Bahja Rodriguez Talks Split From OMG Girlz & Going Solo With New EP

Former OMG Girlz group member Bahja Rodriguez, pronounced (BAY-JAH), is putting her girl group behind her and moving forward with the launch of her solo career and the release of EP, It Gets Better.

Besides being very talented, I was surprised to learn that the 19-year-old had such a good head on her shoulders. During our talk about her new EP and the direction she wants to take her career, Bahja spoke openly about why the group split and starting over.

On Splitting from the OMG Girlz and Going Solo
Our split was abrupt for me because as far as I was concerned we were all on the same page about moving forward (musically). When the group ended, I was upset because I didn’t initially want to go solo and I didn’t know how I was going to do it. My entire creative team that I worked with while I was in the group was taken from me. I had to start completely from scratch and figure out how I was going to do it, who was going to produce, who was going to engineer, where I was going to record, how I was going to write…I just had to figure it out.

On Why the Group Really Split?
It was a lot of things we didn’t agree on. What played a big part of it was that we were turning 18 and we were able to make our own decisions without our parents’ consent. We all love our moms and take into consideration about what our moms feel and what they say and that was kind of what clouded some of our business decisions. Just having our moms involved but it wasn’t a nasty split or anything negative. I don’t have any bad blood with any of the girls actually. I just think it was for the best and we still talk. Brea (Breaunna Womack) and Zonnique (Pullins) were actually at my listening party. We still talk and we see each other when we see each other but there is no bad blood or anything.

On Whether it’s Inevitable for Girl Groups to Have Drama & Ultimately Split
With most girl groups that’s what they always say because girls tend to be messy but it’s inevitable for a group to split whether it’s a girl or boy group. When you put a group of people together, everyone is different and everyone wants to do something different. I personally feel there wasn’t enough longevity for our group. We started when we were twelve and ended when we were about eighteen and we were still kind of pushing the OMG Girlz hair color thing and we wanted to grow up.

I definitely think it’s inevitable [for a group to split] but it doesn’t have to be a nasty split unless you make it a nasty split.

On Releasing Her EP & Developing Her Individual Sound
This time last year, I was in a really difficult place both mentally and emotionally. The group was going through what we were going through and we were trying to figure out what we were going to do. We weren’t really making any music and my biggest thing has always been to make music because I love it. I’ve been making music since I was a kid so I was really in a bad place. I feel so much better, mentally, spiritually, physically and I’m making music and having fun. My team is solid. All the people that I have in place I really do enjoy being around and it’s all genuine love.

R&B is still modern. I want to keep my sound as much about love as possible but not too lovey dovey. I want to have that sad element or the ‘I don’t care anymore, you can go do what you want to do I’m still gonna do me’ type of element so I’d describe my sound as R&B and modern.

On Her Musical Inspirations
Brandy, definitely. She’s at the top of my list because I missed out on Whitney [Houston]. I feel like Brandy’s the next best thing. I was in love with Britney Spears. That’s something that people don’t know about me but Britney Spears is the one that got me started singing. I was just obsessed with her.

Artists like Beyonce, Faith Evans, Lauryn Hill, Monica, and even Mary J Blige. Once my mom figured out I liked music she would play so many different artists just so I would have something to listen to and imitate so by the time I was ready to have my own music choice and something to listen to, I had lots of diversity. And Usher, I like Usher too.

On Discovering She Could Write Her Own Music
When I was in the group, we would go to the studio and the song would already be done. All we had to do was put our vocals on it. Once the group broke up, I was pretty much out of options and I didn’t have people to write for me or produce for me. I had to figure it out on my own and I’m so grateful that I had that experience because it only made my ‘pen’ stronger.

When I first started writing and recording back in March or April, I would get so frustrated. I would cry in the studio and I’d cry to my engineer… Over time I had to learn to be patient with myself because I’m my own biggest critique and I’m the worst critique and the hardest critique on myself so I would naturally think, ‘nope I can do better.’ I just had to get content with what I was doing but still know that there was room for me to grow.

I just started writing how I felt rather than what I felt like people wanted to hear, or what was on the radio or what was trendy. I just wrote from my heart, from past relationships, past experiences, different things that happened to me in life and I just put it in a song and it just worked.

And it seemed to have worked very well. In fact, Rodriguez revealed she co-wrote on six of the seven songs on her EP.

Advise to Young Aspiring Artists About The Music Business
Never let anyone tell you, you can’t. In music a lot of times people will say, ‘if you don’t look like this you won’t make it or you don’t sound like that so that’s why it won’t work.’ I feel like in music there’s no right answer. No matter what you do, as long as it’s good, somebody’s going to take to it. A lot of doors will get slammed in your face before the right door opens and a lot of times a lot of artists get discouraged because people are telling them this is the wrong way to do it. It’s art so there’s really no wrong way to do art.

Business wise, you just always have to keep your eyes open. Even people that will tell you they have your best interest at heart, it’s really not the truth. The music [industry] is such a dirty game….never wear your emotions on your sleeve. If people are telling you, ‘no you can’t do it,’ just say ‘okay,’ take it and move on to the next person.

Highlight of Her Career So Far
While still with the OMG Girlz, Bahja says the moment she realized Beyonce knew who they were was a highlight for her. Back in 2012, when Bey created her Instagram name she initially used the moniker “Baddie Bey” after learning that the girls were featured on a music special listing seven reasons they thought she was a Baddie; a term used to describe a beautiful, talented and successful woman. Bey even sent the girls a handwritten note to thank them for the honor.

Bahja also spoke on her former girl group image and desire to distance herself from any gimmicks. Now a brunette, she wore pink hair for much of her girl group era. While the vibrant hair color wouldn’t exactly be placed in the category of a gimmick, she notes that she wants to shy away from “selling” the idea that she came from a lavished upbringing where clothes, jewelry and her outside appearances took precedence over her character.

Although she insists she never had to go without, or saw signs of her mom struggling financially, she grew up pretty normal; having lots of the same issues most teenagers do, from personal struggles, relationships woes, facing hard times and disappointments.

The singer also shared with us her desire to one day form her own group and become a philanthropist. Having a grandmother who passed from AIDS and baring witness to family and friends affected by terminal illnesses, the singer expressed her desire to one day aid in the financial and emotional burdens that families often face during these difficult times.

Taking some time to elaborate on each single, Bahja calls “Crashing” her angry listen to me single, “Place,” “Maybe” and “See My Face,” are all about an ex while “Don’t Need Yo Money” is about declaring her independence and not allowing anyone to buy her affection. “Chill, Turn Up, Party” is definitely the party anthem while “Ride or Die,” the lead single, is all about being well, a ride or die, and devoted girlfriend.

Her Favorite Singles Off the EP?
“Chill, Turn Up, Party,” “Place”, and “Ride or Die.”

It Gets Better officially releases November 20, 2015.

The full interview in its entirely please check out more of what Bahja had to say below.

(Photo Credit: Exquisite Eye)