I came across Baby C a couple of years ago while she was touring around Canada.
Her energy on stage was very contagious and the music that followed made for a very memorable show.
After learning more about her story and what has lead her to this point, you cant help but admire her perseverance.
Baby C’s latest studio album the “Perfect Life” takes you on a journey through her world and the many different experiences that have shaped her life.
The album has been many years in the making but has finally been released with features from some very talented artists!
I was lucky enough to collaborate with Baby C on one of her new tracks and got a behind the scenes look at her creative process. However what interested me the most was her approach to marketing.
Baby C has taken a unique approach to promoting this album considering the more common release strategies that artists usually resort to. I found it very interesting and brave to go this route but her reasoning behind it made so much sense (more on this strategy below).
Baby C dropped a ton of gems throughout this interview that we hope you can learn from and enjoy!
The “Perfect Life” is out now but you’ll have to read the interview to learn how you can get your hands on it 🙂
Follow Link For More On Baby C: https://linktr.ee/Babyc
Contents
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you ended up getting into music?
My name is Baby C and I’m a female emcee, songwriter and performer that bridges the gap between hip hop and pop music.
I grew up in a city adjacent to Vancouver, BC in low income household. My parents separated when I was a baby so I spent a lot of time with my older brother.
My brother was my role model and introduced me to hip hop at a young age and I fell in love with the genre. I started writing my own lyrics at the age of 12 and recorded my first song at 15. I discovered a love for performing and took any opportunity to jump on stage at talent shows, open mics and showcases.
I was inspired by EVE and her ability to showcase female strength and it motivated me to inspire other women. Music was always a part of my life and it helped me cope with my living conditions and provided an emotional outlet.
Tell us more about your new release and the inspiration behind it?
Perfect Life has been in the works for the past 4 years. After recording numerous demos and features with producer FloHub, we decided to record our first independent project in 2017 titled “Swipe.”
Shortly after releasing the music video for the single, my father passed away and I was diagnosed with cervical cancer two days prior. I had to put the rest of the album on hold while I morned his death and had surgery to remove the tumour.
Six months later, I experienced a second bout of cancer- melanoma. Thankfully, I was able to get it removed at an early stage.
So needless to say, it took a little while to get the album back up and running. I compiled memories of my dad and with the help of my friend and producer SHUGARBOY, we created the song “Rewind” as a tribute to my father.
After surviving cancer and loosing my dad, I had a new appreciation for life and I was more motivated than ever to complete my album and share my music with the world.
The “Perfect Life” album includes songs with lyrics derived from the previously explained personal stories. Although it was written during a challenging time in my life, I also experienced a lot of joy during this period of my life. In particular, I highlight my previous online dating and relationship stories providing the album with uplifting, positive vibe.
What’s your favorite song of the project and why?
This is a really tough question!!! When I’m working on a track, I love it because it’s new and fresh and it’s my favourite at that given time. I mean, why would I put out a song if I didn’t love it?!
And then I work on the next track, and that becomes my favourite… ah man. It’s like choosing your favourite child! (or puppy, cuz I don’t have kids)
From an emotional standpoint, my favourite is “Rewind.” produced by SHUGARBOY.
Every time I listen to the song, I hold back tears. It will forever remind my of my dad. I haven’t performed it on stage yet… that will be a challenge.
“Perfect Life” produced by FloHub is another favourite because I like the message behind the lyrics. It’s a pop/hip hop track empowering women to choose their own version of the “perfect” life. Society pressures girls to think they need to grow up to be a stereotypical house wife and this song challenges that ideal.
In terms of my favourite track to jam out to – Chocobanana! It’s upbeat, funky and fresh! And it makes people laugh. Everyone enjoys a song that makes them smile.
Who did you collaborate with on this project? Have you worked with them before or was this the first time?
I’m so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with such amazing producers and artists on this album!!! I couldn’t have done it without them.
FLOHUB produced four of the songs on the album, such as the singles “Swipe” and “Perfect Life“. As previously mentioned, I worked on several demos and was a songwriter on many of his projects prior to us working on our own projects.
This album is the first time our own collaborations will be showcased. I also met the amazing singer AMANDA BLUSH in FloHub’s studio while working on demos for other artists. She is featured on “Hold Me Down.”
The other producer that dominates the album producing four tracks is SHUGARBOY with tracks such as “Lunatic” and “Queen Bounce Lady.” We collaborated on a 6 song EP “One Drop” in 2014 which mixed elements of EDM and rock music. We also featured our mutual friend/singer LAVIVI on our track “Queen Bounce Lady.”
Chris Steffler, a long time friend and president of Mercury Artists, was the driving force behind the track “Game Plan.” The track “My Dude” was produced by ARAZ and this was my first time working with this Vancouver producer.
After moving to Alberta and doing a provincial tour, I met KVRTHY and NKI LOUISE and featured new found Alberta talent on “My Dude” and “Wasted” respectively. YISH was the last artist that I had featured on “My Dude” and he absolutely killed it!
Each of the features brings something unique to the album and it was a pleasure to work with these superstars.
With this release, what has been your primary focus and strategy from a marketing/promotions standpoint?
I decided to listen to the advise of my good friend/hip hop emcee SIRREAL and release the Perfect Life album in physical form only. The rational being that artists are not fairly compensated for having their music on Spotify and Apple Music.
With a physical only release, true fans actually buy your album and financially support the artist. During the pandemic, fans are looking for ways to support their favourite artists, so they have been happy to purchase it. I just released the album, and so far the response has been very positive! Fans also feel more connected to the artist when they have a physical copy as opposed to streaming.
Eventually I will release it on all streaming platforms so I can reach more fans and gain new audiences. Once the COVID-19 restrictions have dropped, I plan on doing a BC/Alberta tour to promote the album.
You’ve had to relocate to different cities over the years, forcing you to work hard at breaking into various local scenes. What advice would you give to an artist trying to grow their following in a new city?
My advise would be to reach out to other artists and make connections. Personally, I jumped on an Alberta tour and met a bunch of emcees and connected with them.
I also featured some on my album! 🙂 The nice thing about moving to a new city is you have an opportunity to branch out and gain even more fans!
I was surprised by the support I got from Edmonton after only living there for 2 years. I just moved to Calgary and I’m excited to start the process over again once live music venues open up and I’m able to perform live.
Seems like you always have a lot of projects on the go, what is next for Baby C in terms of new music?
Currently, I’m working on a single with producer SHUGARBOY and plan to release it soon. I also plan on collaborating with more artists and featuring on songs in 2020. So hit me up if you want a feature!
In addition, I wrote a lot of lyrics and notes over the past 2 years about my experience with cancer, but I haven’t formally released any songs about the issue. I plan on taking the time to compile my notes and my emotions and write some personal songs about my experience.
Follow Link For More On Baby C: https://linktr.ee/Babyc
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Kevin is the founder of Music With Flavor, which joined Whipped Cream Sounds in 2023. He is a seasoned musician turned industry expert. His passion for music goes beyond melodies; he delves deep into the intricate world of music marketing, striving to unearth the most effective strategies for indie musicians. However, Music With Flavor isn’t just about Kevin’s knowledge; it’s a network of industry experts handpicked to provide the most trusted advice. Kevin’s role is to pose the right questions, not just answer them, as he and his team tirelessly research trends, connect with artists, and gather valuable insights.
