Bahja Rodriguez - The DOPE MAG Interview

Winter days in Manhattan, descended leaves decorate driveways parked on by posh Park Ave piano-lesson-mom’s transporting toddlers like upper crust contraband from daycare to doorstep. In the distance, dreamy teen Bahja Rodriguez – one of the hottest humans presently poppin’ on this planet – gives Brooklyn-based photographer Jean Pierre actress attitude and sex symbol synergy in vogue volume, posing with poodles in tow.

Superstardom is a New York minute away for Atlanta’s latest A-list urbane artiste. Since owning the summer with the impactful release of a succession of viral hit songs, namely “Lipstick”, “Next One”, and “Jealous Type”, Bahja has busied herself with a national radio ready media tour in promotion of her debut EP “It Gets Better”. She is on a roll, headed for American music’s honor roll, fly enough to melt butter on bread – spread on a roll.

Earlier this year the singer-songwriter went solo, boldly delivering an ambitious collection of what honestly comes naturally to Bahja – crafting great music that speaks to relatively everyone in the most relatable manner possible. She gives herself, offers her story, and personalizes the process of finding good fortune in the midst of unfortunate circumstance. All the Godsend greatness on the globe doesn’t always arrive pre-assembled with batteries included. Bahja is uniquely gifted at teaching us all to make a message of our mess. She’s good like that.

Because Bahja (we call her B-Rod) is living out loud and lending anything opposite of a lie through her music, the hearts of thousands were broken when her former girl power group, the OMG Girlz, announced they would no longer record and release music as a troupe. However, the hearts of millions more will heal quickly, live healthier love lives, due to Bahja’s newfound creative freedom. And although B-Rod’s former partners in pursuing her passion will forever remain her industry sisters, for every lesson learned there’s a blessing earned. In an entertainment world where so many souls are sold, she decided paving her own path would lay a firmer foundation for the immediate future. “Tried to stay down but then sh!t changed / so you know I had to let go…” sings the 19-year-old R&B starlet on Crashing, the leadoff hit from “It Gets Better”. Continuing, she delves even deeper, explaining how time is of the essence: “Sometimes I feel the clock is running down / my dreams fall on deaf ears, no one’s around.”

Since music has seemingly shifted from artistry to accommodation, entertainers have grown accustomed to making music their labels, A&R’s, managers, media outlets and self-serving executives somehow determined listeners want to hear. Thereby abandoning the true foundation of quality sincerity in exchange for qualified sound. A decision based on dollars and non sense. Since when did the truth need validation? Asking an artist, a true musician in fact, to supply popular demand rather than produce art and generate energy, is the suit-and-tie trick true talents are tired of falling for. However, in B-Rod’s world there’s no need to pretend and no space for pretension. She and her camp are way too real to accept those antics. She’s witnessed artists struggle with their own identity as they make concentrated efforts to uncomfortably fuse EDM, chill wave, funk and punk rock with pop, R&B, Hip Hop and soul. A confused collection of incongruent messages and musicianship in direct conflict with each other is often the result. Why not just keep it a buck-50 with oneself and 100 with everyone else? Fearlessly, Bahja has found a way to do just that. Fortunately, the era of R-&-Bahja has arrived.

Sit with Bahja’s seven-song-symphony and you will soon realize the young woman formerly known for her colorful girly curls and cute couture clothing – who has sense become synonymous with a sensuous singing voice, sexy curves, and an impeccable ability to select the right song to accentuate any scene – has weathered a few storms en route to the position of privilege in which she now stands. Bahja has assembled a cohesive body of work with a dominant debut EP aptly titled “It Gets Better”. A project which, at press time, had entered the Top 10 on the iTunes R&B/Soul chart. Gifted and humble, pretty, positive, and potentially one of the most impactful singers of her era, B-Rod hangs out with our super-creative crew in Gotham City for an exclusive globalized marketing affair known as her DOPE MAG cover shoot. This is awesome etched in stone, but wait… It Gets Better.

