Criibaby’s music feels like a hug covered in pixie dust. Characterized by jazz-influenced chord progressions and ASMR-inspired percussion, her songs erupt in immersive drops that embrace you warmly. Their intricate layers of delicate vocals and emotionally raw lyrics might make you want to cry — but that’s okay, you are safe to let the tears flow with Criibaby.
Using a unique songwriting method with “no names, no genders, only the feelings, only the bare truths,” Criibaby’s songs feature lyrics without binary pronouns, crafted from an openly queer perspective to foster inclusivity. Her talent has earned her features in Billboard, BBC Sounds, Spotify’s Fresh Finds, KCRW, POPSUGAR, them, and more. She even created a self-made instrument — a set of orbs producing fairy-like notes and chords she taps to alter the sound.
It’s been almost 4 years since GO has caught up with Criibaby, and there’s so much to cover. From performing at music festivals like SXSW to finding strength in their softness to finally releasing their debut album, Criibaby is taking the queer music scene by storm, but in the most gentle way. Step into the purple, ethereal world that is Criibaby.
GO Magazine: Hey Criibaby! What’s new since we last spoke?
Criibaby: Literally insane that I finally get to say this: my debut album comes out this fall! I’ve performed a lot of unreleased stuff live- whether that be at SXSW, opening for (((O))) (stage name of June Marieezy), or more intimate shows with Sofar Sounds, but my favorite nights are always performing for queer audiences like San Francisco’s THEYFRIEND festival or community-centered gigs booked through the SF LGBT Center. The comfy, bubbly feeling of performing my gay lil songs for the gays ~AS GOD INTENDED~ is *chefs kiss*.
Anyway, after five years in the making, I’m so ready to have the studio versions of these songs out in the world. As with all my Criibaby projects, the lyrics are all gender-neutral, but I kinda explored some new paths [like bambi bisexual] so my sound is a little different than my earlier music, which has been really exciting.
GO: You’ve taught me a new term! Can you explain what the terms “bambi bisexual” and “bunny bisexual” mean to you?
CB: Oh my god, YES. When I say “bambi bisexual” or “bunny bisexual” I’m talking about being more interested in gentle and non-sexual queer affection, like snuggling, holding hands, kissing, hugging – intimacy that’s just not sex. Picture the softness of two baby deer hopping around a flower patch and cuddling. Boom, PEAK bambi bisexual vibes. That’s the mood I was trying to create in my song “safe.” Basically, the plot is two young queers meet in a magical garden where they have the freedom to hold hands, have picnics, read books together, and enjoy long sunny summer days falling asleep in the grass next to each other.
GO: How did you come to identify with these terms, and why do you think it’s important to have niche representations within the bisexual community?
CB: This will come as a surprise to literally no one but there is a lot of really bad bisexual representation out there. Like truly yikes. Growing up, the only bisexuality I really saw in the media was the evil, hyper-sexualized, attention-seeking, cheating bisexual. That’s… so trash, dude. Because it reinforces false stereotypes and creates stigma from outsiders looking in, but also because it […] creates kind of this weird self-expectation, too. […] It’s kind of bisexual culture to have cycles of questioning your bisexuality. I’m one of those everything’s a spectrum people. That’s something I think being bi and also being genderqueer has taught me. I found out about the term “bambi bisexual” through niche queer memes. The ideal path of sex education, right? Give us nuance! Give us a bisexual who doesn’t have relationship drama! Give us a bisexual who isn’t bisexual as part of the plot, they just exist! Give us a bisexual who isn’t even interested in any of the other characters! If I had seen nuance in how bisexuals are represented earlier in my life, I really think I could have come out to myself sooner without worrying so much about being “really bi” or “bi enough.”
GO: In your view, how does the mainstream presentation of Pride sometimes fail to capture the nuances of queer experiences?
CB: Years ago, Hannah Gadsby had a bit about hating parties during pride where they just looked out at the audience and asked, “where do the quiet gays go?” And I’m obsessed with that because honestly, same. Not everyone wants to do high energy, high alcohol, high intensity stuff. My ideal pride celebration would be getting a bunch of queers in a room full of plants and singing and drinking tea and making candles or some shit like that. Anyone wanna come to cottagecore introvert pride?
GO: Softness as resistance. Can you talk more about that?
CB: Softness as resistance is something I keep coming back to as kind of a guiding force, definitely in my art but in my personal life, too. In a world that is constantly demanding that queer folks toughen up to fight back against the whole range of societal bullshit, I think one of the ways queers are good at escaping the burnout of the ol’ cis-hetero-patriarchal game is to kinda just… not play along. We are great at just doing something weird and unexpected instead. And I fucking love that about us. I was part of an exhibition called “Soft Defiance,” an arts & performance project exploring softness and queer mental health at the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts last year and I think they articulated this idea brilliantly: “Resisting negativity and hatred is a constant uphill battle for many historically marginalized queer and trans communities that require a firm commitment to centering one’s own mental health and wellness. Soft Defiance is a celebration of this commitment to our sustained emotional and spiritual well-being.” Ironically, maybe softness is my personal brand of “queer as in fuck you?”
