MIC/LINE (formerly named Sound Check) is HYPEBEAST Radio‘s music-centric show that looks to deliver in-depth conversations with your favorite artists, digging into their origin stories and asking the questions you want answered. For our newest episode, we sit down with Doja Cat.

The 23-year-old, born Amala Zandile Dlamini, is most notable for her viral hit, “Mooo!” that gained spotlight from memes and celebrities alike. But aside from the quirky hit, Doja Cat is a talented artist who initially gained exposure with her 2014 EP Purr and most recently her 2018 debut album, Amala.

In this episode, she details on the ups and downs of touring internationally, the lifestyle changes of quitting weed plus becoming more focused, creative and conscious of her lyrics. The multifaceted content creator — seen in her eccentric music videos and personal style — producing her own music is a huge priority. 

“I would love to see more women making beats and producing music for themselves,” she shares. “They can do it for other people, but I love to do what I do and making beats. I like to dress up in cute frilly stuff and be a girl, but also produce. I think it’s fucking cool, even though I’m fucking trash.”

For Doja, it’s not about making the next viral hit, but more about “[trying] to make yourself happy.” She’s learning to not take herself too seriously and to make music as naturally as it comes to her. 

Keep up with everything HYPEBEAST Radio and subscribe to MIC/LINE on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast or wherever else you enjoy your podcasts. Feel free to reach out to our host, Manny, on Twitter at @ECM_LP and follow HYPEBEAST Music for more original content and music news.