Robert Baxter dropped their latest EP PARTYANIMAL today! After a whirlwind year, and midway through a support slot on Ashnikko’s tour, we were keen to know how they were feeling and what we can expect from their latest record.
For anyone who’s just beginning to discover you as an artist can you share a little about your journey to this point?
If you don’t know me yet, hey nice to meet you <3. I grew up in the country and they were like don’t be gay, don’t be a popstar and I said ‘Wait, let me do both’! When I moved to the city people were listening and so I started to play a lot of shows, just hundreds of shows wherever I could. It was my training ground so that now when I play bigger stages I’m ready for it. I mix elements of genres, mix in my dance/model/theatre backgrounds, I push buttons and say what I want because at the end of the day if you agree with my values and like my music you’re hot and have good taste and good morals and are a baddie <3
And it feels like since STARGIRL dropped you’ve had a HUGE year and a bit. What have been the highlights?
It has been crazy wonderful stunning amazing. I stopped having a day job! I am opening for Ashnikko right now, played my first international show and opened for G Flip in my first arena. I played Dark Mofo, and booked Beyond the Valley. People who doubted me making it are behind me now, I’m a certified pop star.
Releasing the singles of PARTYANIMAL has been so fun. I can’t even remember everything honestly I need to take some time to reflect. The best part is I have grown my team with some amazing people and I continue creating sexy art with my sexy friends.
Now you’re just days out from releasing your latest EP PARTYANIMAL. How are you feeling?
I’m feeling amazing! Like there is a lot going on don’t get me wrong but I have achieved so many of my dreams. I’m so proud of this record and can’t wait for you to hear it.
Can you tell me a little more about the process of creating this EP? Do you feel like your songwriting and recording process has changed over time?
A lot of these songs were actually the magic that was made the first time I met someone, I <3 GIRLS, ICY (TAKE IT OFF), NAMELESS and BRB were all made in a first session with each producer. I’ve always wanted to make dance pop music and it’s been cool to have people from different genres come together and explore different sounds.
Something I really like about the EP is how it’s this very high energy pop/dance vibe but the emotions behind that are quite dynamic, like there’s a lot of vulnerability in there too. Is that a fair assessment of it, and is it something you were consciously aware of as the record was being created?
I am a really honest person, I love to confront my own and other people’s feelings a lot. Maybe too much. So I definitely don’t go into a session being like let me write something vulnerable today, I just am vulnerable-sexy-sad-hot-confident-passionate-loving all at once all the time and the music is a reflection of me. So definitely a fair assessment, I love drama and contrast in both lyrics and production.
What are you hoping people take from the EP?
I hope they take the knowledge that they’ve found their new favourite popstar.
And what’s your favourite track on PARTYANIMAL and why?
No comment I can’t answer that >:) Nah it changes all the time, right now BRB and the music video just came out and I’m on such a high from it. I am proud of the way I wrote that and conveyed my message. Some songs are for headphones, some songs are for live shows, some songs are for the culture and BRB feels like all of them to me.
Outside the EP, you’ve had a lot of other things going on. You’re supporting Ashnikko on tour very soon! Which is so exciting. Having seen you live, I feel like this is a really great fit for you, but for those who haven’t seen your show before, what should they expect? (Or is there anything new we should expect from PARTYANIMAL era Robert Baxter?)
Expect drama and sing-a-longs and passion and empowerment and gags and long legs and tall heels and gorgeous hair. Also just a moment of connection for the crowd, like in Robert Baxter land the underrepresented are the top dogs, and I dedicate my life to creating a space for them.
You’ve often spoken about your work championing queer POC representation. Are you comfortable sharing a little more about what that looks like, and why that’s something you’re so passionate about?
When I was growing up I would’ve given anything to have someone like me to look up to, and I’ve spent my whole life trying to become that someone. I don’t have to think about it too hard, the creatives I surround myself with and who are in my videos are people I love so much, I connect to people who are part of my community really easily and I can’t imagine it any other way. Most of the media highlights the majority, it’s the stories that have been told before by similar people. I am highlighting the minority.
And, you also spoke at the Victoria Music Assembly recently about your experiences. You did a wonderful job articulating so many of the challenges that independent artists face in the industry. This might be a difficult question to answer but if you could change one thing in the industry to make it better for up and coming artists, what would that be?
I think because of the way the industry is built, access, connections and budgets are all such high priorities. My peers who are the full package – talented, kind, have good taste and work their asses off, they deserve to make a living off music. I don’t know how it changes yet but having those attributes should be rewarded with success.
And finally, I always end every interview asking for some recommendations of some musicians you’re enjoying at the moment who you think need a bit more love.
Today I’m going to give my love to Sweatbaby, Keelan Mak, Hylander, Tough Break, Rocky Stallone, Altara, Arum Flowers – everyone who worked on PARTYANIMAL with me. A couple of those snuck in from the UK, but I mostly work with incredible Australian musicians and I ride for them. I’m so proud to be making Aus pop music.