Thick Skin (Baker Boy song)
| "Thick Skin" | ||||
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| Single by Baker Boy featuring Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee'Anh, and Jada Weazel | ||||
| from the album Djandjay | ||||
| Released | 5 September 2025 | |||
| Length | 4:05 | |||
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| Baker Boy singles chronology | ||||
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| Thelma Plum singles chronology | ||||
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| "Thick Skin" on YouTube | ||||
"Thick Skin" is a song by Indigenous Australian musician Baker Boy featuring a "Blak choir" of female Indigenous vocalists - Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee'Anh, and Jada Weazel, released on 5 September 2025 as the fourth single from Baker Boy's second studio album Djandjay (2025).[1]
Upon release, Baker Boy said he wrote the song in response to the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum saying, "It wasn't anger at the result as much, I think it was the way mob became a topic of conversation and mottos like 'if you don't know vote no' encouraging ignorance. It highlighted the everyday experience of being Yolŋu, being Indigenous in this country, and that hit me hard."[1] He continued adding "It's not natural for me to express anger through my music. I have this reputation for positivity, but I think the punk-inspired production allowed me to really say what I wanted to say. It has let me express these feelings, express the anger, the chaos and frustration in a way that's new and experimental for me, but also in a way that was really authentic; it just came out of me."[2]
The song was performed at the 2025 AFL Grand Final in front of more than 100,000 people.[3][4]
At the APRA Music Awards of 2026 the song was shortlisted for Song of the Year.[5]
At the National Indigenous Music Awards 2026, the song won Film Clip of the Year and Song of the Year.[6][7]
Critical reception
Mary Varvaris from The Music (magazine) said the single "is fuelled with punk energy – surprise crunchy rock riffs alongside a furious Baker Boy – and is a celebration of Blak lives, culture and artistry, even in the darkest times."[1]
David James Young from Music Feeds said "'Thick Skin' is sonically inspired by punk rock – which, per Baker Boy's statement, is a sound he has wanted to pursue 'for a while', saying 'This felt like the perfect track for me to let loose in that space'".[8] The Note called the song "dynamic and powerful."[9]
Jake Millar from GQ Australia said "The track is fuelled with punk energy, blending raw emotion with a sense of powerful resilience."[3] Phoebe Blogg from National Indigenous Times called it "a defiant anthem of survival and solidarity."[2]
References
- 1 2 3 Varvaris, Mary (5 September 2025). "'I Was Angry': Baker Boy Opens Up About Punk-Inspired New Track "Thick Skin"". The Music (magazine). The Brag Media. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Baker Boy unveils hit new single". National Indigenous Times. 7 September 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- 1 2 ""I have lots of ideas, but I'm still young": Baker Boy is only just getting started". GQ Australia. 8 December 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ "Baker Boy talks new album Djandjay, Riverboats festival and family legacy". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ "APRA Song of the Year top 25 announced for centenary year". APRA Awards (Australia). 3 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ↑ "Baker Boy Dominates 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards Nominations". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 July 2026. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ Tilda Colling (8 August 2026). "Birdz and Fred Leone, Baker Boy among winners at 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ "Baker Boy Recruits Female Indigenous All-Stars For New Single "Thick Skin"". Music Feeds. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ "Baker Boy Shares Dynamic New Single "Thick Skin"". The Note. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2026.