Q&A: Beharie Explores Life and Emotion Through ‘Are You There, Boy?’
Photo By Shawn Arvind
BEHARIE CREATES A MUSICAL LANDSCAPE IS A CANVAS OF FEELINGS, EXPERIENCES AND EXPLORATION. From captivating festival stages to introspective songwriting sessions, Beharie’s journey as an artist resonates with authenticity, curiosity and an unwavering dedication to exploring the depths of emotion. His upcoming album Are You There, Boy?, out October 20, promises to be a musical tapestry that mirrors life's complexity and beauty, and a heartfelt expression of the many facets of existence.
Through a dynamic blend of melodies and introspective lyrics, Beharie invites listeners on a journey of self-discovery and emotional resonance. With tracks like "Oh My God" exuding energy and playfulness, and "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" painting dreamy landscapes, his music serves as a multi-dimensional experience. As Beharie bares his soul through his music, Are You There, Boy? emerges as a testament to the power of music in reflecting the beauty, challenges and nuances of being human.
His latest single “We Never Knew” takes us through the journey of the mixed emotions that come with an unexpected ending of a relationship and serves as a further introduction to the upcoming album. Read below for Beharie’s insights that touches upon the making of the new album, the growth of his music and more.
LUNA: How’s this summer season treating you?
BEHARIE: The summer has been treating me really well. I have been touring a bit in Norway and Sweden, playing at festivals in the middle of nowhere with quite amazing Norwegian landscapes. I also got the opportunity to have some time off. Traveling a bit with friends and family. Perfect combination.
LUNA: Earlier in the year you released singles “Oh My God” and “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind”. How do these tracks reflect the feel of your upcoming album?
BEHARIE: The two songs are quite different -- they kind of represent the complexity of the album. "Oh My God" being an energetic and playful song, while "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" is more mellow, dreamy and introverted.
LUNA: Your upcoming album, Are You There, Boy? explores various themes such as identity, queerness, love, and the nuances of life and humanity. How did these themes inspire the creation of the album?
BEHARIE: I usually take in my own experiences of life into my songwriting. I’ve just tried to be really honest and explore my personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. I use a lot of energy thinking about my own identity and exploring the complexity of it. Songwriting is a place where I get to explore this. I’ve also given myself space to play around with it, along with the producers of the album.
LUNA: What do you hope listeners will take away from it?
BEHARIE: First of all, I hope people listen to the whole album, and dive into the universe. I hope it stops time and makes you think and feel something. It’s impossible to say what that is really. People are quite different, and if they hate it, that’s also okay, I guess. I hope people hear the whole album, and get to experience the album's journey in full.
LUNA: Confidence and curiosity are mentioned as themes in your album. How do these qualities manifest in your music and your artistic approach?
BEHARIE: I feel like I’ve gained a lot of confidence over the last year, both as a musician and an artist. I've learned to trust myself and do music on my own terms, first and foremost. I think you can hear it in the playfulness of the album -- just daring to play around more than before. I’ve been working with two producers and songwriters, who have challenged me quite a lot, and have encouraged me to test new ways and expressions.
I’m also quite curious and like to dive into new things in music. We’ve tried to make a big pool of different elements, and put it together into an album that fits well together.
LUNA: Insecurity is also mentioned as a theme in your album. How do you navigate and address feelings of insecurity in your creative process, and how does it impact your music?
BEHARIE: Though I feel more confident as a musician, I’m quite insecure as a person in the real world. But that feeling of insecurity often inspires me to sit down in my own bubble and write songs. So I think a lot of my music comes from that feeling of insecurity. I feel really lucky working with people I love and trust, so the album process has been quite amazing really. I tried to be honest during the process while also learning to be uncomfortable and open during the journey.
LUNA: As an artist, what role do you believe music plays in expressing and exploring different aspects of the human experience?
BEHARIE: I feel like music is its own universal language that makes us able to express feelings that are hard to say with words alone.
LUNA: What can we expect from the visual end of this project?
BEHARIE: The artwork for the singles are quite colorful and more playful than before. The project as a whole is more eccentric than before, both musically and visually.
LUNA: Can you share any specific experiences or moments in your life that have profoundly influenced your music and shaped your artistic perspective?
BEHARIE: The day I picked up the guitar in my last year of university and started writing songs on the guitar instead of the piano. It changed my sound and my songwriting drastically.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the upcoming months?
BEHARIE: I’m playing a concert with a full orchestra. That’s going to be really amazing.
Other than that, I’m gonna write some new music, tour a bit, and look for some new inspirations.
