By Cassidy Parker
ROBERT Baxter is one of Shepparton’s many homegrown artists, and this year has seen them reach new heights – opening for G Flip at Margaret Court Stadium, being Triple J’s Unearthed feature artist, and releasing their latest song ‘MUSIC 2 MY EARS’ just last Thursday.
Robert had dedicated the last three years to pursuing a music career, recently becoming a full-time artist, however they have a long history across different art forms, both locally and further afield.
“As soon as I was born, I always wanted to perform. I’d watch Michael Jackson and Britney Spears on TV when I was young.”
“My parents were always supportive of it – you can basically do whatever you want in life, just work hard at it.”
Robert was always involved in whatever Greater Shepparton had available, whether that was acting, dancing, singing, or song writing. In high school, through the Kool Skools program, they developed a passion for songwriting and would go on to release a few songs over the years.
For many years, their love for dancing took the forefront, working as a dance teacher at Amy Newton Dance Studio, teaching choreography for local theatre productions, and performing in productions.
“I was kind of thinking I was going to be a dance teacher forever, or maybe open a performing arts school, or something like that.”
Robert moved to Melbourne full-time in 2022, saying the pandemic became the catalyst for them to look for another path in the creative industry.
“When Covid happened, there was just so many times where we’d work on a show for like six months, and then it would get cancelled, and I just felt like I wanted to do something else.”
Since this move, Robert has hit some major milestones across their different disciplines. Walking in Melbourne Fashion Week, being a digital cover star on magazines in Malaysia and the Philippines, guest starring on Spicks and Specks, going on tour with major Australian girl-group Blusher, joining Australia’s longest standing ballroom family House of Silky, and releasing music with their peers in the local Australian music scene.
Being picked as Triple J’s unearthed artist in March meant aside from having their music featured heavily on Triple J, they were offered the opportunity to open for G Flip, a multi-platinum Australian musician.
“It was crazy. They only told me nine days before, and I was meant to take the weekend off. But then when I got the call I was like, obviously I’m doing it – it’s G Flip and it’s Margaret Court.”
“Also, the stage was so long. I’m not used to running around for that long, I kind of ran out of breath.”
Robert’s love for music, despite taking them across the world, has been grown and cultivated locally, and they gave recognition to the local arts community that supported them as they grew creatively.
“Well, if we’re doing shout outs it has to be Ryan Black and Jason Giuliani as the two who got me started in songwriting…they really encouraged me and they taught me a lot about songwriting and music.”
“Obviously Amy Newton who runs Amy Newton Dance Studios, she’s always believed in me. If ever I had a gig in Melbourne she’d be like ‘Yeah, go do that gig. We’re always going to be here for you whenever you need us.'”
“Jamie Lea as well… she probably gave me my first gig when I was like 15 years old, a little singing gig. Casey Fogarty too– my teachers and mentors, love them.”
In their new music, Robert is inspired by the sound of iconic artists like the Black-eyed Peas, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. “That’s my trifecta.”
“I think there’s a few things that are important to the music. It’s the way it makes people feel, the way it makes people move, like what’s the message behind it, the visibility for my community.
“If you’re somebody in Shepparton who’s trying to do something a bit off the path, you have to make the choice…It’s hard to do a job that I don’t like and it’s hard to do a job that I love that makes less money, you just have to make the choice on what your priorities are.”
“To do anything out of the ordinary, you have to have a growth mindset.”
