Baker Boy Recruits Briggs & Haiku Hands for New Single ‘FREAK OUT’
“‘FREAK OUT’ is all about the bratty energy, it’s a bit of an f you to the man, to the ‘grown ups’ and to the system but done in kind of a cheeky and playful way,” says Baker Boy.
Image Sulaiman Enayatzada
First Nations superstar Baker Boy has unveiled his chaotic new single, ‘FREAK OUT’.
Following his banger ‘PEACEKEEPER’, which dropped earlier this year, Baker Boy’s latest is a thunderous collaboration with Yorta-Yorta/Wurundjeri/Wemba-Wemba man Briggs and indie electronic act Haiku Hands.
Baker Boy co-wrote ‘FREAK OUT’ alongside Briggs, Haiku Hands, Rob Amoruso, Pip Norman, Ziggy Ramo and REDD. Speaking on the track, Baker Boy says, “‘FREAK OUT’ is all about the bratty energy, it’s a bit of an f you to the man, to the ‘grown ups’ and to the system but done in kind of a cheeky and playful way.
“It hits on the very real experiences of being a Yolŋu man in the city and living in the white world. The reality of balanda (non-Yolŋu) people touching my hair, tokenising me, and telling me how to live my life, but me taking back that control, and being like “nah I’m not putting up with this, I’m going to live the way I want to.”
Reflecting on working with Briggs and Haiku Hands, Baker Boy adds, “Briggs brings this huge energy, reinforcing that we’re not going to conform, we’re not going to be a statistic, we’re not going to fit their stereotype, he’s braggy and arrogant, but keeps it playful and clever. Then Haiku comes in and brings the big feminist boss energy; they’re bold and not holding back, again this idea of like nah, we’re not conforming to what you want us to be, we’re doing what we want and taking ownership.”
Briggs was just as excited to team up with Baker Boy on their first musical project: “It’s about time! I’ve known Danzal for nearly 10 years; I watched him grow as a person and an artist - Yolngu & Yorta-Yorta connecting again!”
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‘FREAK OUT’ is accompanied by a music video co-directed and co-produced by Baker Boy’s longtime creative collaborator Aurie Indianna and Melbourne filmmaker Jordan Ruyi Blanch (Hilltop Hoods, Memphis LK), the same team who created the video for ‘PEACEKEEPER’.
“It’s still dance-focused, but with a different energy to ‘PEACEKEEPER’,” Baker Boy says of the music video. “It's stronger and bolder. I’m owning the space more in this one. The vibe is fun, cheeky, and a little chaotic, just like the track.”
Aurie Indianna shares, “Picking up where ‘PEACEKEEPER’ left off, with Baker Boy transitioning from the balcony into the ballroom, we again used dance as a nod to his origins, but this time to challenge and disrupt the grandeur of the space. We wanted a sense of growing chaos throughout the video. It begins with sharp, choreography-led moments that show a new staunchness in Baker Boy's performance.
“As Briggs and Haiku Hands enter, the energy becomes more chaotic. Briggs brings undeniable power, while Haiku Hands inject playful, feminist strength. Again, such a joy to co-direct this with Jordan, and Hena's choreography really anchored the piece with movement that felt powerful but playful.”
Baker Boy’s ‘FREAK OUT’ is available now via all good streaming platforms.
