We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Babyghost. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Babyghost below.
Babyghost, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I feel like a have a really complicated relationship with work ethic, and a lot of that is because of a really complicated relationship with capitalism. A lot of my idea of work ethic over the years has been informed by a warped idea of “productivity,” one that prioritizes monetization. Like so many others, I hate being ruled by finances and have used financial security as a motivator, but have to be careful about giving it too much power. My music is more than my work, it’s the one necessity I need for survival. I always keep that at the front of my mind, because when it comes down to it, I can’t afford to be lazy about music or, on the flip side, turn it into a stressor.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My most recent project is called Sad Ghoul Summer, and I’m currently finishing up a full-length EP that will give listeners a really good idea of my sonic and personal journey over the last few years. I’ve actually been working on this project for over half a decade now, and these songs have gone through such drastic evolutions. It really feels like a mirror. I think it’s such a cruel kind of beautiful the way you can write a song about a certain situation, relationship, person, whatever, and then it becomes cyclically relevant. I’ve also been performing more frequently, where I’ve been giving some sneak peeks of some of these LP tracks. If you follow my Instagram page, that’s where I update folks about shows, merch drops, all that good stuff. I have a catch-all link in my bio there, too.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Learning and growing with gratitude has been the most influential thing for me, especially as I get older and people’s questions start to change. There’s less grace and more expectation matched with a wild amount of unnecessary judgement. Really leaning into self-appreciation and love has let me pour more of myself into my art without pressure. It’s not a race. I’ve learned to take my time and manage it better to do everything involved to be a successful independent musician. I have to be my own publicist, promoter, booking agent, writer, and so much more. Time management has been huge for this, but so has overcoming imposter syndrome. I feel like that’s an everlasting challenge, convincing yourself you’re good enough and giving yourself the grace to sometimes feel otherwise.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
There’s an overwhelming, ever-looming pressure from these huge outside forces that directly affect me, from transphobia and homophobia to archaic patriarchal ideas and beyond. There’s this learned hate that I want to actively fight with my music. Music has always been a safe haven when the weight of the world gets too heavy. It’s where I pour my grief, love stories, and everything in between. Even if you don’t write music, putting words to thoughts on paper can be so helpful. I think everyone should journal in whatever way that looks like for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://songwhip.com/babyghost?fbclid=PAAaa6Q1b8fKPvtbiVdEljuxhQ9a7kSihbJM41R0TJdUyq_CLuwp1JOb1llZE
- Instagram: instagram.com/babyghostmusic
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/nAzDe8v3quI
