HOT ONE TO WATCH Baby Sol
We were first introduced to Baby Sol through makeup artist Clare Eluka who worked on one of her music videos. One click of her Youtube video and the Hotminute team were hooked to her distinct jazzy sound. It took us a few months but we finally managed to catch up with this rising star. This Baby sure got a lot of Sol!!
HM: Baby Sol describe your distinct style of music. Ooo how exciting! I would say Jazz, Reggae, and Soul as that is what I have come to see this particular project as. However I like to think that my style of music is distinctive because I am distinctive as an individual… world music, rumba, zouk, Congo music, reggae, jazz, funk, RnB, garage, a bit of rock, dubstep, classical… they all spend time in my mind.
HM: You have a beautiful quality to your sound, how do you nurture it and keep its integrity? The sound of my EP is very much based on my LIVE upbringing so the production reflects that. I think that it’s important to stay true to your creative hub, write songs from the heart and then create a sound that you feel best reflects your art at that time.
HM: You performed at Glasto this summer. That must have been amazing! Tell us all, who did you meet, any backstage shenanigans, did Beyonce steal your lip-gloss? She asked but I was like, nah mate, get your own! LMAO, no, no meetings with the Goddess Bey. I was with Stinkahbell, who are an amazing dub step duo- they introduced me to dub step actually- I did a show with them and the Lazy Habits as well as two of my own shows. To be honest I spent most of my time dying in my tent, recovering from a hangover on the 3rd day! The adrenaline and nerves were too much and the elation of having got through it made it hard for me to stay sober… am I allowed to say that? LOL!
HM: You’ve worked with a diverse mix of artists like Paloma Faith, Ironik,
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Alexander O’Neil, Amy Winehouse and Lazy Habits. What have you taken from each experience? Those things happened in completely difference contexts. Alexander O’Neil and Amy Winehouse happened whilst I was part of the house band at what was then 10 Rooms on Air Street. Ironik was a random A&R encounter and Paloma and Lazy Habits I have known for years. Working with the last 2 has shaped me the most as an artist I feel. My friendships with them and love for them as people has inspired me to greater things.
HM: Talking of Lazy Habits, it seems you’ve found kindred spirits in them, how did you meet and start working together? Well, I was doing bvs for a beautiful man named Jnay (also known as X-Factor’s John Adeleye) in 2003/2004 and we did a gig at the Bedford that they were also on the bill for. The Habits came on stage and I immediately fell in love with their laid back jazz hop vibes. I was like, woooah, I need you in my life! That was the beginning :). I booked them for a showcase I used to run and they used to get me to jump up with them randomly at showcases on a particular track cause I loved it so much and had my own interpretation of it. There was no melody to it before me - and then, years later, I finally made it on to that track, their single Memory Banks, released last year! haha! Perseverance is the key! I’m now all over their album in bits and a proud member of the extended family. I love those boys.
HM: Who are Miss Baby Sol’s inspirations both musically and in fashion? She likes Eartha Kitt and Grace Jones… a lot! And Nina Simone! That actually covers both music and fashion. I’m sort of an Afro, Goth, Rock chick by day and a sultry vixen by stage… or at least I like to think so. My favourite labels are Primark and Hennes and I like to shop in Oxfam… What? It’s true!
HM: Let’s talk music, your release ‘No, No, No’ is storming radio and YouTube - with over 11,000 views already. Did you imagine it would get such a response? No way!!!! HAHA! I was like, waaah? Seriously? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I went for it and tweeted it madly, posted it everyday, but I do not know over 10,000 people! Boy George retweeted it, that was wonderful! Paloma, Rox, Katy B, Lemar,
Nate James and Eliza Doolittle did too! Gemma Cairney, Giles Peterson and Trevor Nelson played it on BBC radio as well… it hasn’t come from nowhere but I am overly chuffed like you don’t know! I’ve been very lucky and had a lot of support not least from my management team Scarlet Air!
HM: You keep eclipsing yourself with every new song/video, sooooo what’s next? Well, funny you should ask! The next is a video for the song ‘She Cries’ from the EP… I don’t know how people are going to take this one but I wanted to end the year with something poignant… The single launch in conjunction with Brazenbunch happened on 11th December at Open The Gate in Dalston and Global Faction did the video. There are remixes from 3 great producers and we are giving all proceeds from the single package sale to Amnesty International. It’s effectively my ‘charity single’ but more than that it is a song that means very much to me and reminds me of how lucky and privileged I am to live in a country where women have rights and the opportunity to be anything they want to be! Where PEOPLE have the right to live in peace… as it should be all over the world.
HM: Tell London why they need your EP ‘Before I Begin’ in their lives and why they haven’t lived until they’ve seen Miss Baby Sol perform live? Because that’s just the way it is! I am bangin! Like sliced bread but… not! Woop! lol xxx
HM: Being a Londoner and someone who adds to the social scene, we want to know what you think makes London so hot? London is a vibrant concoction of energy, excess, struggle, achievement, joy, acceptance and life because of the people that inhabit it. People come from far and wide to experience its creative juices and stare at its awesome and silent might. Have you ever walked London at night? It’s beautiful. I LVE LDN! It’s where my heart is. It’s now my home :)
Baby Sol’s single is out now, find more info on it and all her Sol at www.missbabysol. com/
Interview: Enam G. Photography by Alex Winn.
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