Babe Ruth

SSW: Let’s talk about your background. When did you first discover your passion for music? At what age did you write your very first song and what was it about?

Babe Ruth: I always knew I had a love for music ever since I could remember. When I was hospitalized as a young infant, my mom would play these VHS clips on the VCR in my hospital bedroom, which was composed mostly of worship songs for kids. I started memorizing them and singing along to them and from there I was just always singing. Once I finished chemotherapy and was discharged home, my mom would play a lot of Whitney Houston, Céline Dion, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, and a whole lot of gospel, especially when she would clean in the morning… These artists were my inspirational artists as a kid, they influenced my taste in music from a very young age. I was 4 years old singing “I Will Always Love You” 🤣

As I grew older, the air grabbing R&B era was as prevalent as ever, my older siblings would watch a lot of B.E.T music videos and I fell infatuated with R&B and hip hop. My taste in music began to expand and I discovered a whole different side to music which in the future I would start to lean to towards. I wrote my first legitimate song “No breaks” featuring GG Chevy at the age of 17 (during second semester of my first year of college, and recorded it at the Cave studios. R&B and hip hop just seem to click super well with me and although I consider myself to be a versatile artist, those are the genres I naturally gravitate towards.

Your new mixtape “The Introduction” is finally out! Congratulations! Can you tell us more about this project? What was the inspiration behind it and what was the creation process like? 

“The Introduction” is my first EP release, which shows my versatility. With “Pressure N Diamonds”, “Picture Perfect” and “Bonnie”, everyone was able to see my R&B side , so I wanted to show my love and skills for rap as well in this project, which is why I decided to call it “The Introduction”. I feel like this is my first time properly introducing my other skill sets and shedding light on what’s to come. Just like when you meet somebody for the first time, you have this fixed perception of what you think they’re like, and that’s just off your first impressions. Just like with my singles I had put out, I feel like everyone labeled me strictly a singer, an r&b artist, when in reality I’m so much more than that. The introduction is me properly introducing myself and breaking the ice, layered with misconceptions and presumptions. The project includes 4 songs which all tell a story or a message. From the chosen tracks, you’re able to get a sense of my values installed, including my faith. This is just the beginning, now that you have my introduction, let me show you just what I truly am capable of.

What would you like for listeners of your music to take away from your records?

My music isn’t just for the faint of heart, every song holds meaning . I want those who listen to my tracks to feel inspired, feel heard, feel connected. We all share some of the same experiences and emotions, and I just want people to know they’re not alone. Even if it’s a more hype track, those are vibes others can pick up on and get hyped themselves. I want my music to be like wifi with the 4 bars, that strong connection.

Our favorite song on this mixtape is “Circles”. Can you tell us more about this track?

Circles is about emotional abuse / head games. Let’s just say that I’ve had my share of pain in the past with previous relationships. I’m a strong believer in dating with a purpose and when I fall head over heels over someone, I fall as deep as you can go. Unfortunately the energy I gave to my relationship(s) wasn’t equally reciprocated. I got cheated on and would end up forgiving them, hoping they would change their ways, hoping I could rebuild that trust that crumbled to pieces, but it was a continuous cycle of repetition. Cheat, forgive, try to make up for it, do good for a little while, then go back to the games. It had me spinning in circles. Instead of them doing a 180, they would do a 360 and turn back to their games, and I kept doing 360’s instead of turning the other way, throwing deuces, which could’ve saved my energy, my time and spared my feelings. The heartbreak I went through took a big toll on me. I’m still learning how to trust again, how to love without fear, or insecurity. “Circles” is practically me having a one-sided conversation with those who have hurt me, admitting my fears, the facts and my part in all of it. I really hope that any woman or man out there currently going through something similar realizes their worth and rock-paper-scissors out the fake. Relationships can be draining if you’re with the wrong person, especially someone who doesn’t see or value your worth. Don’t even waste your time, life is way too short for that.

What should we expect from you this year?

Expect to see visuals, more performances, projects, involvement in my city, and most importantly progress 2020 is the year of 20/20 vision 💯

Let’s talk about more of your personal journey. What is the hardest lesson you’ve learnt in life so far?

The hardest lesson I’ve come to learn is that your actions literally pave the pathway to your future. You are 100% accountable for the outcomes. Every decision you make is either detrimental or beneficial and those decisions aren’t easy. You have to learn when to let go and when to push harder, when to be the bigger person and when to stand up. It’s a hard pill to swallow, and it’s easier said than done, but through all the pain I’ve been through, broken relationships with those I was once closest to, and seeing others around me go through troubling circumstances I’ve realized that with whatever decisions you’re faced with, they have different possible outcomes. Some decisions are hard but are there to better you, and others keep you in a continuous damaging cycle. Sometimes you have to let go of people in order to grow. You have to overcome your fears and go for that job, that program, or that goal. Sometimes you have to sacrifice early mornings, dedicate late nights. Sometimes you have to open up, seek help, heal. Whatever circumstance you’re faced with, there’s always going to be the right decision & the easy one. So pick your poison and learn to live with the consequences.

Growing as a person, you will always encounter challenges that require leaving your comfort zone to try things that scare you. What scares you? Is there anything new and exciting you’d like to try?

I fear rejection & failure. Sometimes I hold myself back because I think that other people won’t be on the same page as me, and I’m not good enough. I can be hard on myself at times, like any other artist, especially when it comes to my music. I critique myself constantly and the music I make, which is why I’m very selective of what I release but I’m trying to break that habit and just let my artistic side run free without any borders or limitations, keeping in mind I don’t just make music for others, I exist too. I am the creator of my own content, I march to the beat of my own drum and if others decide to join then cool, that’s a bonus.

How do you use your intuition in your creative process?

Intuition helps me a lot in writing. I use it to see the 2 sides to a story, to see below the surface. Just because something is covered in black and white doesn’t mean there’s no colours that lay beneath. It helps to write from multiple perspectives. Sometimes I write as if I’m writing from a guys point of view, or just someone in general whose shoes are not my own. I’m highly perceptive, I put it to good use when I write my songs. Intuition is a big help when it comes to my creative process, sometimes there’s these ideas or lyrics that come out of nowhere, I surprise myself. Those spontaneous thoughts give me a boost of motivation and put me into go mode.

We got one last question for you! Thinking of yourself as a soul on Earth, what do you think your purpose is?

I believe my purpose on earth is to make a meaningful difference, meaningful interactions and to encourage others to become the best versions of themselves, including myself.  There are far too many people whose goal in life is to achieve fame & fortune, but there’s so much more to life than riches. My purpose is to add purpose to other people’s lives and spread positive vibes/energies and God’s blessings and love with those surrounding me.💙