Interview Baby Said (De Roma 22 februari 2025)
Veronica & Jess’ musical journey started early. Veronica started playing guitar when she was six, and Jess followed her when she was four. Their passion for music led them from busking in the streets to forming their cover band Astro Moda, performing over 250 gigs across the UK. Building their confidence and skills pursuing their goal on writing, recording and releasing their own original music. End 2023, the duo signed to Big Hug Management and formed Baby Said.
Frontview Magazine met the 2 sisters on the 22nd of February in the lobby of De Roma (Antwerp) for a nice chat, while the main act Davina Michelle was sound checking in the background.
When did you decide starting your own band?
Jess: “Four years ago, we started going out in pubs as a cover band to earn a bit of money. We really had the passion to be together as a band and make music. In 2023 we met our manager Jeff at Big Hug Management. He sat aside on writing sessions just to see what we were capable of.”
Veronica: “So we went to London, Wales and Scotland, and other places in the UK. We wrote 3 singles with a writer in Wales, 2 with another writer in Scotland and one in London. That’s when it all started.”
Jess: “We found our sound as well. 2024, that’s when we fully started going out and playing, presenting our songs.”
Has the band’s name anything to do with the group Måneskin?
Jess: “So our favourite song at that time was ‘Baby Said’ (Måneskin). We were struggling to find an appropriate name and we realized that a lot of bands call themselves after songs they like, so we chose that one.”
Veronica: “I also did a Eurovision introduction (laughs)! Jess and I sat in Jeff’s office and we were going through names, then he said ‘What about Baby Said?’ and I replied with ‘Let me do an introduction!’ ‘Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce Baby Saiiiiiiiiiddd!’ (Jess & Veronica laughing) … He just found it really good!”
Did you already play ‘Baby Said’ live?
Veronica: “We’ve never played it live. We really just like it.”
What about playing at the BBC, introducing Reading festival?
Veronica: “That was one of the greatest single experiences we had with the band so far. We’ve never been to Reading, so we didn’t know what to expect. A big crowd screaming, and they weren’t expecting us.”
Jess: “It is a big festival and they invited us! That was like a massive thing!”
You played a very nice version of the song ‘Hate Me’, what do you hate??
Jess: “People!” (Jess & Veronica laughing)
Jess corrected: “Mean people! We hate mean people, strongly dislike!”
Where was the album BS recorded?
Jess: “We recorded most instruments in studio Puzzle Factory in London and the rest in our producer studio.”
How does it feel to bring out a debut album?
Jess: “It’s exciting, because we spent a lot of time and we worked for these songs for so long and now we are able to put them out and people can actually listen and hopefully like them.”
Veronica: “One more single of the album is coming out March 7th. We are excited to share that with the world, really special.”
Was it an easy choice for an album title or any other working titles?
Jess: “Probably titles would have been like single titles, like ‘Hate me’ or ‘Dead to me’, but I liked using our initials, like another new word, so it has a double meaning to us. We found it a bit funny.”(laughs)
Are you dreaming of big stages with this album now? We have a few here in Belgium: Werchter festival, Pukkelpop …
Jess: “We dream of playing in an arena one day!”
“Dead to me” sounds a little bit scary, what is the meaning behind the lyrics?
Jess: “It’s about when people cross the line or they like to overstep in your life or it’s about how quickly I put people aside (laughs). When people do something to me I don’t like, I’m not talking to them ever again and then I have to tell myself: ‘Slow down, calm down’. So the song is about impulse.”
Who wrote that nice, warm, smooth guitar intro in the song ‘Burn’?
Victoria: “I wrote that. I don’t know what was going on in my head. The person I was writing with, was talking to someone and I had a minute to myself and I started playing. The effect of the stereophonics on the guitar in the song ‘Dakota’ is reverbely magical airy and that kind of effect I wanted on that solo. It works.”
Jess: “It’s very nostalgic.”
Plans for 2025?
Jess: “We are going to America, Austin Texas next month to play at the South by Southwest Festival and then some other festivals and a support tour in April.”
Enjoy your gig tonight in De Roma!
Jess: “Our debut album is out March 7th!”
Tekst en foto’s: Peter Minnebo.
