Baby Storme is a cool blend of rock, pop and alternative with classical infusions. The New York native is a singer, songwriter and talented instrumentalist known by her fans for her colorful braids and electric blue eye. Now based in LA, she first started gaining recognition for her music in 2019 after launching a TikTok account where she could anonymously express her creativity. Soon, her videos started to gain traction and Baby Storme found herself in the midst of a rise to fame. She now has over 750k followers, 11.4M likes on her TikTok and just dropped her latest single, “MANIAC”. Her success came quickly and is no coincidence: Storme works hard to make her vision come to life and does everything on her own. She plans to keep working hard and sees this as only the beginning.

This past week, Baby Storme graced us with “MANIAC” : a record that perfectly embodies the coldness and creepiness of fall. With stellar piano synths, electric guitar and a crazy baseline that lures you in like a ghost in the night, “MANIAC” is an instant Halloween banger. It’s the kind of baseline you hear in a Hitchcock: the one that gets your heart racing and makes you feel slightly on edge, as if something is lurking right around the corner. The song feels eerie with a sweet twist, with the sound of knives being sharpened as adlibs. Storme’s vocals are as sugary as a lullabye. Combined with the chilling piano, her singing adds to the feeling of mischief the record evokes, like hearing a nursery rhyme in a horror film. The cover features Storme covered in blood, sitting in a circle of knives. “MANIAC” feels like the start of a new stage for the young singer.

We had the chance to sit down and chat with Baby Storme about the single, her creative process and where she sees her career going in the future.

Gigi: Hey there Storme! How are you? I’m so happy to be speaking with you today.

Baby Storme: I’m good! I literally just woke up, I kid you not like, 3 minutes ago and immediately hopped on this call. I hope it’s ok that my camera’s off.

Totally fine - Sorry to wake you up!

No, don’t worry, I was having some really weird dreams so you saved me from that. Thank you. *laughs*

Tell us about “MANIAC”. What a spooky bop. Can we expect a music video any time soon?

I was inspired by the Suicide Squad. The whole thing was creatively directed by me. You’re gonna die when you see the video. It should be done today, I just have to edit it and upload it tomorrow. If you liked my “Loverboy” video, you’ll vibe with it. You’re going to love it. I’m so excited.

You write, creative direct and style all your music, videos and shoots. What’s your creative process like?

I don’t have one. I’ll just wake up and the song will already be created in my head. I’ve never had to sit down and say “Hey I’m gonna write a song.” It’s always a quick 10 minute thing, the ideas just come out of my brain. I don’t really know how to explain. It really just comes to me naturally and I’ll perfect it in the studio.

You’ve been blowing up on Tiktok for a year now, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. How do you feel about your TikTok success?

Although I’m not exactly where I wanna be, I feel like this year, and Tiktok, really changed my life. A year ago today, I literally had less than 1000 listeners on Spotify, maybe like 20. So like, when I dropped “Jackson”, I was really down bad. I was at a point where I was so fed up and I needed a win. I needed something to pull me out of that. I realized, going through depression and being suicidal, I never really wanted death. I just didn't want to keep living my life the way it currently was.

After I wrote “Jackson”, I threw myself into planning the release because it just had to work out. I was dead broke and used all the money I got from unemployment and disability on everything. I’m so glad that hopping on Tiktok worked. This was the song that transitioned me from being an unknown artist into an upcoming artist. I’m so happy about that. So happy.

So after you blew up, did you get signed to a label?

t’s so funny because every major label except one reached out to me. And every single day, it was just meetings upon meetings upon meetings. I feel like it was too early in my career and I feel like it was a whole series of events because I had bad management. The labels didn’t want to sign me bad enough and I don’t think the deals I would’ve gotten at that time - given that it was so early in my career - would have benefitted me.

So I stayed independent and I love it. There’s so much control over what you do and no one’s telling you anything. If I were able to get the same luxuries as being signed to a label as an independent artist, I would never get signed. When I do eventually decide on a label, I want to be able negotiate on my terms. I definitely do want to, maybe in 2022. I’m ready to get to the next level in my career. I’m tired of being an upcoming artist, I just want to be a fucking artist!

You are though! The word “upcoming” is weird anyway. Some people are “upcoming” for like, 5 years before blowing up.

