Fainite
Can you state your name, please?
Bako
My name is Bako.
Fainite
What would you say you do? Who are you?
Bako
I'm a singer-songwriter. I make music. I consider myself an artist because I make music I believe in, and I like exploring my music.
Bako at Pinch Studios playing the guitar
Fainite
What is your oldest memory of music?
Bako
I think my earliest memory was watching folk music on TV when I was really, really young in Georgia, my native country. When I was maybe four, maybe five. I remember how cool I thought that was.
Bako and siblings (1995)
Fainite
Would you say Georgian music has affected your music?
Bako
Definitely, yes, you will hear some of that influence. During the pandemic, I really got into Georgian music. I got into my roots, and I started experimenting with my own style, and blending it with that folk music. Because I always considered my music a little bit of folk, and it became its own thing. But I do have a deep love for folk music, especially Georgian folk.
Fainite
What does your process look like?
Bako
When it comes to songwriting, I'm dependent on my emotions in that regard. But usually, when I'm in a really vulnerable mental place, I'll start playing chords, and then I write the lyrics. That's usually how the process goes, but sometimes I switch it up. Sometimes I'll not be able to sleep and because I hate wasting time, I'll write in my notes. I'll write chords around that usually.
Fainite
What do you feel and think about when performing?
Bako
What do I feel? I think when performing, it’s the energy of the crowd, think that performing I feel I can't decide whether I like the creative process of being in a studio setting and creating music or performing more. I almost want to say I like performing more because of the connection with the crowd. I love having that ability to connect. It’s the collective energy that I love, that aspect of performing, and I get into my confidence.
Fainite
What is your favorite memory of performing?
Bako
I'll play music with a loved one, and I have this memory I was singing it for a family member, but it made this family member cry. And I think that really had an effect on me early on in my music, where I felt this reward from feeling like music, my music can move somebody, and I think, yeah, that was a special moment for me, yeah, but in terms of the crowd, this is why I want more shows so that I can have like, an epic moment where I can confidently say that was it. That was the moment. I don't think I got there yet, so, but I've had some cool shows, for sure, in Georgia. I've had probably some of my favorite gigs in my native country because the crowd there is really magical.
Bako and family (1995)
Fainite
Who is a person you've met in the music industry that is important to you?
Bako
There was a special moment a couple of years ago. It's funny because I met her at Pinch Studios. I met Joss Stone, and it was a special moment because it felt like a full-circle moment for me. I used to look up to her when I was 13. That was also when my parents got me my first guitar and I started teaching myself covers. And one of the first covers I taught myself was a Joss Stone song called Right To Be Wrong. And that was one of the first songs I taught myself. So when I met her, I told her this, and I think she got a kick out of it. And also her really good friend is also my good friend, Ray Angry. And so again, it felt like a full circle moment, wow, it's surreal that she was someone I looked up to as a teenager, and now I'm sitting in with her in a session. So it felt really cool, and she was so humble, and a beautiful soul. So it feels good when you meet people you've looked up to who are really cool. It's almost a relief. So yeah, she was wonderful, and that was a great memory.
Fainite
How would you describe your musical style?
Bako
My musical style has a complicated history. I would describe it as a blend. It's hard to put in a box, and it's always changing. But I would say, generally speaking, indie soul, like when people ask me, oh, what's your style? I always gravitate towards indie music, and that's kind of how I make music too.
Bako at Pinch Studios
Fainite
What inspires you to create music?
Bako
Heartbreak. I'm one of those heartbreak singers. I'm a lover. I'm a love song girl. Most of the songs on my album are about love. So love definitely inspires me or lack of I would say it's my therapist. My love songs are my therapist. Sometimes it's like a painting where I’ll have expectations to create, like maybe I'll expect it to come out a certain way, and it's a whole different painting, but it's more beautiful than I expected. And so it's a blend of love songs, and sometimes I play on fantasy. I really like songwriting that incorporates the imagination and old tales where it allows the listener to get into their imagination and into their folklore world. My songs are for the lovers, the hopeless romantics.
Fainite
Are there any artists you would want to collaborate with?
Bako
There are so many, it's hard to think off the top of my head like bands that inspire me. I love Tom York, yeah, I love Radiohead. I love bands, such as Massive Attack. I love 07 those kinds of dreamy bands. In terms of songwriting, there's a musician called Soko. I love her music. I relate to her style of songwriting. It's vulnerable and honest. And there's something really innocent about that, and I love her approach to music. Also, I love Alice Phoebe, I love raw lyrics and honesty in lyrics. I like a bit of darkness too, which is why I like Tom York and it would be a dream to sit in a session with one of those people. Hopefully, one day I can, and there are many more, but off the top of my head, those folks inspire me.
Bako at Pinch Studios
Fainite
Okay, what is your favorite piece that you're working on this year?
Bako
Definitely my album. It's my baby. I call it my baby because it took almost a year to record. I started the demos in 2020 it's called Dreaming Again, and it's an album for the dreamers and for the lovers. And it's my proudest work. I did it with my good friend Cayu Carvalho, who is a producer here at Pinch Recording, and I did it with Pinch Recording. It is a very organic album. I want to say. We did everything, layer by layer, all live instruments. I learned so much in this process. I've recorded other projects, but this is my first album, so it's a big deal for me. And I feel like, for the first time, I'm sure of my style.
Fainite
When does the album come out?
Bako
The album comes out in February, which is also my birthday month. I'm hoping to release it.
Album art for "Dreaming Again"
Fainite
What are you working on these days?
Bako
I'm always experimenting. Right now. I'm really into house beats and garage and, you know, I'm not only just doing, like singer-songwriter stuff, and, you know, I like to do other styles and kind of like an experiment. So other than my album, I'm always creating and I'm always thinking about the next thing. Even now, I have some songs I'm always writing. I guess, for the future I'm focused on, I think I'm ready to get busier on stage. I want to get more gigs soon. And just, I've been kind of hungry to perform more, so I guess preparing for that that's been, that's been in the plans.
Fainite
What is the Trops? What does it mean to you?
Bako
The Trops is many things. I think The Trops is a really unique space for people to for creative people to connect and learn and be inspired. It's a movement. It's more than events and galleries. I see a lot of potential for it to grow into something bigger. It's sharing, of different people from all walks of life, connecting and The Trops is a bohemian paradise. The Trops is a community of people coming together in an event space format where people showcase their art, but also their music, and kind of like sharing that, and it's a perfect opportunity for people to connect and network, as well as discover new art.
Bako at Pinch Studios recording music
Fainite
What would you say is the relationship between community and art?
Bako
The relationship between community and art is a relationship between my brain and my heart. People need a community to inspire, support, and fuel them. That's how I met my network, why I'm in the studio, was from the community. And so, building a network is the number one most important thing for a person and connecting with people. You need something to be passionate about. You need people to want to support and get behind and so I think those things come hand in hand.