Bakar is quite simply one of the most exciting artists in Britain right now. Resisting categorisation during his steady growth into the spotlight, he offers all the lyrical power of a rapper, the virtuosic poise of a producer and the pop craft of a singer-songwriter.
He announced himself to the UK music scene in 2017, self-releasing his official debut single ‘Big Dreams’ — a fast, catchy work of post-punk that sounded like nothing else around. A string of singles followed, before the 2018 mixtape BADKID, made with producer Zach Nahome in what was to become a fruitful partnership. In 2019 Bakar dropped ‘Hell N Back’, an infectious, utterly irresistible single that eventually reached #1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative chart. The Will You Be My Yellow? EP came soon after, showing off a more varied, experimental sound and featuring a collaboration with Dominic Fike.
Famous voices — Elton John, Virgil Abloh, Skepta — started expressing their fondness for Bakar’s music. But it did little to phase him.
2022 brought the debut album Nobody’s Home, a collection of darker meditations on Bakar’s constantly evolving sound. Combining acoustic guitar licks and swinging rhythms with lyrics about identity, politics and mental health, the album saw Bakar exploring subject matter close to his heart. But he never saw it as a conscious decision. “I might reflect something to do with life that’s intrinsically tied to politics, but I never wanted to be a political artist,” he says. “I think the only responsibility I have is to be honest about what’s going on, within me and around me. I get messages from people about how certain songs helped them and got them through tough times or even in the most extreme cases walked them off a ledge, so I’m really glad to be able to offer that service.”
