Almost A Dirty Dozen with BAYBE – May 2023

According to a recent press release: “Dynamic pop/rap/metal artist BAYBE has today released her debut EP, God’s Favorite. A collection of songs that explore the singer’s condemnable views on religion, God’s Favorite features aggressive, tongue-in-cheek lyricism as BAYBE writes about pride, lust, envy and other deadly sins. Fans can check out the EP. Miami-born and Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and producer BAYBE stalks pop hooks from the shadows of off-kilter hard rock punctuated by hip-hop with an aesthetic befitting of an A24 mindfuck. In the end, BAYBE is here to stay, and she’s coming for you…” We get Baybe to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

I think the lyrics of the EP probably hold their attention upon first listen-through, but I think the second time through they might pick up on some cooler musical moments. I incorporated a lot of intricate drum and guitar patterns, influenced by the metal music I grew up listening to, so I tucked them in under more pop-leaning song structures and melodies. There are definitely some hidden nuggets in these songs, that will be referenced in future releases.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I was born into a musical family, so music was very accessible to me. I knew I wanted to be a singer since I was three years old, but I don’t think it was until I took piano lessons at ten years old when I realized music was going to be something much bigger to me.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Definitely. I am deeply and profoundly influenced by the music I grew up listening to, but it’s never what quite people expect. My favorite genre growing up was Christian Rock, so my favorite bands were Relient K, Red, and Family Force 5. All three of these bands blew me away when I heard them on recordings, and then blew me away a second time when I saw them live. I can’t remember the last time I saw a show that measured up to them. I eventually broadened what I listened to and got into post hardcore, indie rock, rap and hip-hop, but I’d say my music taste and songwriting style is directly attributed to those three bands.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

That’s a hard one. I have a favorite artist in each genre individually, but I’d say overall what would be the most fun and fit the best, would have to be Ashnikko. I am obsessed with her artistry. Our voices are extremely different but our styles are similar so I think it would be a cool collaboration.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I’d say finding a coffee shop I’ve never been to. I have like 6 cups a day, it’s a problem. Either that or playing pool.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I’d say the genre people mostly describe me as is, “metal hip-hop”, which I think fits. A lot of people make the Melanie Martinez comparison which I don’t agree with at all. I’m a fan of hers, but I just get frustrated when people hear my more high-pitched voice and put me in that box. Our music couldn’t be more different.

7. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Last week. I saw one of my favorite folk singers live, Henry Jamison, here in Nashville. Whenever I meet someone I respect so deeply as a musician, I do the opposite of what would be normal and become really distant and weird. I think I gave him a dirty look at one point.

8. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

I think the best part would be performing live. It’s the thing I look the most forward to as a musician. If I weren’t doing music, I’d definitely do something within film. I think that’s a pretty common crossover, audio into visual arts. I’ve always been really into video editing, so maybe I’d do that.

9. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I think overall I don’t particularly enjoy talking about my own music or what I have going on (which I know is the point of interviews), so I love when interviewers ask questions like “what’s your go-to coffee order” or something silly like that. It gives my brain a break for a second.

10. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I don’t think so. I used to “die a thousand deaths” over things that I wish I would’ve done or said differently, or things I could take back, but I was driving myself crazy. Now I’m just happy to be doing what I love, and I believe everything that has happened up to this point was meant to be.

11. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Easy. Speak For Yourself by Imogen Heap, 2005. This record has changed my thought process on a lot of things musically, and it just the most unique, fascinating record to me probably of all time. Even with my favorite artists, I can picture their writing process for their records and get it. But with this one, I do not understand how they did a lot of what they did, so I would absolutely kill to see it in person.

BAYBE LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews