More about: Baby Queen

If you can spare a moment, I recommend visiting Baby Queen’s official website. There, you'll encounter an image of the artist sprawled out in a dimly lit, mostly pink bedroom. Your task? Interact with the various objects displayed around the room (à la the 2003 Miniclip game Johnny Rocketfingers IYKYK). Each object leads you to a distinct facet of Baby Queen's realm. From the strikingly patterned curtains and hand-drawn picture-adorned walls to the disorganised floordrobe, it's a captivating invitation into the creative mind of one of Britain’s most exciting songsmiths. 

Originally hailing from Durban but now living in London Baby Queen – real name Arabella Latham – emerged in 2020 as a mesmerising force in the pop sphere. Seamlessly blending unfiltered candour with irresistible melodies her playful grooves partnered devilishly with a no-nonsense attitude. Raw sincerity and relatable narratives lend gravity to her memorable tunes, addressing the tumultuous emotions that brim in the modern era. During an interview with Gigwise in 2022, Latham discussed the challenge she faced in harmonising her lively stage persona with the introspective character of her offstage identity. ‘Baby Queen is braver: she’s the cheekier, louder side of me but there's also this really solitary, thoughtful person that comes through the lyrics. You can hear that the depth is there but Baby Queen is just a lunatic. She gives me the bravery to push more boundaries.’ 

Packing the year 2022 with a trio of singles—‘Lazy,’ ‘Nobody Really Cares,’ and ‘Colours Of You,’ the latter penned for Netflix’s ‘Heartstopper’ (more on that shortly)—Latham showcased an innate ability to skillfully evade any semblance of predictability. However, the writing was already on the wall. The 2021 Mixtape The Yearbook came offered a refreshing cocktail of guitar-driven pop, melodic indie and even hints of punk. It set the stage for a new breed of ‘pop star’. Skip ahead twelve months, and now, with the ‘Heartstopper’ fanbase firmly established as a vital segment of her devoted ‘Baby Kingdom,’ creativity burns brighter than ever. Amidst the whirlwind of the newfound fanbase in the FIFA playing community – her track ‘You Shaped Hole’ featured on the 2022 edition – Latham finds herself fully immersed in launching her debut album, gearing up for a headline tour, and preparing to step onto the main stage at the prestigious Reading & Leeds festivals in just a few short days. 

In the digital age, such swift trajectories to acclaim have become increasingly commonplace. In Latham’s instance Netflix’s ‘Heartstopper’ thrust her music into the orbit of countless listeners. Adapted from the graphic novel by Alice Osman, ‘Heartstopper’ spins a tale of young love, charting the tribulations entwined with such fervent emotions. Its viewership notably resonated with the potent theme of self-affirmation so prevalent in Baby Queen’s music. With the touching 'Colours Of You' written for Season 1 – a move that pushed her beyond her comfort zone – streams of previous releases 'Want Me' & 'Dover Beach' surged up by 553 and 427 per cent respectively. 

"Her knack for discovering the charm in the different is unparalleled."

Yet, what distinguishes Baby Queen? Is it merely the relatable persona she showcases online, or perhaps her embrace of an imaginative fashion style? Her distinctive brand of self-deprecating, self-aware alternative pop strikes a chord with many and operates on various insightful levels. Through her lyrics, Latham smartly navigates intricate subjects like mental health, substance use, and intricate romances. She touches on a wide spectrum, from intense infatuation evident in 'Dream Girl' ("So yes, I'm a lil' obsessed and it's unhealthy") to the inspiring carpe diem sentiment found in 'We Can Be Anything' ("A life devoid of meaning / Is a life of total freedom") Her knack for discovering the charm in the different is unparalleled. In the oft-oppressed landscape that celebrates the bizarre, Baby Queen embodies a powerful ideology; joyously embracing the extraordinary. 

With clear reverberations of her past releases, her highly anticipated debut album Quarter Life Crisis, set to drop on October 6th, is poised to continue the tradition of her distinctive sonic experimentation. In rich harmony, her most recent single, 'All The Things,' combines kaleidoscopic and Frankenstein-esque elements, amplified by an electronic direction that draws inspiration from 80s pop, yet finds itself serendipitously tangled in a modern twist. Stay tuned for what lies ahead. After gracing the stages of Reading & Leeds festivals in 2021 with just a handful of shows to her name, Baby Queen is now set for a significant main-stage debut — a milestone in her burgeoning career. Brace for a vibrant display of colour, a dash of eccentricity, and as always, expect the unexpected. 

See all the shots from our issue 8 shoot with Baby Queen:

Grab your copy of the Gigwise print magazine here.

More about: Baby Queen