Written by ToneSwep

Images by Jean Pierre

Creative Dir & MUA by eVe Chen

Styling & Designs by Peta Chen

Hair by B’Lyel Harris & DS Studio

Set Asst Kathy Gee

Special Thanks to: Melange NYC

(Tone Swep: TS) In both Arabic and Somali, “Bahja” means “Happiness”. You have a very pretty name. In what ways do you live up to your name? How are you symbolic of happiness?

(Bahja Rodriguez: B-Rod) I feel like I’m a pretty positive person. My personality and character are about being positive. I’m always the one that finds the light in a situation. I’m really funny. I like to make people smile and laugh. I live up to my name because I’m a person who likes to bring happiness to the world.

(TS) Tell us about the origins of Rodriguez. That’s a different last name for an A-Town chica.

(B-Rod) The name comes from my father’s side of the family. He’s Puerto Rican. My dad never really explained our family history, but I know we have a ton of family in Puerto Rico and south Florida. I’m not really super familiar with my Latin heritage, but I would like to explore that side of my family and culture. I’ve been getting into that more and more recently. And sense I’ve been experimenting with different looks on my natural hair journey, what I’ve been figuring out is the versatility I have; playing with my hair and seeing what works. When I was younger I felt like Puerto Rican girls had bigger, looser curls and Black girls had smaller, tighter curls. I love both styles. I’m figuring out who I am more and more, growing as an artist and person at the same time.

(TS) We’re used to seeing you in tennis shoes, B-girl gear, and multi-colored hair. Then suddenly this gorgeous high glam young woman is introduced to us. When did you make this adjustment?

(B-Rod) Well, thank you. It’s just me getting older and becoming a young woman. My whole aesthetic before was like a flashy little rich girl (Laughs!). Now it’s professional and fun. I’ve always been very relatable, so I want to switch it up and have a look you may have never seen, or one you wouldn’t think I could pull off. And then, the next time, give you the casual everyday looks too. I exude confidence. I want women to be confident. I think that makes us stronger and happier. We all should live happy lives.

(TS) Your EP has been very well received. You presented an extremely impressive body of work with It Gets Better. Talk a little about the theme for this project and your approach to recording it.

(B-Rod) It Gets Better was supposed to come out in late August. I kept it though, held it longer and pushed the release date back to work on it more. I was looking for writers, people to write it for me and make sure it was original. It’s like I was looking for them to make sure it was special. What I learned was this: If I wanted that special project I was going to have to write it myself. As a group artist, I was used to coming to the studio and the song was already written. I just had to be creative and lay my vocals. As opposed to me having to come into the studio and put writing effort in, or work side-by-side with the producer to perfect the beat. The producers for It Gets Better did an amazing job. They’re all up-and-coming. I’m so happy we got to collab on my EP.

(TS) What sort of statement does It Gets Better make?

(B-Rod) That I’m here. And that I’m not going anywhere. I have a fan base. If you’re not paying attention, you definitely should. This EP solidified me being a solo artist.

(TS) Let’s discuss a few of our favorites on the album. Firstly, “Ride or Die” featuring Jacob Latimore.

(B-Rod) The song actually came together in a real fun way, sort of happened naturally. I had already written my verse. Then I was trying to figure out the hook. So I contacted Jacob, brought him in because we’ve wanted to work together for so long. He came to the studio and loved the song. So he’s listening, then he got his melody down, and just started writing. It came out perfect. We both loved it. Jacob and I have known each other since we were 12, but we never worked together on anything solo for me. He’s such an amazing vocalist, I respect his talent so much. It’s great to have him as the only feature on the EP.

(TS) What is the song “Place” conveying to listeners? What message are you leaving us with?

(B-Rod) When I first heard the beat, I felt it sounded like a love song. But I chose to approach it from an empowering place, take it to another level. On the song I’m telling the guy - ‘If you won’t treat me with the respect and love I deserve, I will do me and find someone else.’ It’s the closest thing on the EP to modern R&B. How can I incorporate a modern sound with an empowering message that strengthens women in relationships? That was the question I had in my mind when writing the song.

