Local producer, engineer and musician Joby Baker has got something special in the oven at his studio in Sevenoaks. For the last three months, Baker has been working with Emmy Award-winning musician Toni Childs to record her new album, Citizens of the Planet — her fifth studio album and first since 2008’s Keep the Faith.
Toni is a celebrated singer/songwriter known for her powerful voice and inspiring spirit. She has fans in 44 countries around the world and has produced a list of international hits including “Don’t Walk Away”, “Stop Your Fussin,” and the Emmy Award-winning song “Because You’re Beautiful.” She’s opened for Bob Dylan and performed duets with greats such as Al Green and Peter Gabriel.
Baker was introduced to Childs by local muscian Adam Dobres, who played with Childs when she came to play a benefit concert in Victoria in 2006. Dobres (Guitar), along with Chris Van Sickle (Keys), and Oliver Swain (bass) would go on to collaborate and tour with Childs over the next five years.
“Citizens of the Planet has the spirit of Victoria in its bones,” says Childs. “The sound is the culmination of work that began here in Victoria almost five years ago. Hooking up with Joby Baker was the missing piece in the evolution pie. I feel that I’ve stepped through a wormhole — into a whole new vibrant sound. This is what you hope to do as an artist: grow, evolve, take chances, and fly. This was my intention. It was important to me to make an album that I felt is relevant to our time. I feel with Citizens of the Planet I can say I’ve done that.” M
Catch Childs
Fri., Sept. 30, 7:30pm at St. Andrew’s Church (924 Douglas).
Tickets $30 through 250-386-6121, Lyle’s Place or Ditch Records.