B-Side Guys

Boston Music Award nominee Naomi Westwater approaches one of society’s most loaded subjects—motherhood—with the precision of someone who understands that personal decisions shouldn’t require public justification. “Mama Run” operates as both intimate confession and broader statement about bodily autonomy, delivered through her signature blend of Americana warmth and electronic texture.

Westwater’s Berklee training serves her well here, allowing her to construct layers that support rather than compete with her message. Her production choices reflect the same intuitive approach she brings to her live performances, where vulnerability becomes strength rather than exposure. The track benefits from her understanding of how electronic elements can enhance rather than replace organic instrumentation, creating space for both earthiness and otherworldliness.

As a queer woman of color, Westwater brings perspective to discussions about reproductive choice that often exclude voices like hers. Her approach avoids both militant proclamation and defensive pleading, instead presenting personal agency as fundamental right rather than political position. The song’s urgency comes not from anger but from clarity—the recognition that some decisions belong entirely to the individual making them.

Her incorporation of what she describes as “empowerment, nature, and magic” into her artistry creates framework for examining choices that society often treats as purely biological or moral. Instead, Westwater presents decision-making as spiritual practice, something that requires internal consultation rather than external permission.

“Mama Run” succeeds because Westwater treats reproductive autonomy as sacred territory—not because it’s untouchable, but because it demands the same respect we give other deeply personal spiritual practices. Her message cuts through cultural noise by refusing to engage with debates that shouldn’t exist in the first place.