Baby Queen: drugs, toxic managers and the ‘void’ of celebrity

<p>Happy new year huns! After a restful Christmas of pigs in blankets and Oatnog we’re suitably fattened up and raring to go for 2023 at Straight Up HQ, with plenty of juicy, eye-opening interviews about the murky world of celebrity.</p> <p>In this episode we’re joined by the fabulous Baby Queen, the 25-year-old South African born, London-based artist who many new fans might recognise from Netflix’s Heartstopper soundtrack, for what is perhaps our most revealing interview to date –&nbsp;like, EVER!</p> <p>Baby Queen, AKA Bella, spills the tea on just how twisted the music business actually still is, even in its green juice era, from toxic male managers and the prevalence of drugs, to abuse and manipulation, the sexism, the self-medicating and the mental health costs that are all practically part and parcel of being a performer. Bella digs deep into her own “bright lights syndrome” and the narcissism inherent in artistry, while talking through a recent identity-crisis, navigating ADHD, and her battles with depression, revealing how they are, for her, intertwined with being in the spotlight. Plus, we talk everything from therapy and why Bella says she is never, ever having children, to video games and why the name “Baby Queen” triggered an existential crisis.</p> <p>Let us know what you think by replying with a comment on Spotify or sending us an Insta DM @straightuppod</p> <p>Thank you to our gorgeous sponsors for making this episode happen:</p> <p><a href="https://blacklinesdrinks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>Black-lines</u></a>, the amazing bottled cocktail company behind our fave winter tipple Oatnog. A dairy-free take on the Eggnog, it’s made with Minor Figures oat milk, buttery rum, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, and you can serve it hot or cold. We are obsessed! Try it for yourself by using the code STRAIGHTUP15 at checkout for 15% off. Check them out<a href="https://blacklinesdrinks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u> here</u></a></p> <p><a href="https://uk.huel.com/prod