Baby Queens Exclusive with Laura Alexandra Episode II

VISION BOOTH

Criss-crossing the narrow divide between rock, hip hop, soul and reggae, incomparable female five piece, Baby Queens reveal details of their debut EP. A blissed out, musical odyssey that promises big things for the future. Two sisters, two cousins and their adopted sister hailing from Cardiff announce their first official release, titled Red Light on Monday 9th September 2013. Baby Queens - Cara, Estelle, Monique, Ruth and Vanity, each equal parts songwriter, musician and music lover – launch their first AA side EP, produced by Cian Ciarán, one fifth and co-founding member of the legendary alternative rock/pop band Super Furry Animals. Title track Red Light finds the band bouncing lush vocals off a smooth guitar line, their effortless cool embellished by deep, crisp production to take Baby Queens in a direction far from the beaten track of other modern, urban pop music. Backed by Star Light - a track which not only alters the mood from chilled to the deep freeze, but allows a solitary male voice to burst the band’s bubble – the EP is an appetite- whetting sample of the band’s potential. The sickly sweet overtures one might expect from an all-girl band are ditched in favour of beats that force the melodic content to the fore, with the principles of classic soul and R’n’B song writing catching up with the present day sounds of British street genres. Lavishly layered vocals are wrapped up in slick production that marks out Baby Queens’ intentions to push boundaries and reintroduce to the masses what a vocal group with melody and beats in their hearts is all about. The delicate, fragile and understated is pitted against unconventional and low-down, dirty aural combinations. “These are songs that reflect our love of music of all genres. We wanted to bring any musical differences that might exist and unite them, we think the music speaks for itself, uncompromised, accessible popular music.” says Cara. As distinct in their fashion as they are their music – to see them is to believe – each band member’s solo work and collaborations outside the band vary wildly from punk rock to house. Their genre-hopping side-projects and diverse melting pot of ideas offers a taste of the ingredients that make up the Baby Queens sound. This standout debut might share a DNA blueprint with Aretha Franklin or Tone Loc, but with the words on Red Light sending out waves of inner-city disillusion, the establishment might have to look over their shoulder. Recorded in Cardiff, Wales at Ciarán's Strangetown Studios, every track was written and played by the girls themselves. It was a record Ciarán was compelled to commit to putting down having heard the band for the first time, rehearsing in their living room during a house party. He invited them to the studio the next day, the results of which are featured on the imminent release, with the second double header set to follow, hot on its heels in November. Estelle said: “Musically the EP will offer something a little different to what's already out there, I guess that's what every musician would like to achieve. We have two songs seamlessly intertwined into one -, mellow becomes dirty. You get your monies worth! (laughs).” Vanity continues: “Lyrical content harks back to old school blues references and the rhymes delivered by Monique are reminiscent of Lauryn Hill.” 2013 has not only seen the girls develop in the studio but also on the road. They've recruited the talents of Joker Starr who features on the Star Light, and with their heads full of ideas for their debut album, 2014 promises big things for the band and their swelling base of followers.

Baby Queens have released two E.P’s on Cian Ciaran’s (Super Furry Animals) label Strangetown Records. The E.P’s arrived sounding like nothing else that has come out of Wales previously: mixing hip hop, rock, soul and reggae with vocal hooks as irresistible as anything that’s fallen out of Pharrell Williams’ brain.

For many, including the team at H.Q., the lead track from their debut E.P., the cinematic, slow burn of ‘Red Light’ (imagine Portishead producing T.L.C) was the soundtrack of 2013’s S?n Festival.

“These are songs that reflect our love of music of all genres. We wanted to bring any musical differences that might exist and unite them, we think the music speaks for itself, uncompromised, accessible popular music.” says Cara.