Formerly referred to as Babe Ruth, Baëbe Ruth is a 20-year-old Jamaican/Irish/Native artist from Ottawa, ON. Dimensions of her career include song writing, rapping, singing, and writing poetry.
“I believe music to be my third language. It is inherent to my character, and immanent in my day to day life.” She is currently under the management of Mia MNGMT whose goal is to release music that anyone can relate to. With that being said, versatility is a strong suit of Baëbe Ruth’s. She hates to think of herself confined to one genre. She is more than an R&B artist. She can rap, she can sing the blues/jazz, and write for others no matter the genre.
Though music can be very subjective, Baëbe Ruth tries to place herself in other people’s shoes. When you’re able to do so, the possibilities are limitless. That’s what makes you different as an artist – breaking out of the box, and exploring different genres/aspects to music.
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
If we’re speaking in general, I’ve been working on my music for three years now and music has always been a passion of mine since I can remember. I started being managed by Mia management in 2018 , and together we’ve been learning the prospects of the industry we’ve been learning and evolving together. I don’t think there’s one right way to do it. I strongly believe in God’s timing , and sometimes what we plan for ourselves is totally different from what God has in store for us. I am a firm believer that experiences are what shape and mould who you are and that’s the same for my music and my music career. If it wasn’t for my experiences , including the mess ups, doors being closed on our faces, the sum of it all , I wouldn’t be where I am today. The beautiful thing is that there’s always room to grow and I’m constantly learning. I also believe that you can’t do it without people. Many are clueless to the fact that it’s not a one man’s journey , it really is an equivalence of people who genuinely support you and want to see you succeed. I wouldn’t be here without the support of my family , that’s including friends who I consider my family.
What is the favorite song you wrote and why?
Currently my favourite song is an unreleased song of mine called “DND My Energy”, which is one of the first songs that I feel like I really let my heart speak. I tend to hold back on my personal experiences out of respect for others, but there’s ways you can speak about your experiences without having to name drop. I also realized I can’t confine my artistic expression or creativity to anyone.
Who are your all time musical icons?
Hands down J.Cole, his lyrics just hit different. Lauren Hill will forever be an Icon, as well as Meek Mill, Dreezy, Keisha Cole, Ciara, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Chris Brown , Drake, and the list is quite extensive. Needless to say I have about a dozen favourite artists , it’s hard for me to pick one especially because I’m so versatile. My choice in music is the same , so it would be impossible to confine my all time favourite artists in one paragraph.
What are some things to do to keep your inspiration alive?
I try to write while I’m out and about with friends and family and draw inspiration from the present moment, from things I see, right down to the people I’m with. I also listen to a-lot of music, it helps give me ideas. For instance if I hear a beat I really like , I’ll ask a fellow producer of mine to whip something inspired from that sample. I also try my best to attend other artists’ performances , that way I can study and learn from them and apply what I like to myself. This year I want to try to be in the studio more often because I’ve realized that your environment has such a big impact on your creativity. Imagine being cooked up in the house all day with nothing to do , no experiences to live out , vs being amongst other creative artists,who are as musically inclined , if not more than yourself, it is so uplifting. It is an environment where common interests can be shared and ideas can be exchanged.
Who are you binge listening to these days?
Not gonna lie , I’ve been listening to Deon a lot, and I have my boyfriend to thank for that. He’s an underground artist from New York who needs his flowers cause he’s been consistently dropping bangers like it’s a walk in the park. Other artists that I’ve had on repeat for some time now are Toosi, NorthsideBengji, H.E.R, Joyner Lucas, Layton Greene , Kali , J Cole , Tink, Drake and D Block Europe. I also listen to alot of my new music which I am very excited to share with the world.
Favorite movie or TV show?
Boondocks will forever be an all-time favourite of mine, as well as the seven deadly sins and criminal minds . That’s as far as shows go and as for movies any Tyler Perry Madea movie, I’m almost 98% sure I’ve seen them all.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
My latest single “Rendez-Vous” was released on the 17th of September , curtesy of Ife productions , who made the beat, the cave studios, where it was recorded , and Klatu who mastered and perfected it .
