CURRENT MOOD: Sir Babygirl celebrates iconic pop divas

For Current Mood #032, Palo Alto-born, New Hampshire-raised pop surrealist Sir Babygirl shares a playlist of the pop divas who influenced her.

October 22, 2019
CURRENT MOOD: Sir Babygirl celebrates iconic pop divas

In our Current Mood series, we ask some of our favourite artists to curate a playlist according to a specific theme or mood of their choice. For Current Mood #032, Palo Alto-born, New Hampshire-raised pop surrealist Sir Babygirl shares a playlist of the pop divas who influenced her. Listen to past Current Mood playlists here.

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Although her music is, at a base level, a lot weirder, California-born, New Hampshire-raised musician Sir Babygirl draws a lot from traditional pop and R&B. She inserts strange vocal runs and crystal-clear harmonies into songs like "Crush On Me" and "Haunted House," and struts around in music videos like a 90s star. For her CURRENT MOOD playlist, Sir Babygirl makes this connection more explicit, putting together a playlist for The FADER of the songs and artists who have influenced her music over the years.

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Of the playlist, Sir Babygirl tells The FADER:

I wanted to pay my respects to all divas who taught me how to sing. As a white vocalist in an industry built on the work of black women, I wanted to cite my sources and give thanks to the 80s/90s/2000s pioneer [R&B] vocalists who have continued the lineage of American music. When I was five years old I remember my mom playing me Whitney and Mariah in the car and telling me that they were artists to be revered and looked up to (taste mom!) which created my musical foundation. Growing up with these voices around me I absorbed so much about vocal technique, from riffing to phrasing to song interpretation. I think we often overlook the voice as an instrument like a guitar or a piano and wrongfully ascribe a more “accidental” approach to it. The voice is one of the most intense, taxing and complex instruments to master, and these artists more than prove that with their exemplary work. More vocal solos in 2020!!!! Featured divas: Mariah, Whitney, Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Jazmine Sullivan, Fantasia, Kelly Rowland, Toni Braxton, Amerie, Mya, Ashanti, Janet, Blu Cantrell, Beyonce and Alicia Keys <3.

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Listen to Sir Babygirl's CURRENT MOOD above and read her GEN F feature here.

Listen to The FADER's weekly playlist of songs you need in your life

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CURRENT MOOD: Sir Babygirl celebrates iconic pop divas