Introducing Sami, Jen and ICP Bre of the Hot New Girl Group, Sweet Taboo
There's a fabulous new Latin girl group taking center stage, and you can call them Sweet Taboo.
The group consists of Sami Ramos, Jen Torrejon and ICP Bre, and this summer they made a big splash with their new song "Lil Bit." With stunning vocals and seriously skilled rapping by ICP Bre, it's no surprise the track instantly captivated new fans—and we're definitely among them.
We got the chance to chat with the group to find out what they're all about, how "Lil Bit" came to be and what we can expect from the trio next.
Sweety High: What are your names, and where are you from?
Sami Ramos: I'm Sami and I was born and raised in Whittier, California. I'm Mexican with deep family roots in Los Angeles!
Jen Torrejon: What's up everyone, I'm Jen! I was born in Burbank and grew up in Pacoima. I'm definitely an L.A. girl, but my family is from Honduras and Bolivia.
ICP Bre: Hi, my name is ICP Bre and I was born in Pomona, but I grew up in San Bernardino—909, baby! I'm Mexican!
(Photo credit: V)
SH: What does the name "Sweet Taboo" mean to the group?
Sweet Taboo: Sweet Taboo has a double meaning! It represents our duality. We have our "sweet," nice girl side, but we also have our "taboo," bad b**** side. Everybody can use a "lil bit" of both in their lives!
SH: What was the process behind recording your new song "Lil Bit"? What does the song mean to you?
Sweet Taboo: We wrote the song during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot of Zoom meetings, voice memos and rapid COVID tests were involved! The main inspiration came when we were hanging at the studio and Bre looked over and said "Does it look like I need more lipstick?" And at the same time, we all said "just a lil bit!" We could not get it out of our heads and wrote a whole song around that phrase. For us, the song was a positive light in such a scary time. We wanted to create something that represented a "lil bit" of body positivity, a "lil bit" of woman empowerment and, of course, a "lil bit" of Latin spice!
SH: What would you say your role in the group is?
SR: I'm a singer in the group, but I'm also the "mom"! I'm always keeping an eye out for everyone and giving advice! My girls are my world! We're family.
JT: I am a singer in the group, but I'm the "outdoorsy" one. I love to hike, do yoga and meditate. It's so important to take care of your spiritual and mental health!
ICP Bre: My role in the group is the rapper, so the girls come in smooth with the melodies like peanut butter and I come through with the jam! Personality-wise, I'm definitely the crazy one! I just wanna live life to the fullest!
SH: How would you describe the group's sound?
Sweet Taboo: We have an R&B, pop, hip-hop sound with some Latin vibes.
SH: Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
SR: Growing up, I listened to a ton of Shakira, JLo and of course, Brittney Spears. I knew I wanted to be just like them one day. Currently, my faves are Rihanna, Kehlani and Ashnikko. I love me some badass female artists.
JT: I grew up listening to classic legends like Whitney Houston, Donna Summer and Selena Quintanilla. I was influenced by their soulful tone and powerhouse vocals! Right now, I'm listening to HER, Snoh Allegra and Jazmin Sullivan.
ICP Bre: Some of my biggest influences are Lil Wayne, Suga Free and E-40! Don't get me wrong, I have many more, but my main one is the one and only Notorious B.I.G.
SH: What's next for the group?
Sweet Taboo: We are working up our debut EP! We have been recording sounds with some amazing producers such as Malay, Jason Evigan, KBeaZy, Sebastian Cole, Keith Harris and Off Da Grid. We are also working on our live show and we can't wait to perform live.
SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Sweet Taboo: We are huge on women empowerment and want to spread self-love. It's so important to appreciate and celebrate yourself, but also hype up and support the baddies around you. Don't be afraid to be yourself and know Sweet Taboo always got you. Sending love to everyone out there!
Love discovering the stories behind your favorite music? Click HERE to read our interview with Jasmine Ortiz on her song "21."