They’re better than me because I can’t wait 5 years. *laughs*

I feel you! You gotta get on the hype. Where do you see your career and sound going?

You would love it. It’s just the best. I feel like I’m so relaxed when it comes to my direction because my unreleased stuff is some of the best stuff I’ve ever written. I feel like I have the golden ticket from Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. I would say my new sound is a perfect representation of what I think my actual sound is, at heart. It’s sadder, piano based. I want to be like Adele. I want to make music that is well respected by any age, any audience. I want that.

Do you feel like you capture some of the essence of New York in your music?

Maybe? I don’t know. That’s an interesting question. I would say no because when I think of New York, I think of drill, like Brooklyn. But yeah, maybe, I would say I’m free spirited and that definitely resonates with the spirit of New York.

The reason I asked is because when I heard “Jackson”, something about the bass made me feel the energy - it reminds me of a New York City night, walking through the streets with jazz music playing. Maybe I’m just being biased because the video was shot throughout the city, in a lot of places I’m familiar with.

You know what, I think you might be onto something! When I wrote that song and I was thinking about the video, the only thing I could think to do, and the only thing that was right, was the New York City thing so yeah, so maybe I did feel the energy and I’m not aware of it? *laughs*

That’s magic though! You captured it without even trying. If not New York, what inspires you and your music? Is there anyone you look up to?

See, I always say no to those types of questions because I feel like there is no one out there, currently, who is doing what I want to do. You know who I do really like though? Lil Nas X! Especially his new album. “DEAD RIGHT NOW” and “VOID” are my favorites. They’re kinda sad. Just how I like ‘em.

He commented on one of your videos!

Yeah! That was dope. I also just went to a The Neighborhood show at the Hollywood Bowl. I literally could’ve cried. They’re so good. This morning before I woke up I was doing a deep stalker dive of all the bandmates and their girlfriends, just thinking like ‘oh my god I’m so fucking jealous!” *laugh*

You’ve mentioned a few artists - Adele, Lil Nas X and The Neighborhood. They’re all so different. What are some specific qualities that you think make a good musician? Do you have these qualities?

I think someone who genuinely cares about songwriting is a good musician. At the end of the day, it all boils down to that: the song. We need more great songs. A lot of songs now are just good. Also, [a good musician is] someone who genuinely cares about the music, cares about the art. It’s so hard to find these qualities in 2021. Everyone likes music and a lot of people want to be “artists” but so many people just wake up one day and decide to become a musician. This may be a hot take but I’m so tired of the computer sounds. I want to hear instruments. And yeah - of course I have those qualities!

How do you feel about Willow Smith playing “POM POM” at her show the other day?

She better! *laughs* No, I’m kidding. That was so cool. It made me really happy. I love Willow.

If you were a CD, what would you be and why?

I would be a single, because if an album has 10 songs, I’m not gonna like all 10. I would probably be Coming Down by The Dum Dum Girls, because when I listen to it I feel like I’m floating. When I listen to this song, it reminds me of taking the trains late in NY when the trains aren’t crowded. Just walking around the city. It makes me feel like there’s wind blowing even when there isn’t.

Wow, that’s powerful! Do you have any advice for anyone that wants to follow in your footsteps?

“I don’t know where to start” is everyone’s favorite excuse. You know where to start - get to the studio! Literally! Also, I would highly suggest investing in a home studio.

What is your most useless talent?

I used to have the highest score of all time on Subway Surfers. I can’t make this up. I used to play the game to help me focus. I literally have millions of dollars in that game that I’m trying to figure out how to cash out. If you play the game, you know how long it takes to make that much money. *laughs* I’m really good at like, iPhone and Nintendo DS games. I will defeat anyone in the multiplayer version of Super Mario Bros game.

Do you think you’ll ever reinvent yourself and your look?

Honestly, no. I’m 21 but I feel like I’m 55. I feel like I have myself figured out. I can’t really even imagine having an identity crisis. I am me - I am bold, I am blunt. The piercings are never coming out… if you ever see them out, just know that I’m going through a crisis.

This was amazing. Thank you so much for chatting with us! Good luck with everything.

Thank you so much, this was so fun! You can’t tell but I’m smiling in my bonnet right now.

Watch the music video for “MANIAC” below, and follow Baby Storme on Twitter @babystorme_ and on Instagram and TikTok @babystorme.