For Latina pop singer Elle Baez, closing out The Big E this year is a shot at redemption.
“I was supposed to actually perform last year, but then my date got rained out,” she said in a phone interview with The Republican. “I was so sad last year, but then it worked out because they gave me this year!”
Baez has also been to The Big E multiple times for her own personal enjoyment. Her favorite part about the fair? “Probably the different states, going from each building to the next. I thought that was really fun and cool, with all of the different foods and drinks.”
Elle Baez is a Latina singer-songwriter who strives to be “real, authentic and relatable,” according to her website. As a plus-sized singer and model, Baez hopes to be representation for women that don’t normally see themselves in the spotlight.
With more than 100,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, her song “I Love My Body” has amassed more than 2.5 million hits across all platforms with lyrics like “I had no pride for you / I was denying who I am / While depriving you of all of your senses” and “I gotta love my body / And all of the life it’s brought me / And I gotta tell it sorry for all the little bits I picked apart.”
In 2023, Baez was recognized by The Rolling Stones and had two of her songs – “I Love My Body” and “Fuego” – featured in the “Songs You Need To Know” list. Baez was also named the 2023 Entertainer of the Year at the Full Figured Industry Awards and more recently, walked the runway for Adore Me during this year’s New York Fashion Week.
As a songwriter, Baez has opened for artists like Bea Miller and Leah Kate and her most recent song, “I Am The Man,” was a women-driven project with lyrics like ““I am the man of my dreams / I am the king to my queen / Goddess of my masculinity” meant to promote self-love.
In her website’s own words: “Her ethos is simple: Be you, be sexy and above all, be confident.”
Baez will play The E Stage on Sept. 27 at 8:30 p.m. Admission to her concert is free with fair admission.
In a phone interview with The Republican, she talked about the message behind her music and the importance of body positivity.
Q. I was listening to your latest song, “I Am The Man,” and there’s some really powerful lyrics there. Can you share your inspiration behind this song?
A. That song I wrote with an all-women team, I’m very big on women empowerment with my music and giving other girls that confidence. I had been single for such a long time in my life, and I felt like sometimes we’re made to feel ashamed if we don’t have a man in our life, or a significant other. I wanted to make an anthem for anybody really, saying that they can be the love of their own life. You can be your own man and do things for yourself that typically a lover would do and be your own lover. I kind of wanted it to be an affirmation for people to sing, and if they feel alone to know that they’re not alone in that feeling.
Q. So much of your music really sends these messages for women love themselves and be true to who they are. Can you share more about the importance of using music to deliver these messages?
A. I’ve been singing since I was a little girl, like 3 years old and writing little songs. I grew up wanting to be a performer, (but) I was put down by so many people because of who I am and how I look. I have a song called “Stereotype,” where it’s all about breaking those stereotypes, and I was always encouraged by my parents to keep following my dreams and to not let other peoples’ opinions of me stop me from letting my talent shine. I just feel like so many people are made to feel like they need to quit or give up because of other people’s opinions, and I wanted to be that voice out there in the world to let people be unafraid and if they can see me doing what I’m doing and following my dreams, that they can too. Music felt like the perfect thing, because it’s that universal language and I love using my voice to heal. And I do feel like it heals in a way.
Q. Your music really made me think about how harshly celebrities are judged for their appearances. For example, Meghan Trainor and Adele both in recent memory received criticism both before and after they lost weight. What do you think of this pressure that Hollywood and fans put on female celebrities?
A. It is so disheartening to know that women are not only seen for their talent, but they’re also seen for their appearance, and people use that to judge them and almost judge their talent, and it has nothing to do with that. My goal is to strive for there to be more diversity in the industry so that we can stop having those judgements and conversations, and it can just be about the music and the talent. I’m hoping the industry can continue to grow and change, and that I can be that first big – at least for me, I’m Latina and I’m plus-sized, and there just hasn’t been a plus-sized Latina pop star. My mission is to be that for other girls that look like me.
Q. Two of your songs – “Fuego” and “I Love My Body” – were named to The Rolling Stone’s “Songs You Need to Know” list in 2023. What’s it like having that honor?
A. I was not expecting it, I didn’t know so it was such a huge surprise. The first one was my song “Fuego,” which is actually about my parents and my dad, because he immigrated here from the Dominican Republic. It was a really personal song for me, and to see it be recognized like that and for that high of a regard was absolutely insane. It meant a lot to me. It meant the world.
Q. And your influence extends beyond just music. You were named the 2023 Entertainer of the Year at the Full Figured Industry Awards and walked the runway for Adore Me at this year’s New York Fashion Week. What does it mean to have these opportunities?
A. Oh, they mean the absolute world. That was my first award that I’ve won, and to be honored like that – I got to also perform at the awards show – it was so cool. I have the award in my bedroom. (laughs) And walking for Adore Me, I’ve always loved modeling and representing in that way as well. To be a plus-size model on the runway like that in lingerie, representing was something that was so scary in the moment, but afterwards was so rewarding. Everybody just told me how inspired they were by me when they saw me up there, and that was a dream come true.
Q. What would your advice be to the women who might see you on stage, or on social media, and look up to you?
A. I always say to anybody, especially younger girls who follow me, I always tell them that whatever it is that is that thing that makes you different right now in your lives – for me, I know I had a lot of things growing up that I felt so insecure about (I have a song called “Pretty Insecurities,” that’s kind of about this) – I always tell them that, that is your superpower and that is what’s going to make you stand out in the most beautiful way. And even if at this moment right now you don’t feel that way, trust that you’re going to grow and just see yourself blossom. It’s a journey, though, self-love is a journey, but you will learn to love those things and find that, that is what makes you unique.
Q. Wow. That’s so important, especially in this world we live in now where teenage girls especially will see perfect bodies on TikTok and things like that.
A. The mental health of it all nowadays is so crazy. I know I had it rough being younger, but I can’t even imagine being that young and having TikTok and everything.
Q. Not to ping-pong on you here, but I wanted to know who your own musical inspirations are?
A. Ooh, I love this question! (laughs) My biggest inspirations would be Demi Lovato, Kelly Clarkson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Adele.
Q. Those are some amazing ladies.
A. Yeah! Big, powerful vocalists – that what I love.
Q. Looking ahead, after The Big E we’ll be heading towards fall, winter, the end of the year. What’s on your agenda musically?
A. I’m so excited because I’m putting out a Christmas EP for the holiday season – it’s the first Christmas project I’ve ever done and I’ve always dreamed of putting out Christmas music a la Mariah Carey. In 2025, I’ll be dropping my sophomore EP.
Q. Can you tease more about the Christmas EP?
A. I can tease that it’s going to be three original songs – one is actually going to be a Christmas version of one of my hit songs, “I Love My Body” – then two more originals, and one cover.
Q. What can fans expect from your concert at The Big E? Anything you’d like to add to encourage folks to come out?
A. It’s going to be feel-good, self-love vibes topped with some soul. It’s going to be a journey emotionally, we’ll have the dance pops, we’ll have the ballads, and I’ll also be doing covers of Renee Rapp, Adele and Sabrina Carpenter!
Q. Will there be a little “Espresso” mixed into the concert then?
A. Maybe! (laughs)
More information about Baez’s Sept. 27 concert can be found on The Big E’s website.