The inspiration for this single involved a whole lot of retained emotions . You know when you connect so well with someone on such a personal level , the friendship is there, the vibes are there and all that’s missing is that intimate connection? It’s like words at that point can’t do you justice , instead of talking you wanna get straight to action and show them just how you feel. No words, just action.
When you reach that level with someone , temptations arise & you can’t help but want to take that connection to a higher level. Well, Rendez-Vous is about wanting to take things to that higher level, the next level, which is pretty explanatory for itself.
Do you have any peculiar pre or post show rituals?
A cup of green tea and honey to ease the throat, and having the people I love around me is key. I know a lot of people like to be alone to compose their thoughts right before their performance but having my crew with me , amps me up and motivates me. I always like to say a prayer before getting on stage. As you know performances don’t always go as planned , there’s been times I’ve experienced technical difficulties but saying that prayer just coats you with God’s anointing and helps to ease my nerves, so that no matter what’s thrown my way, I’m able to handle it with grace and confidence.
What’s the future looking like for you?
I would like to begin to say that it’s looking bright so far and it’s only going to continue to illuminate as I move forward. So far I have a tour that’s going to be coming up in November ,which I look forward to and I strongly believe that this is what the coming years are going to be looking like. I am going to be booked for multiple shows , and there’s going to be many restless nights and early mornings , but it’s all gonna be worth it one day ,because I know that what you put in is what you will reap. I look forward to seeing the benefits of hard work , so that I am able to extend those blessings onward to my team, my family , and my people.
Who inspires your style and aesthetics?
As of the moment there’s not necessarily someone who inspires my style. I’m very stubborn and hard headed at times , and I wear what I want , regardless if other people don’t like it. I’m big on two pieces because they’re so iconic and you can look good all the while being comfortable which is a bonus for me.
However I will say that my friend Jasz, a.k.a Big steppa Jasz has such an aesthetically pleasing wardrobe , and she’s been putting me on some new pieces as of lately.
What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why?
It would have to be Manifesto . It was my first “big” performance , with a larger venue and crowd. I would consider my first real performance since the pandemic. I’m proud of myself for handling some technical difficulties that were thrown my way, and the amount of net work I did following my performance. It was surreal and I’d like to carry that feeling moving onward to fuel for what’s up coming.
What do you think is the best way to make it as an artist nowadays?
I’ve been learning and evolving as of recently , and one thing that’s for sure, is utilizing all social platforms. I still haven’t quite got a hold of tik tok yet, but ensuring that you as an artist are present on all platforms makes it that much easier for you to get noticed not to mention become noteworthy which can help you in the long run if you’re aiming to get verified over all social platforms.
I think making good music is only about 25% of it. The other 75% is the way you market your music, because the way I look at it , there’s billions of people on this earth , many of whom are musically talented , but how many people do you actually see reaching the top ? Not very many. That’s not because their music isn’t good, there’s actually so many underground artists who are much more talented than a lot of the celebrities I’ve come across, but what sets them apart from the “big shots” is the way their music is marketed. Sure , everyone is aware that it takes big bucks to market your music worldwide, but there’s ways to market your music for free, and that starts by being present and consistent over all platforms. Consistency is key, you don’t want yourself to get drowned out with all these other upcoming artists. You want to make sure your name is seen , and your voice is heard.
What would you change in the music and entertainment industry especially after this past year?
Most music that trends as of lately is very generic. People don’t seem to want to go past the surface, and what’s promoted is what’s hot and able to bump in the club, nobody wants to hear about your feelings or experiences like they used to. We need to break the barrier, and go deeper. It’s cool to have a couple of songs that are more suited for the party lifestyle, but we need the entertainment industry to utilize it’s platform for the better as well. Because music is universal, we are influencing present generations and generations to come. We need more authenticity, it doesn’t always have to be about drugs money and sex. We also need to give women in the industry their flowers because the very few times in which they’re exalted is for their appearance and not entirely for their talent.
