Camille Ranjitsingh, known on stage as “Ranji Baby”, is a celebrated chutney artist.

Indian Arrival Day carries deep significance to Ranjitsingh. It is a day that brings together cultural traditions and chutney music, shaping her into the person she is today. If the name “Ranji Baby” is unfamiliar, you are invited to learn more about this talented performer.

At a young age of 29, Ranjitsingh has graced the title of Rani 2024 on chutneymusic.com, being the elite artist to secure the platform’s Chutney Queen crown for three years in a row.

Her voice, often likened to that of Drupatee Ramgoonai, is captivatingly melodious. The consequential messages she delivers through her music distinguish her as a standout performer in the industry.

Her recent chutney tune “Walkaway”, which she launched last month, motivates individuals to distance themselves from those or circumstances that fail to impact them positively. The invigorating beats in her track “Sweet and Thick” have the potential to make anyone dance, but it does not represent what many might anticipate from a standard chutney song. On the contrary, “Sweet and Thick” is filled with body positivity messages.

In the lines: “You should embrace yourself and take pride in your skin” and “Regardless of whether you’re dark-skinned or plump, every female has the right to feel special”, Ranji Baby specifically calls out women and girls. Furthermore, she endorses unity among all ethnic groups in the song.

“Both chutney and other music genres can either positively or negatively affect people. Therefore, it matters to me to insert affirmative messages in the songs I create,” Ranji Baby confided to Her magazine.

“Communities tend to scorn women who have dark skin and a certain body size, but I desire my music to remind individuals that we should never regret our identity, as we are God’s creations, and we should take pride in our own skin.”

Ranji Baby hails from eastern Trinidad, an upbringing that permeates her identity as she proudly asserts her roots right back to Curepe. While not born into an overtly musical family, she was surrounded by a consistent musical influence. This led her onto the stage where she initially sang with the Bissessar Persad Naya Zamana Orchestra.

While her love of song and aspiration to become a successful singer was never in question, self-doubt remained her constant companion. Nevertheless, she was spurred on by the faith other industry insiders – including the likes of Rishi Gayadeen and Amit Sagram – placed in her, encouraging her to explore her passion further and record her own music. This culminated in the successful release of the Bollywood remix “Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai”, which featured Sagram, in 2021. Positive reception was swift, leading her to adopt her stage name “Ranji Baby”. Under this new moniker, she continued to create a varied discography, with notable songs such as “A Sister’s Love”, “Chamkay”, “Meh Dulaha”, “Christmas Wedding”, “Christmas Pressure” and notably, “Sweet and Thick”.

Chutneymusic.com crowned her Best New Artist in 2021, an accolade she subsequently supplemented with three ‘Rani’ (Queen) titles. While they did not carry any monetary prizes, Ranji Baby was undeterred, placing more value on the invaluable support and recognition she received from Chutneymusic.com.

Ranji Baby notes the struggle for women to make their mark in the local music scene, given the industry’s proclivity to judge female artists based on their looks. However, she is grateful for the support she got from Chutneymusic.com, highlighting the positive feedback and consequential boost in her self-confidence as real game-changers.

In 2023, she engaged in the Protective Arms Monarch Competition, achieving victory in the chutney category and securing the fourth position overall. She once again triumphed in the chutney category this year. Having reached the Chutney Soca Monarch semi finals on two occasions, she is steadfast in her musical pursuit.

Despite her passion for engaging audiences, performing chutney provides a pleasant diversion for Ranji Baby from her rigorous role in law enforcement. She views it as a platform to be an optimistic role model and counter misconceptions related to this music genre. Her song “Sweet and Thick” epitomizes her belief by glorifying partying from dusk to dawn without needing any liquor.

“During my younger years, I was the heartbeat of every party. I relished dancing amidst crowds with a water bottle as my only companion. It’s about time people realize that enjoyment doesn’t necessarily intertwine with alcohol consumption,” she asserts.

While Ranji Baby recognizes the gradual nature of her desired journey, she firmly believes that her faith in God, coupled with the encouragement of her family and fans, will guide her to her goal.

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