Bailey Rodrigues, that’s WHO DIS
WHO DIS is the new track out from Gold Coast rapper, Bailey Rodrigues. A combo of house and hip hop, WHO DIS is an instant feel-good jam just in time for summer. Bailey teamed up with producer Matt McGuffie (Ivey, Tia Gostelow, Tanisha, Erin Foster, Clovo) to bring this brand-new track with the new sound to life. We caught up with Bailey and we took the opportunity to ask him about the release of his second single, his idol and inspiration G-Eazy and what he has planned for 2023.
Your music is a blend of house music and rap and has been described as the future. Do you find this label accurate? How do you describe your sound?
I think naturally hip-hop is moving in this direction. We are seeing it with big artists like drake pushing towards house music. It’s very accurate and I’m seeing it with the response from this song everyone has loved it and the numbers are up! Right now I think I’m sitting in a mix of Young Franco and G-Eazy, with my own Identity starting to show more!
Bailey, you have just released your second track for 2022, WHO DIS. Tell us about your new song.
WHO DIS is an upbeat combo of house and hip-hop. Bringing nothing but good vibes for your summer
“WHO DIS kinda just came naturally”
Was there a catalyst moment that inspired the writing of WHO DIS?
We recorded WHO DIS on the release day of my previous song so the vibes were already high in the studio. To top it off as well we found out we got playlisted by Spotify that morning so WHO DIS kinda just came naturally.
Did the song take on any metamorphosis during its creation or is the final product what you had in your head from the beginning?
Honestly, we finished the song over two sessions and it’s exactly how we pictured and planned it. The only thing that really changed was the production side of things to make it hit a little harder.
Do you have a favourite line or part in WHO DIS?
“ Put me on the charts like my flights they chartered
No competition I cannot be guarded”
WHO DIS is the second track you have made with Matt McGuffie, how did this joining of forces come about?
We actually used to play football together when we were kids so we have always had this friendship and naturally we’ve just started making music together as our careers progress!
“We both love the genres so we thought it was only right we try to make our own lane and push towards this unexplored sound”
You and Matt are creating this new take on rap & house music, was the idea for this new sound something you both had separately and ultimately brought you together or was this something you had to explain to him?
Definitely, a team idea. We both love the genres so we thought it was only right we try to make our own lane and push towards this unexplored sound.
Do you help Matt with the production side of your music or do you leave it in his very capable hands?
Production is all Matt I like to leave those things to the professionals haha, I might throw him some references that I like and he incorporates it.
Can we expect a full-length album soon or will you be sticking with single releases?
Me and Matt are working on a 6 song EP with WHO DIS being the first single! Expecting an early 2023 release followed by a live event so stay tuned for that!
Bailey, you’re currently based on the Gold Coast, do you find it an easy place to make music?
Gold coast is fantastic and I love it however I have thought about moving to a bigger city just so I’m surrounded by the culture a bit more.
Will you be staying on the Gold Coast or do you have plans to make a base overseas at some point?
London was the goal for early next year but I’ve delayed that for another 6 months just so I can focus on the music and save money while I’m in Aus.
“Career-wise his whole approach and mindset towards the industry have been very inspiring ”
Your bio talks of your chance meeting with G-Eazy at one of his early Australian shows. What impact did this meeting make on you personally and the professional direction for your future?
Personally, it really gave me purpose and direction on where I wanted to go with my life. I was only in grade 12 when I met him and was feeling pretty lost at the time. Career-wise his whole approach and mindset towards the industry have been very inspiring and I try to incorporate it into my career as much as possible!
When did you decide I'm going to make music for a living?
The same week I met G-Eazy I knew exactly what I wanted to do but it became real when I dropped out of my degree to pursue it.
Do you remember the first album or song you bought that really inspired you?
‘These things happen’ by G-Eazy was what we had on replay in grade 11-12 and the music videos attached to it really inspired younger me.
Who do you credit as your musical influences now?
Right now I'm a massive fan of Russ and his mindset. Hate him or love him he has done everything independently while everyone doubted. That’s a massive inspiration for me and he also makes bangers. Mac Miller is also a massive influence his music has helped me through a lot of things in life.
“G-Eazy is #1 for the collab list for sure, Hoping one day to get him on my album. ”
Do you have any interest in the world of collaborations? Who would your ultimate Collab Partner be?
Definitely always keen to collaborate if it’s natural and the vibes are there! G-Eazy is #1 for the collab list for sure, Hoping one day to get him on my album.
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout-out but never gets one? And what is they doing that keeps your world turning?
My parents deserve a big shout-out they have always supported me even when the music was terrible and I was dropping songs on Soundcloud!
What's next for you? What can we expect with 2023 just around the corner?
Ep is dropping in early 2023 followed by a pool party event so follow me on Instagram to get tickets to that! After the event I’ll look at dropping more singles and start work on an album. All of this paired with doco-style content and music videos, 2023 is going to be a big one.
Interview by Michelle Symes
October 2022