BABY WEIGHT.

Baby Weight is the DJ, producer, and label boss of Chub Rub from Washington, D.C. who has transformed her sound from the underground to international recognition while staying true to her genre-fluid inspirations. From standout sets at Coachella, Lighting in a Bottle, and EDC to releases on labels including HE.SHE.THEY., Insomniac Records, D4D4NCE, and Southern Fried Records, she continues to be an advocate for inclusive, queer representation in dance music and its sacred spaces. As a nominee for the 2025 FEMMYs’ Breakthrough Artist by Femme House and Billboard, Baby Weight is the artist to have been watching and continue to see rise. I was introduced to her work last summer and have since regularly featured her productions in mix sets and live shows. We are so proud to welcome her to Birmingham for Milk & Honey during Central Alabama Pride on Friday, June 13, at Saturn.

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DXD: How would you best describe your sound? 

BW: Bangs too hard to be deep, but too deep to be a banger. Riot grrl rave. House music for hot girls and heathens. Dance music to cry to.

DXD: How did you get your start in nightlife?

BW: I got the DJ bug in college back in 2011. My friends and I were hipster scum who would throw alternative parties where we played indie music and stuff from blogs. When I graduated, I learned how to properly use CDJs in Annapolis where I grew up and I was going to D.C. and Baltimore all the time. Eventually I started writing for some of those blogs and got introduced to some of the tastemakers in my scene who gave me my first opportunities. I owe a lot to my scene, especially the queer underground parties that really made a place for me even before I officially came out in 2020.

DXD: Washington, D.C., where you are based now, is one of the unexpected dance music hubs of the US. How has the scene there shaped you as an artist?

BW: Because the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) has been at the epicenter of so many music genres – Moombahton, Hardcore, Emo, Go-Go, and Jazz, to name a few – it’s such a unique blend of vibes. At the core of it all though is feeling. I think this focus on trying to zoom in on how something makes me feel has allowed me to really look inward. I like to think L.A. has industry and New York has hustle, but D.C. has heart.

DXD: How do you feel your work as a producer has been influenced by your trans journey and perhaps even vice-versa?

BW: It’s funny. In the past, before Covid, when I was producing and performing under my deadname and I was closeted, it never really felt like me per se. It was technically me, but I was really guarded and you could hear that in my sets and in the music I was making. After coming out, I suddenly stopped caring about what people thought of me as a person and letting that go had a massive impact on my music. Because I didn’t have to hide anymore. And that led to authenticity, I think.

DXD: The title track of your Lavender Lemonade EP is named for your friend, Denise, who passed away in 2022. How has your music helped you process the highs and lows of your life, and how do you hope it does the same for your audiences?

BW: That’s such a special release to me. I think it’s our job as artists to make people feel like they’re not alone. I feel I’m very honest and open with people about my struggles with identity, depression, and anxiety. All too often, there’s this pressure that the music industry puts on artists to be the happiest and most positive versions of themselves, especially on social media, and I think it’s dangerous and irresponsible to pretend like everything is perfect. It reinforces the idea that we should be ashamed of feeling certain ways. But we’re all human. It’s okay to be sad or to be fearful or to be angry or whatever. I think that honesty, particularly as it pertains to my music, helps people find catharsis and belonging.

DXD: You officially launched your label, Chub Rub, in 2018. What do you look for in demos and artists to curate what the label represents?

BW: When we originally launched, our motto was “Weird music for weird people.” I think that ethos has evolved over time. Part of the reason we have slowed down and are taking our time relaunching is because I want Chub Rub to be a hub for music with a unique identity regardless of where it sits on the electronic music spectrum. We previously were only releasing house, but that felt restrictive. If someone wants to express themselves differently, then I want to champion that, especially if it’s coming from a vulnerable place.

Going forward, we want artists and music that feels one-of-a-kind – like only that person could have made it. I don’t care about what’s trending anymore. 

DXD: You made your Coachella debut in 2024 on the DoLaB stage with the incredible folx at HE.SHE.THEY. What has it meant to you to continue being part of the fierce work they have been doing in the industry?

BW: They’ve been nothing but supportive from the moment we first crossed paths. Their mission statement and approach, I think, is necessary if we are going to survive the next four years and if we want the history books to reflect where club culture came from. Music is inherently political and electronic music is possibly one of the most intersectional genres out there. We need more groups to put their money where their mouth is. HE.SHE.THEY. is leading the charge and setting the tone. I’d also like to shout out Femme House for being an amazing outlet in the industry for similar reasons.

DXD: I completely agree. On that note, what does Pride mean to you this year with all our community is facing?

BW: It means not giving up.

DXD: It’s Saturday night and you’re not working. Where are you at to have a good time?

BW: The movies. I am a frequent moviegoer. An AMC or an Alamo Drafthouse loves to see me coming.

DXD: Tell us about an artist/track/set that has been inspiring you lately.

BW: I’ve been incredibly impressed with the world-building of artists like Chappell Roan, Charli, Kim Petras, Sabrina Carpenter. I aspire to create immersion as an artist with my music and my sets, so their focus on “the vibe” has been an obsession of mine as of late. Aside from that, I’ve been listening to a lot of movie soundtracks like Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Clint Mansell, Cliff Martinez, Dustin O’Halloran. I’m a nerd.

DXD: Three things you love seeing at parties?

BW: Girls, gays, and snacks.

DXD: What are you looking forward to most at your Alabama debut with Milk & Honey?

BW: Shaking my ass and being a Mother.

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Thank you Baby Weight. Keep up with her on Insta and SoundCloud. Be sure to come hear her live as we bring you another fierce Milk & Honey extravaganza at Saturn on Friday, June 13, during Central Alabama Pride. Get your tickets here.

Xx,