Hinemoana Baker

During a 27-minute interview recorded in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, Hinemoana Baker discusses various aspects of life, threading together strands of personal and professional experiences. As an individual of mixed heritage with Maori roots from their paternal side and European ancestry from their maternal side, Baker has carved out a diverse career as a writer, musician, teacher, sometime producer, and a counselor for individuals attempting to quit smoking.

Baker's passion for writing and music has been a lifelong journey, beginning with an ambitious book-writing attempt at the age of eight. Throughout their teenage years and into university, poetry became a significant outlet for expression, leading to formal literary education, including a master's course with Bill Manhire. Despite the early critique, Baker persevered, and writing remained a fixture of their identity, aligning with the advice once given by their accountant to pursue what one loved doing as a child.

In their personal life, Baker opens up about being bisexual and the nuanced reactions of familial support and aversion they've encountered. Despite certain family members' adverse reactions, Baker felt a sense of acceptance from their parents, who supported their literary and musical endeavors, although they misunderstood the implications of Baker being bisexual.

Professionally, Baker has experienced highs, such as having their first poetry book co-published by Victoria University Press and actor Viggo Mortensen, which significantly raised their profile. Likewise, their music journey has included a unique collaboration with their partner, Christine White, in a duo that incorporates unconventional instruments to create a singular aural landscape.

Baker touches upon the challenges of depression, an underlying struggle that has affected their ability to create consistently. However, they approach it with proactive strategies and are candid about the impact of mental health on their artistic process.

Reflecting on their creative work, Baker articulates an abiding interest in sound, whether through poetry, music, or field recordings. They describe a particular project undertaken in Australia involving sonic poems, and they speak of embarking on writing a novel, a new and arduous adventure for them.

Throughout the interview, Baker also addresses the intersection of identity and art. They discuss feeling othered and occasionally typecast based on their Maori heritage, urging a wider recognition of artists and individuals as multifaceted beings rather than constrained identities. Themes of inclusivity and the evolving nature of labels and identification permeate Baker's perspective.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Hinemoana Baker

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