Feature: Baby Weight
Hey DoD friends and fam! Back again with some Fantastic Finds for April and a mega-guest for this month’s playlist, Baby Weight.
Self-proclaimed “fat trans femme brat,” and label boss at Chub Rub music, Cara Eser aka Baby Weight stole my heart in the earlier days of Fantastic Voyage records through her sister project, Danielle Sadcliffe. Since then, we’ve all watched her career blossom alongside her journey of self-expression and her tenacity to maintain visibility at the mainstream table. Cara is an out-loud advocate for inclusivity in dance music with a refusal to be kept underground, firing off powerful releases that are quirky, chunky, and funky with a serving of some serious no-bullshit messages finding their way onto the industry’s biggest platforms.
In 2021 she was featured in Mixmag’s Impact series and debuted on BBC Radio 6 with her Sweatbox mix for The Blessed Madonna. Last year her release “House Princess” (which I’ve added as a bonus track!) was featured in Calvin Klein’s Pride campaign, and she was included in DJ Mag’s list of emerging artists earlier this year. She’s told me all about her selections for this month’s playlist, so I’ll just let her take it away:
*coming Friday* Baby Weight & Karnage Kills, “Ya Know” (out April 14 on Snakehips’ Never Worry records)
I’m really excited about this record. Karnage Kills did the vocal for my track “House Princess” and we both knew we had to work together again after we saw the reception to that track. This will be the first of many records we’ve worked on together coming out this year — I’m so excited for the world to hear what we’ve made.
Baby Weight, “Slay 4 Me (ft. Jesse Fields)” (out now on HE.SHE.THEY)
I met Jesse through the Dirtybird community at Campout 2021 and we became fast friends. When we were working together on an event, I floated the idea of writing a track for him to choreograph to and he sent me the best voice notes ever. Debuting this at Campout in 2022, and then having it drop on one of my favorite labels, has been one of the most insane journeys to watch and I am so humbled by the support its gotten since it came out in March.
Walker & Royce and Nala, “Not About You” (Black Book)
I don’t think there’s a single set where I haven’t played this since I got my hands on it. As someone who owes a lot of my perspective to indie music and sub genres like riot grrl, the sheer tenacity of this track speaks to me on a fundamental level. It’s the most punk I’ve ever heard tech house go and honestly we need more of it.
Lola Young, “Don’t Hate Me”
I love this song. It’s not dance music per se, but it has elements of breakbeat and a funky bassline and a rawness to it that just hits me where it hurts. Hopefully this manifests an opportunity to remix it; Lola — tell your people to call my people!
Henry Krinkle, “Stay (Justin Martin VIP #1)”
My last pick was tough. There’s so many artists influencing my sound at the moment including Fred again.., Jamie xx, Bicep, Four Tet, Soulwax, Barry Can’t Swim, TSHA. But if there was a constant — someone whose music continues to be on rotation during my sets and in my daily life — it’s Justin Martin. This record continues to give me butterflies every time i hear it which is saying a lot for a remix that is almost 10 years old. The VIP mix he finally released last year never fails to make people lose it. So few records truly stand the test of time anymore and this one I think is gonna go down in history.
Cheers, Cara! Thanks for joining us this month <3
Stay Safe, and Enjoy!
