BASHAR brings a worldview sharpened by defiance, clarity, and deep cultural reflection to the airwaves. With the viral force of Gay Boy’s Anthem and the commanding entrance of Tickle Me Pink, his voice has quickly become impossible to ignore. In this A&R Factory interview, BASHAR unpacks the soul-deep roots of his creativity, the 2000s nostalgia that drives his visual world, and the unfiltered truths behind his songwriting. Fashion, trauma, identity, and independence intersect in every lyric and stitch of his self-made image — and while the industry continues to gatekeep, BASHAR creates without permission.
Welcome to A&R Factory, BASHAR – it’s a pleasure to have you with us to explore your fearlessly expressive creativity. You’ve already made a strong mark with your debut single and the viral success of Gay Boy’s Anthem — how has it felt to step into the music scene so unapologetically, and what personal experiences have been the most important to you in shaping your voice so far?
It feels free as fuck! I feel like the world is mine and there’s no limit to the art I can create. I see all my projects as like cuts of my soul. Tickle Me Pink showcased the 2000s/Y2K aesthetic that I was quite literally raised by. And now with Gay Boy’s Anthem, it’s about highlighting the gay traumas that have been inevitable in my growth and journey through the black queer diaspora.
Tickle Me Pink presents such a powerful and vivid celebration of queer identity; could you walk us through what sparked the concept for both the single and its vibrant metro-rave visuals?
The moniker that I use to express this era of my music is “2000s baby”, and at its core, that’s what TMP is about. Bringing the nostalgia of 2010s Frutiger Metro and y2k aesthetic to the front of everyone’s mind and giving them a world to relive in. As my first single, I just wanted a song that showed me popping my shit and letting these bitches know who BASHAR is and how he’s coming. Oh, and of course—Pink! Pink! Pink!
Independence in the music industry comes with both freedom and challenges — what have been some of the biggest lessons or realisations for you as an independent Black, queer artist?
It’s cliche but unfortunately so very true that as such an underrepresented and marginalized group in the eyes of society, we have to work so much harder as black queers and femmes to make our stories be heard. It’s not right, but if there’s anyone capable of doing it, it’s us.
Fashion, colour, and dance seem to be inseparable parts of your brand — how do you approach integrating these elements into your music and visuals to create such a fearless presence?
Well first and foremost, I’m really bout this fashion shit. I do extensive research and am deeply intentional about every article of clothing that touches my body. It comes very easily to me because it’s always been about of my artistic process. I usually see the visual before I have the song, and I feel like that always translates.
Gay Boy’s Anthem connected with thousands of listeners almost overnight. How did you approach writing it, and did you expect the sheer level of raw honesty in the track to resonate so strongly?
I can’t lie—I definitely knew it was gonna do its big one! But that’s just because it all came to me so naturally and rawly. I quite literally got high a couple of nights after Tickle Me Pink dropped, and something told me it would be sick if I sampled ‘London Bridge’ by Fergie. So I just started mumbling a flow like I always did, and before you know it, I had a whole story to tell.
Your work feels rooted in an open defiance of the hegemony — who or what have been some of your major creative influences when it comes to both your sound and your bold aesthetic choices?
It shifts from project to project. I really try and channel whoever my inspirations are and really immerse myself in that world while creating the song and the visuals. Like for GBA, it was Missy Elliott, Ludacris, Biggie and Tupac. But on another project, it might be someone totally in the opposite direction.
With such a strong start, it’s clear that you’re just getting started — what can fans expect next from you, both in terms of new music and the evolution of your artistic identity?
Real G’s move in silence! You’ll just have to catch the wave and see!
Finally, for other young queer creatives who are watching you carve out your own space with so much authenticity, what message or advice would you most want to share with them right now?
CREATE. Everyday. Do something towards the consciousness of expression. It’s not always gonna hit, but the consistency will harden your artistic character, and soon you’ll be manifesting people and experiences you probably would’ve never thought you could. Oh, and above all, be your mothafuckin self! Mwah!
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Immerse yourself in the sound and style of BASHAR on Spotify now & connect via Instagram.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast