We posted a quote from Jack White about the state of rock & roll on Instagram earlier this week. "[It] needs an injection of some new young blood to really just knock everybody dead right now," he said. "I think it’s brewing and brewing and it’s about to happen, and I think that it’s good. Since rock ‘n’ roll’s inception, every 10, 12 years, there’s a breath of fresh air…some sort of what you could I guess call 'punk attitude' or something like that, a wildness."
The replies were full of people saying that rock is, indeed, dead, but artists like Bakar prove otherwise. Born and raised in Camden Town, London, the rising artist shows what you're missing out on if you think the only exciting new music coming out of the British capital is grime, rap, or electronic. On his new single "Million Miles," Bakar bounces over the sharp guitars with a self-assured swagger during the verses while the slower chorus provides moments of reflection.
"I started making music about a year and half ago," Bakar tells us. "I put 'Big Dreams' out around this time last year. A lack of expression was killing me, I needed a new outlet."
Bakar's mixtape BADKID is on the way early this year. Listen to "Million Miles" now and learn a little more about Bakar and his Madlib influences below.
Who is Bakar? What should people know about you?
You need to know that I'm coming for all my idols.
Is London still an inspiring place to live? We hear lots about venues being shut down, gentrification etc. so curious to get your take.
London will always be inspiring. Most of my favourite clubs/club nights are no longer, which is sad but its kinda up to us as Londoners to work out how we're gonna manoeuvre around venues being shut. We've always been great at making the best out of bad situations.
Can you tell me about Madlib and how he inspires and influences you?
Madlibs probably the producer thats had the most effect on me musically. Other than Pharrell. Quasimoto was and still is huge to me and my friends. Shit, Madlib even taught me jazz and is actually one of the reasons my forthcoming mixtape is called BADKID.
What's next after this single?
A mixtape called BADKID!
