BAUM's a bad kid, with a big heart + INTERVIEW
This new single by BAUM has us thinking of all of the words that were at the tip of your tongue, but you didn’t say them. BAUM takes us on a dreamy melancholy ride with her new single “Bad Kid”. Take a listen, below!
Where did the name BAUM come from?
Comes from my last name! I went through so many ideas for an artist name, and then eventually my best friend was just like "go with Baum" and that was it.
Fuckboy dropped this May and we’ve been playing it non-stop at GHG. It completely breaks down gender stereotypes and is so empowering! What was the writing process of this song like for you?
Thank you! It was honestly just very fun. I wrote that song with Michelle Buzz and The Orphanage produced it. We did it in one day and there was just a lot of dancing involved. it was very empowering to record it.
You created a song with Grant for Rocket League titled “Weapon”. What a huge accomplishment! What was that like?
I went to school with Grant and recorded that song with him when we were at USC. He's the best and honestly I just wrote a simple thing over his track. It was great.
Who is your inspiration and why?
I'm inspired by my friends everyday and the ways that they approach music. Everyone sees it so differently, and watching my friends perform is one of my favorite things. There's also just so much good music coming out right now and the thing that inspires me most is finding one song randomly and listening to it on repeat for like 3 days.
Your social media is so transparent and as is your music, which we love! You’re not afraid to touch on issues that others shy away from and people can connect on a whole different level. Why do you feel it’s so important to address these topics both on social media and your music?
With my music, I just write about the things that are happening to me and around me. I sing about stuff that affects me all the time and I don't really think twice about it. With social media, I have intentionally decided to be transparent. I was heavily impacted by the body positivity movement online, and its something that has helped me for years. I just want to be part of that, because I've seen firsthand how it can make someone feel.
What does it mean to you to be a female in a male-dominated industry?
For me, it means having to work even harder than my male counterparts to claim the space. I almost feel like I have to prove myself sometimes, particularly in live/venue settings. I also feel like people are quick to put you in a box as a female artist. I hear a lot of "oh so you're like (insert queer artist or any female singer in general). There's some homophobia mixed with misogyny there. A lot of it comes back to not wanting people to make assumptions.
We all have those days where we’re just not feeling it. Your songs illuminate confidence. What is something you do to feel confident?
It sounds simple, but I really just like to check in with myself. I don't like to be alone often, but if I'm feeling really low I will need to go home and just sit with myself and figure out whats going on. I like to think about the things I'm grateful for and the things I love about myself.
We read that you started creating music by age 8. Did you always imagine that you would inevitably get into music?
I always wanted to be a musician, but I didn't really know what that entailed until I was maybe in junior high. I knew that I loved music and idolized singers, but the industry side of everything was really a mystery to me until I got a bit older.
WE can’t get enough! What can we expect next from BAUM?
I'm working on a lot of new music right now! Probably a couple singles in the pipeline and then a project. I'm hoping to play shows soon!
