Brazen Barbie: Chaos, Control & ‘Ain’t No Dummy’

Heatseeker 🔥 High-glam, fence-hopping, and ten steps ahead — Brazen Barbie isn’t asking for the spotlight, she’s taking it.

Photo by Sliki

If you’re not already paying attention to Brazen Barbie, 'Ain’t No Dummy' is your flashing neon sign to start. Equal parts chaos and control, Barbie is the kind of artist who will climb a construction fence in full glam to get her car back — and still hit the studio like nothing happened. Her debut mixtape BRAZEN is a high-voltage self-portrait: flipping between venomous bars, glossy R&B hooks, and razor-sharp one-liners that cut through the noise like heels on concrete.

But beneath the sass and satire is precision. Trained in classical music and schooled by Missy Elliott, Eve, Project Pat and early 2000s icons, Brazen Barbie blends brains, bars and bombshell energy into something both familiar and brand new. Whether she’s channelling her inner Elle Woods or sending fans into break-up mode mid-set, she’s ten steps ahead — and not waiting for permission to take the spotlight.

We caught up with the Melbourne rapper-slash-pop disruptor to talk power moves, voice-in-your-head chaos, and the tracks that spill the most tea. Spoiler alert: she’s got two hands, and she’s pocketing the world.

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'Ain’t No Dummy' is pure chaos-but-make-it-cute energy. What’s the dumbest thing you’ve done lately—on purpose?

Ignored the big bold sign saying “Carpark closes at 3:30pm” because I wasn't feeling myself and lost track of time. Got locked in the carpark, sat in my car like it was a hostage situation, and had to move a construction fence in full glam and platforms heels in the freezing Melbourne weather to get my car out.

You’re all about choosing chaos while staying ten steps ahead. What’s your ultimate power move when

someone underestimates you?

Playing into it, then letting my work speak for itself. There’s no other way to deal with somebody that underestimates you, aside from proving them wrong, and doing it in silence…then BOOM!

The ‘bimbo-coded’ look in your video is genius. Who’s your all-time fave underestimated baddie?

Legally Blonde, Elle Woods. Pink, pretty, underestimated and a whole Harvard Law graduate.

BRAZEN is your self-portrait. Which track spills the most tea about the real you?

‘What Do I Care?’ and ‘Doomsday’. What Do I Care?” is like me finally saying out loud what I used to keep inside brushing off the pressure, the noise, the fake support. And “Doomsday”… that one’s darker. It’s about feeling everything all at once and still standing. Both tracks are vulnerable in their own ways.

Your mixtape swings from trap bangers to glossy R&B. Which vibe makes you feel the sexiest in the studio?

Been That. I love vibes with a dark, sultry bounce where I can glide vocally.

You name-check Missy, Project Pat, and Eve. Who’s the artist you’d drop everything to jump in the studio

with—no matter what?

Missy Elliott. Full stop! Missy’s everything to me. Her mind, her visuals, her flows, the way she flipped the game without ever needing to follow the rules. If she called me mid-nap, mid-flight, mid-anything, I’m dropping everything to be in that studio. I don’t even need to know the song, just tell me what mic to grab. She’s my forever dream collab.

You’ve got classical roots from cello and choir days. Ever thought of dropping some strings or choir vibes into a trap beat just to mess with people?

Yes! Nothing is out of the question for me, I pick up instruments really quickly so I’d definitely love to incorporate some instruments into my next project.

That “voice in your head” you talk about—is she your ride-or-die, your messy bestie, or your savage inner

critic?

She’s all three, depends on the day… and the time of day.

You’ve played everywhere from BIGSOUND to SXSW. What’s the wildest thing a fan has ever yelled at you mid-set?

That they broke up with their man after they heard my track ‘DON’T TALK’... I honestly don’t blame them that song is a bit of an eye opener.

Someone discovers you through 'Ain’t No Dummy.' What’s the one line or lyric they should tattoo on

themselves if they wanna be truly Brazen?

Offer me the world? Man I got two hands I can pocket that shit take y’all right with me! That line is all about striving for what you want independently and not waiting around for people to offer you things you can obtain and achieve yourself.