(TS) The song I can most relate to is “See My Face”. For me, the connection isn’t from a relationship standpoint, but for former friends and business associates who get sour when they see me winning. How about for you?

(B-Rod) This came from a super personal place. One person in particular, he would always treat me like what I was doing wasn’t as important as what he was working on. Well, I’m poppin’ now, and that’s just what’s going on in my life. That’s where I’m at. The level I’ve risen to. And he would hate to see me here, the look on his face would tell the whole story. It’s relatable. He doesn’t want to see me now. I wrote the hook so people could sing along to it. I figured that if they’ve been in a similar situation it would be super personal for them, too. It feels good to overcome certain battles, to grow and get past things that once hurt you.

(TS) Do you have any upcoming shows, live performances, perhaps even a tour in the works?

(B-Rod) We’re planning a tour for the top of the year and I am super excited for that to start. As for shows, we actually have a few dates set up for next month (December). And I’ve been on the road for a few weeks now for promo. I’m working with my team on TV and radio appearances. We’re closing out the fourth quarter very strong.

(TS) For a long time, Atlanta was a hotbed for female R&B. The city was essentially an incubator for new talent with TLC, XScape, Ciara, Keri Hilson, Diamond, and others. But soon after it got relatively quiet, no huge names or marquee projects from female singers coming out of the A. Now a young refreshing voice with an attractive look and a hot new project is delivered by B-Rod. I know it’s exciting, but is that pressure to carry the R&B flag for the A?

(B-Rod) I feel like the pressure is definitely on, but I also feel like this is what I was built for. This is talent. I work very hard at what I do, and I’m always working to get better and improve. I’ve been doing this since I was around 10 or 11. That’s when I started developing as an artist. So if people will like me, they will, if not, they won’t. I know I can deliver and live up to the hype. I’m built for the pressure that comes with people’s expectations. The ones I have for myself are even higher.

(TS) You are a singer, an actual vocalist. You don’t rely on auto-tune or vocal enhancements. Do you feel that is a lost art?

(B-Rod) I feel like the sound right now is cool, but we need more vocalists on the radio. They have our ears closed to people with powerful voices. The state of R&B is critical right now, Tone. It’s not true R&B, because R&B embodies love. And that is what we’re missing right now. With me actually singing on my tracks hopefully it will become an influence, because there are other young women who can really, really sing and have that talent.

(TS) With so many young girls looking up to you, following you on social media, and basically using your music as a how-to guide to better understand how they should live their own lives, do you feel any added responsibility to be a role model? You’ve got to be the youngest R&B artist to hit the national scene in some time.

(B-Rod) I balance it by knowing that I am still growing, still learning. I’m not going be perfect. I tell fans all the time that we’re all going to make mistakes. I try to be a role model for young girls who look up to me. And those who watch me and listen to my music know that I’ve really had real life experiences. Hopefully they can use my experiences and learn from them instead of recreating them and making their own mistakes. I’m myself, and I’m a standup girl. I don’t do anything that is too out of the way. But if I did, it would be fine. It wouldn’t be the end of the world, because I’m not out here saying I’m perfect with a squeaky clean image. I’m real, and real is relatable.

(TS) What inspires you? What drives you? What motivates you to get up, get out, and make it happen each and every day?

(B-Rod) My family. And my team. My family is super involved with my career, especially my mother. She goes hard every day and I love her for it. They work extremely hard for me. Management, PR, my graphic team, I would never want to put in less work than they put in. They’re giving their all and working so hard to make sure we all win.

(TS) What makes Bahja DOPE?

(B-Rod) My sound is very unique. I don’t sound like anyone else that’s out. And me personally, I’m silly, goofy, and all about happiness. My style is versatile. You never know what I’m going to do next. My mom and I sit together and think of new looks and have so much fun with that (Laughs!). I’m not trying to be what the label wants, what the industry wants, or what society wants me to be. I’m doing me. And I hope my music inspires others to do them. That would make me happy.