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Photo – Tom Nethersole

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Praise for ROBERT BAXTER

“glossy and lush…The perfect soundtrack to escape and get lost in.” – Claire Mooney, triple j

“left of centre production and emotive lyricism” – Tommy Faith, triple j Unearthed

“immaculate” – Dave Ruby Howe, triple j Unearthed

“Robert Baxter is an artist you need to be acquainted with immediately” – Thomas Bleach

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Naarm/Melbourne-via-Yorta Yorta Country/Shepparton artist, producer and creative powerhouse Robert Baxter (they/he/she) today shares their multi-sensory, deeply-saturated new single ‘blue’, arriving alongside an accompanying self-directed video. An unapologetic expression of raw, unfiltered emotion that decries those who’d rather manipulate and conceal, ‘blue’ follows Baxter’s previous cut ‘tokyo’ released this past August is out everywhere now – stream HERE.

Written in the wake of the second death of a relationship and inspired by the haze of blue LED lights that surrounded some of their most intimate moments, ‘blue’ details the frustration and pain of being the only one in a situation who is willing to truly open up emotionally. Sung with an undeniable but endlessly compelling sense of melancholia over Baxter’s viscerally textured alt-pop production that skitters and oscillates, ‘blue’ is a statement of heart-on-sleeve authenticity that will resonate with fans of Godford, Troye Sivan, and Cub Sport. Of the track, which was recorded in their bedroom with additional production from Alex Garla (YARA), Robert Baxter says, “Blue is a graphic portrayal of me openly expressing my emotions regardless of the outcome. It details the way people can conceal or block their own feelings, in turn taking advantage of the honesty I give. Whether that is in a relationship, friendship, with family etc, everyone has experienced letting someone in and feeling betrayed when they change depending on their surroundings. I believe in leading with honesty and love even when it gets you hurt.”

The ‘blue’ video was choreographed by Robert Baxter, Deanne Francisco and Nicole Sanders, and features all-Asian dancers and behind the scenes crew. Filmed on the top level of the a parking garage adjacent to Naarm/Melbourne’s Chinatown district, Baxter wanted to create a dystopian blue landscape that is at once intruiging yet uncomfortable for viewers, while channeling some of pop music’s greats. They share, “My last video for ‘Twenty Something’ was like a coming of age movie, but for ‘blue’ one I wanted to give pure pop star: Janet Jackson, Britney Spears. We build a super cast and super crew of all Asian people, and after we wrapped on filming day I just sat in my car and cried. I can’t even describe how proud this makes my inner little Robert, to be the representation I always needed to see growing up.” 

A true performer at heart from a young age, Robert Baxter makes soft but mighty confessional pop that fizzes over with feeling, evoking the most iconic moments in an early 00s movie – viewed through a queer lens and refracted with the truth of their own experiences. With a wholly organic writing process that often involves “sitting at the piano and dumping my emotions out”, their creative practice is underpinned by a profound respect for artists who speak openly about topics that are seen by others as taboo. Drawing from a rich background as a dancer and actor, having appeared in music videos and ads for Tones and I, Spotify, Nike, BIRDZ (‘Place of Dreams‘ ft. Ecca Vandal), Alex the Astronaut (‘I Think You’re Great‘) and more – also a model who recently walked Australian Fashion Week, a member of the Naarm ballroom scene, and director and stylist across all their music videos – Baxter now steps into the spotlight to cement their own identity as a musician, something bolstered by their appointment as the face of youth music organisation The Push.

Since making a pivotal move from beat-making in their rural bedroom to Naarm in 2022, they’ve already sold out two headline shows, appeared at Midsumma and Victoria Pride, plus supported Vetta Borne and MULALO among others, and starred in a short biographical film created by Arts Centre Melbourne titled Together Experiences: Robert’s Story. Across independently released singles ‘Summer Is Over’ (2019), ‘Tamagotchi’ (2021), ‘Twenty Something’, ‘Just For The Night’ (2022) and ‘tokyo’ (2023), their work has attracted support from Music Feeds, Demure Mag, Verve Zine, triple j Unearthed, FBi Radio, SYN, 3CR, and more.

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Robert Baxter – ‘blue’
Single out today | Stream

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Connect with ROBERT BAXTER:
YouTube · Instagram · Spotify · Apple Music
robertbaxter.one

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Photo – Tom Nethersole

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AMNPLIFY – DB