Mary of the North
CAITI BAKER’S STUNNING second solo album, Mary of the North, is an odyssey and an ode to the landscapes and stories of the Territory she loves.
By Anna Dowd
This month, you’re invited to pull up a pew at Darwin Entertainment Centre’s (DEC) Playhouse Theatre as Baker performs the whole album for the first time ever.
“Mary is a spirit character of the north,” Baker says of the enigmatic title of her concept album.
“She’s a mood, a vibe, an energy. She’s someone born here, someone visiting. She’s a certain plant. She’s an element of myself. She’s all the things.”
Teaming up with local producer James Mangohig (aka Kuya James), the pair came up with the idea of creating a soundtrack for a movie that doesn’t exist yet. One monsoon later, they emerged with just that.
“It was very much inspired by James and his influences, from T Bone Burnett to Ludwig Göransson, who scored The Mandalorian and the Star Wars TV show, an amazing producer.”
Baker’s origins in a family of blues musicians, old western movies and living in the epic Top End environment were also major references for the album, which includes genres from country blues, to R’n’B and trip-hop.
“The whole journey of Mary as she narrates through the album is really an ode to the history, culture and land of the Northern Territory, especially with respect to the weather, which up here, rules.”
Baker’s album release is the perfect way to kick off the Settle Down Sessions, a monthly night of music with Settle Down Records’ artists and friends at DEC.
With guest appearances from fellow Settle Down Sisters including Stevie Jean and Serina Pech, and an all-Darwin, all-star cast of musicians, this is a one-of-a-kind night of music, dancing and storytelling not to be missed.
If this is the soundtrack, we can’t wait for the movie.
Settle Down Sessions: Caiti Baker and a Night with Mary of the North
WHEN FRI 13 NOV | 8PM
AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST $20
INFO yourcentre.com.au
Photo: Duane Preston