GO: What inspired you to adopt gender-neutral songwriting in your music?
CB: Okay so picture this: you’re vibing to a song, and the lyrics are really resonating — it’s like the artist is describing something you’ve been through in your own life. You’re picturing yourself in the story and that builds a special connection to you and the music. They’re singing about YOU. But then, suddenly, at a big climactic point of the song, the singer says “i love him” and you’re not in love with a him... That can really take you out of the moment. Suddenly you don’t relate and you’re just watching the story as an outsider — maybe still connecting with some of the themes, but not deeply feeling it in a personal way anymore. So I don’t use any pronouns or gender roles in my lyrics because I want to make music where anyone can be the main character.
GO: Can you describe the process of creating and showcasing your self-made instrument at SXSW? How did this contribute to building your unique world?
CB: I’m a really vivid dreamer. You know how old movies used to say “in technicolor?” That’s how I feel about my dreams. One night, I had a dream where I was playing this alien instrument that came from a different universe — it was basically a floating piano made up of all these different size spheres of glowing purple lights. When I touched each orb, they would glow bright purple and a beautiful sound would fill the room. You know, just a normal night. I told my producer Surfer Dave about the dream, and I was just like, what if we create this in real life? And I play the instrument live? His response to pretty much all of my ridiculous ideas is “we can do anything” and I’m really, really lucky to have a collaborator like that. So, we built it.
GO: Your theme of resisting the urge to run away from yourself is really powerful and personal. Can you share how this theme shows up in your upcoming debut album?
CB: Thanks, my therapist thinks so too. Resisting the urge to run away from yourself is something it seems like a lot of queer people struggle with. Sometimes it’s like we believe strongly that other people deserve happiness and respect, of course, absolutely, but me? I’m just a little guy. And you question if you’re really bi enough, or genderqueer enough, or whatever enough to really deserve that label or that respect that you would 100% give to another person. (PLOT TWIST: you’re actually allowed to take up space and do whatever you want. Read that last sentence again.)
This theme comes up all over the album because I wrote these songs over a pretty long time period- the last song on the record is from 2019 and the most recent song is from just last year. I had already come out as bisexual but I didn’t publicly start talking about gender stuff until 2023.
Those running away feelings show up the most in my song when i’m alone i feel weightless, which is also what i decided to name the album, because it feels like that song gets to the heart of what this project is trying to say.
GO: What other themes are you exploring in this album, and what do they mean to you?
CB: The question I’m asking with this album is this: what is holding you back from healing? Giving myself the artist name Criibaby is about reclaiming that hurt of always being called too sensitive, and owning it as just something that makes me who I am. When I think big picture, I go onstage as Criibaby because I want to create this welcoming world full of curiosity and imagination and encourage people to slow down and reflect for a second. I want to help people embrace their sensitivity and give them a safe space to do some zoomed-out thinking. During live shows and workshops, I like to have people close their eyes and envision their life as a garden, and talk them through reflecting on our “roots,” what “weeds” have taken over and need to be completely pulled out, and what “new seeds” we would like to plant in order for them to grow and bloom in the years to come. For me, connecting people through creativity and imagination feels like the freedom of taking a road trip to the middle of nowhere together — it’s quiet and peaceful and when you look up at the sky at night you can finally see what the stars really look like.
GO: How has creating this album helped you grow as an artist and an individual?
CB: Through the process of writing this album, I started performing live a lot and that gave me a chance to try new things and connect with audiences directly. When people get it, they GET IT. I don’t even know if I have words for how fucking cool that is, but one experience does stick out in my mind. I was selected to perform at the nonbinary art & performance festival THEYFRIEND last year and it was a really warm and special show. I talked a little bit about why I make gender-neutral music before my set and I’ve never seen so many nodding heads in the audience, it just really felt like it was resonating on a way different level than ever before. After my performance, someone I’d never met walked over to say that they felt super welcomed and invited into my performance, and really safe both in the room and in their body while I did my thing. That’s literally EXACTLY what I’m trying to do when I perform so it’s WILD to have someone just run up and wanna say that to me. Wild.
GO: What advice would you give to young queer artists who are looking to find their voice and create their own representations?
CB: Don’t let anyone tell you your art is “too niche.” Or if they do, be like… thanks lol! Being queer is a nuanced experience, and that is a cool and good and hot and magical thing. Someone will see [your art] and be like, wow, YES. Even if it’s just one person. Even if that one person is literally you. Who cares? That is so much better than it just not existing in the world. Make exactly what you want to make, and take constructive feedback but don’t compromise on the core idea you’re trying to communicate. It’s not a dumb idea. And if it is, even better. Do dumb gay shit. We always need more dumb gay shit. What is the point of anything if we don’t get to enjoy dumb gay shit?
Listen to Criibaby’s new singles “safe” and “me into you” ahead of her fall album when i’m alone i feel weightless, and follow them on Instagram and TikTok for sapphic humor, fairy teatime, and gentle moments to help you unwind. She also has a bunch of shows coming up – at the top of that list is a gala for an amazing LGBTQ+ foundation called Horizons, which gives grants to queer nonprofits (we love to see it!).
