Introducing Interview: Baby Queens

Having released their eponymous debut album last year, and with airplay from the likes of Huw Stephens and Fern Cotton under their belts, things are looking bright in the world of Cardiff band Baby Queens.

Skilfully fusing together elements of RnB, hiphop and sugary pop, Baby Queens are able to create instant anthems and, with an absolutely mind-blowing live set, I’ve no doubt we’ll be hearing a lot more from them over the next year.

We caught up with Baby Queens to find out more…

Hi Baby Queens, welcome to Gigslutz! Can you tell us how you all first met?
Well, we are all close friends and family members, so we all used to hang out together as friends and family before it ever occurred to us to start a band. We all made music independently, but used to hang out in the big living room at me and Estelle’s house, where we had a PA system, mics and all the guitars set up – we would all hang out in the evenings, just jammin and free styling together. One day it just hit us, and we were like “these songs are real… we should make a band” … And Baby Queens was born!

What would you say it is it that makes you stand out from other artists?
Well, I guess it’s kinda unusual these days to find an all female live band; the majority of girl groups are vocal groups not musicians as such. The fact we play all our own instruments and write all our own tunes is, unfortunately, kind of a rarity these days! We fuse many different genres together to create our sound, so I guess that is kinda unique, and we write from our hearts with the hope to inspire some positive change – music is powerful and we are aware of the vibe and tone of most music that’s going out to a female market being pretty immoral lyric-wise, with a heap of auto tune etc. So, our aim is to create “real” music with heart and soul and feeling that people can connect to.

Last year’s self-titled debut album is awesome! Can you tell us some of the inspirations behind it?
Thank you! Well, every track was written from our own life experiences and the people in our lives. The album covers many different subjects content-wise, from finding love to losing love, honouring lost family members, a friend recovering from cancer, domestic abuse, Anti Racism/pro unity, spiritualism, beauty, truth, pain… It’s all in there!

What’s your favourite track on the album and why?
My favourite track personally is ‘By the River’ – I love the trippy, spaced-out feel, it takes me away somewhere beautiful.

I recently saw you live at The Social in London, and was completely blown away! How was that experience for you?
Aw thank you! Yes, it was a busy night with a real hyped crowd! We loved playing The Social for Huw (Stephens), and loved the excitable crowd and all the encouragement they were shouting at us, haha! We have found that since the release of our album our gigs have been pretty packed and raucous and rowdy, which kind of surprises us (in a good way, as our tunes are, for the most part, slow, chilled-out tunes!

And what has been your favourite gig to date?
Strangely, we played a really low key gig at a tiny literature festival in the hometown of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, and the vibe from the crowd and the whole feel of the day was so much fun; we weren’t expecting it at all, they were all such amazing people – I doubt any of us will forget that gig.

As we’re a new music-focussed site, are there any other new bands/artists that you’d recommend we check out?
Bishop Briggs, Kizzy Crawford and Noname Disciple are dope female artists coming up right now!

Can you describe your sound in three words?
Raw. Soul. Real.

And what’s next for The Baby Queens?
We have been booked to play many festivals and shows over the summer, which we’re mega hyped for, and the second album is pretty much written, and set to be recorded and released with singles, and videos too! We hope to tour abroad and continue the ride together!!

Baby Queens, the eponymous debut album, is out now.