BARKAA is feeling triumphant. Just three days ago, the proud Malyangapa, Barkindji woman attended the 2024 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) in Larrakia/Darwin, glamourous in a sequinned frock, and scooped two awards – most notably Artist Of The Year. She celebrated modestly.
“We were at the front of our motel in the gutter ’til 4 am, but just living on laughs and Coca-Cola and sugar,” BARKAA laughs. “It’s still setting in; it’s still very surreal. I’m like, ‘Ahhh…’ Come home to reality with the babies, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I won an award.’ They’re just like, ‘Ah.'”
BARKAA is Zooming from her publicist’s office in Eora/Sydney. Even fresh-faced and sporting athleisure, the star is glowing. The chat is less an interview than a “yarn”.
Auspiciously, the rapper’s win has coincided with the rollout of a new EP, Big Tidda, which follows her acclaimed debut, Blak Matriarchy, and features the defiant bangers We Up and Preach. Big Tidda is bold, cheeky, and tender as it chronicles how Chloe Quayle became the BARKAA of today.
“This is BARKAA. This is ‘Chloe’. This is BARKAA as a mum. This is BARKAA being proud of herself. This is BARKAA big noting and showing off. And this is BARKAA being reflective… I kind of wanted to showcase all parts of me as a woman.”
BARKAA’s story is one of tribulation – and resilience. She was raised by her mother, a member of the Stolen Generation, in public housing in Western Sydney.
A student of hardcore ’90s hip-hop and embracing the local gutter movement exemplified by the Indigenous/Fijian trailblazer Sky’High, BARKAA rapped in school and battled in Blacktown. However, the teen experienced addiction, homelessness and incarceration. She now declines to be defined by trauma. Instead, BARKAA is a Malyangapa, Barkindji mother of three with a dream, a purpose and a vocation. She believes in self-actualisation.
The bedroom MC assumed control of her life and narrative as BARKAA – the Barkindji name for Darling River. Soon, she generated waves with her protest rap – delivering compelling truthtelling about the legacy of colonialism while promoting Blak solidarity.
BARKAA broke out in 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with her anthem For My Tittas. But it was OUR Lives Matter that impacted as the Black Lives Matter movement gained global momentum.
Impressed, Briggs signed BARKAA to Bad Apples Music. She teamed with the seasoned DJ/producer jayteehazard to cut 2021’s Blak Matriarchy, a celebration of Blak lineage and reaffirmation of sovereignty.
An elated BARKAA was included in the YouTube Black Voices Music Class Of 2022, her face on billboards globally. She went on to receive two ARIA nominations for Blak Matriarchy. King Brown, a missive to an ex-partner, won Song Of The Year at the NIMAs.
Since Blak Matriarchy, BARKAA has grown in confidence – and she decided to express her emotional and artistic range. “I feel like Blak Matriarchy will always be my baby; that will always be everything. My whole heart, my whole story is put into that. [But] with Big Tidda, I just wanted to showcase all elements of me – like my nurturing side, my mother’s side, my silly, goofy side…
“There’s still that radical flair in it, but I just really wanted to flex on ’em – do a little showcase of who I am as a person and kind of paint the picture of what life is like for me now; that I’m no longer just surviving, I’m thriving now. There’s so much to celebrate in my life now and so many blessings.
“My kids no longer want for anything, and we’re just really thriving – not just at home, but in my career and in my life, in my friendships… Some days are still rough, but they’ve come a long way since where we were.”
BARKAA’s progress has been about challenging herself creatively. “It’s a beautiful thing to get uncomfortable, change, and grow.”
Big Tidda thematises Blak joy, love and sisterhood. BARKAA penned Alinta for her daughter Alinta-Jade – and it’s her favourite song (the precocious teen has cameoed in her videos and even conceived the Preach artwork). She was in “a really good space.”
“I got a lot of negative people out of my life,” BARKAA confides. “I had a year’s long writer’s block prior to writing this EP. And then, when I got everybody out – like [people] who were keeping me back – it just came to fruition.
“It just all came to me – and the words came back, the passion came back, the inspiration came back… [Big Tidda] comes from a really good place in my life where I felt really empowered again.”
Still, BARKAA admits to shading “certain people” on the project. “I’m kind of poking the bear,” she chuckles. Yet, BARKAA stresses, “All around, I want mob to feel special – except some… Nah, I’m joking… But mainly it’s like big-note yourself! Be proud; you’re allowed to be. Radicalness is also having Blak joy – and Blak joy and Blak love is radical in its form.”
Crucially, BARKAA reveals a new vulnerability. “It’s alright to be soft,” she pauses. “But, when it’s time to be hard, go for it!”
BARKAA surprised herself in the studio. “I’m more experimental with my sound now. I’m not just putting myself in a box. I tend to put myself in a box because I’m like, ‘Oh, this is more palatable’ or ‘This is what others want.’ [But] I don’t wanna put myself in a box anymore. I’m capable of everything that I wanna do. I’ve got the opportunities to be who I wanna be and go where I wanna go.”
BARKAA is generous in acknowledging her collaborators’ input. “It’s funny, it’s called Big Tidda – [but] a lotta men worked on it,” she quips.
The MC reunited with jayteehazard. “I’m probably gonna work with jaytee ’til the wheels fall off – I absolutely love him.” But she also connected with Nerve, the Meanjin/Brisbane grime progeny helming Preach. BARKAA describes him affectionately as “a freak” in terms of his production prowess. “He’s taken my sound to a place where I never thought it would go to.”
In choosing guests, BARKAA has brought in her Gomeroi “brother” Kobie Dee, the “deadly” Tongan, Māori, and Indigenous Australian rapper Say True God? (lately heard on 3%‘s KILL THE DEAD). Plus, she features rising singer/songwriter Minty (“a beautiful brother boy”) on Fruition, coincidentally her mum’s pick.
Here, BARKAA was inspired by Nooky‘s Indigenous mentorship initiative, We Are Warriors. “I remember Brother Nooky always said that it was his mission to always put his hand back to artists and lift them up with him when he was going up; to always put your hand back and to bring mob with you.”
These days BARKAA looks to the future, enjoying the momentum of her achievements. In fact, she’s contemplating a debut album, sitting on “a whole heap of songs” post-Big Tidda.
Not that the storyteller is in any rush. “I really wanna put out an album. But, for a debut album, I want it to be everything that I pictured it to be.
“So it’s on the cards. I don’t know when… I’m a bit of a perfectionist sometimes – or a bit of my own worst critic.
“But, yeah, it’s in the motions. I’ve already got a name for it. But I just gotta create. I just wanna really get on Country with my people and do something really big and special for it.”
In 2024, women are at the forefront of pop – and hip-hop has a big female energy. BARKAA blazed on 2020’s remix of Rico Nasty‘s Magic alongside MADAM3EMPRESS (now Shanae), and she guested on Milan Ring‘s neo-soul opus I’m Feeling Hopeful. BARKAA jokes about “manifesting” a collab with Beyoncé or Rihanna (“I know she’s not doing music anymore”).
Nevertheless, BARKAA’s priority is to liaise with Blak acts – hinting at a Blakfella mixtape. “I’ve always said, ‘My job’s here.’ My idols in this music industry have been Blak. So I just really wanna work with my brothers and sisters in this industry.” As it happens, BARKAA has recorded a verse for an unreleased remix of Christine Anu’s 1995 Party. “I just love Auntie Christine!”
BARKAA played her first headline dates this year, additionally selling out a Vivid concert at the Sydney Opera House. Come late September, she’ll tour behind Big Tidda. “I’m excited for these shows,” BARKAA enthuses. “I’m on top of my game.” She cherishes performing for “mob”.
Then, she’ll hit the festival circuit over the summer, joining the blockbuster Beyond The Valley and Wildlands with FISHER, Ice Spice and Tinashe. “I’ll be drinking lots of coffees and lots of Vs and lots of honey.”
Ironically, now that music is her profession, BARKAA has little chance to pursue hobbies. She mostly appreciates quality family time.
“I love to hang out with my daughter. She’s big on skincare, hair care, and face masks. So she tends to really ground me – my baby.”
BARKAA is a craftsperson. “I do love to draw, and I love to paint. I love to make jewellery with my mum… But those things have had to go.” She winces.
Mindfulness is important. BARKAA cherishes being by the water and listening to playlists. “Water really calms me. Being from River Country, I love being on the water – and being a Pisces as well…”
Ultimately, like many a parent, BARKAA struggles with work/life balance. “It’s just making time, hey – ’cause, sometimes when you’re just so busy… I think my self-care is sleep! But as mums, and working mums, it’s like, what time do we have to ourselves?” She laughs. Trust BARKAA to find a way
BARKAA’s new EP, Big Tidda, is out now—you can buy or stream it here. Catch BARKAA on the following tour dates:
BARKAA
BIG TIDDA NATIONAL TOUR
Saturday 21 September – The Rechabite, Boorloo/Perth WA (tickets here)
Sunday 28 September – Altar, Lutruwita/Hobart TAS (tickets here)
Friday 4 October – Lion Arts Factory, Kaurna/Adelaide SA (tickets here)
Friday 11 October – The Brightside, Meanjin/Brisbane QLD (tickets here)
Friday 18 October – The Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne VIC (tickets here)
Saturday 2 November – Oxford Arts Factory, Eora/Sydney NSW (tickets here)
