bass player and producer James Mangohig in her early 20s called Sietta. Together they enjoyed a successful career of releasing records (2 EPs and 2 albums), touring nationally and internationally as well as receiving regular radio play.
In the later months of 2014, Caiti decided to step out on her own. A catalyst for doing so began with the reunion between Caiti herself and her father after a 4 year falling out. Upon this reunion, Caiti’s father gave her a USB sample bank of his original guitar licks, harmonica ideas and riffs which were recorded on his mobile phone.
Passing the USB key to James Mangohig, who is now an ARIA nominated producer (Daniel Johns, Briggs), Caiti and James teamed up with ARIA award winning double bassist and producer Michael Hohnen (Dr G. Yunupingu, Tom E Lewis) to become a production force that no one can mess with. Together, the three of them have been writing, honing and recording songs that link 2 eras and a plethora of genres together to form a sound that is only unique to Caiti Baker.
In 2015, Caiti signed to Perambulator Records in Darwin. She released her debut single ‘Heavy On My Heart’ in August 2016 to great acclaim and in January 2017, Caiti released her second single ‘Make Your Own Mistakes’. In August 2017, drawing nearer to the completion of her debut album, Caiti released monster jam ‘Wolf’ to many rave reviews. Following it up with the fourth single ‘I Won’t Sleep’, an energetic driving track about regaining her identity after recovering from having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 6 years.
In the winter of 2015, she toured with and supported Dr. G Yunupingu on his Gospel Album Tour. Throughout 2016/17, Caiti has joined A.B. Original (Briggs and Trials) as a special guest on tour dates (Midnight Oil Supports, Hilltop Hoods Restrung Tour, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival) and festival gigs. She is also a featured vocalist for A.B. Original and has written and recorded on their 2 x ARIA Award winning debut album ‘Reclaim Australia’. Caiti is a backing vocalist for Briggs and is heavily affiliated with his record label Bad Apples. After debuting her music at the Darwin Festival (‘16), Caiti embarked on an extensive headline tour over 4 months down the east coast, followed by 2 support runs with Dan Sultan and Son Little (USA) where she was accompanied by celebrated guitarist Lindsay “The Doctor” McDougall.
So far, Caiti has played (with great acclaim) at renown music festivals Byron Bay Blues Festival and Womad. She has also supported Australian chart-topper Guy Sebastian and American legend Booker T. Caiti can also be heard and seen featuring on a track with Briggs which was written for the NRL Fox League called ‘Here’. Together, Briggs and Caiti performed the song live at Brisbane’s SunCorp Stadium for the National Indigenous Round Game in May. Caiti also found time to hang out in the studio with Pete Murray to lay down some backing vocals for 2 songs on his long awaited album ‘Camacho’. Whilst taking a break from touring to finish her album, Caiti attended and performed at the NT Song of The Year Awards. Her first single ‘Heavy On My Heart’ won best Blues & Roots song whilst her second single ‘Make Your Own Mistakes’ won best Pop song as well as ‘Song Of The Year’.
After the release of her debut album ZINC in October 2017, Caiti signed to MVKA in the UK/EUR. She then spent 10 weeks on the road touring the album’s launch; joining Briggs in attending and performing at the 2017 APRA Screen Music Awards and the NRL’s Dally M Awards and toured with A.B. Original. ZINC received 4 Star reviews from Rolling Stone, TheMusic.Com.Au and the Weekend Australian and was Album of The Week on Double J Radio and ABC Darwin. ZINC also came in at number 44 in Double J’s Top 50 Albums of 2017. To top the year off, Caiti was awarded Best Live Voice of the NT in the National Live Music Awards (NMLAs).
Caiti writes songs about what she knows and feels, sings with her soul and unashamedly performs the hell out of them. But that will all be obvious when you hear her music and watch her perform, which will have you either dancing or chilling with a grin on your face.