Creator Chats: BxPolar
- Joshua U.
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
NOTE FROM TRB'S FOUNDER, JOSHUA I. UMAHI:
The Recess Bell is pleased to introduce you to yet another incredibly talented and versatile creative through CREATOR CHATS; our interview series that aims to give creatives the space to tell their story about who they are, what they do, and why they've decided to pursue their passion project — whatever that may be.
On February 27th, Gina Halstead and I attended a brilliantly crafted competition-slash-tournament between musicians of all types and genres titled THE CLINIC. It was organized by The Remedy (the.rmdyy on IG) at Starr Bar in Bushwick (214 Starr St, Brooklyn, NY).
That is where I had the pleasure of meeting the subject of this edition of Creator Chats: BxPolar.
"Bx" performed in the first round of the tournament, giving a passionate on-stage performance of his unreleased track, 'Bully.'
Afterwards, he sat down with Gina for a video interview right outside the doors of Starr Bar, discussing his performance in addition to all of the other aspects of his multidisciplinary creative lifestyle. That video interview is here below & available on our social media platforms.
Additionally, that following Wednesday, he joined The Recess Bell's weekly radio program, The Recess Bell: On Air (6-8pm, Wednesdays, 90.3 WHPC-FM) for his first ever radio interview.
In between, he was gracious enough to engage in a pen-and-paper Q&A with the aforementioned Gina in which he talked about the approach and his personal strategy to consistently stay on point with all of his creative avenues alongside his colleagues and fellow artists.
I was personally impressed with his views and beliefs on mental health; it became apparent very quickly how natural a fit he was with The Recess Bell as a platform. Not only because of everything he does in the creative realm, but because of who he is at the heart and what it is that he stands for. His stage name carries obvious mental health context.
Let's go ahead and meet BxPolar!
Gina: Which of your creative outlets feels the most personal?
Bx: It's definitely music and songwriting, it went from a hobby to a necessity. It's helped me work through situations that I might not have been able to handle mentally otherwise. It has literally saved my life and I'm not sure what else I'd do without it.
Gina: What advice would you give to creatives who are trying to wear multiple hats?
Bx: Take your time! You're multitasking, which isn't easy for most. But it's important that you figure out an anchor or anchors — the passions that take priority. Right now, for me, that priority is A&R'ing. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help!
Gina: What drew you to photography as a form of creative expression?
Bx: It was mainly my late grandfather. He was a photographer and even had his own business. I hung around him a bunch, watching him edit photos at his desk. I do it to keep his memory alive, in a way.
Gina: As an A&R. how do you select artists for your lineups?
Bx: Sometimes it's random, sometimes they just fit the theme and other times, it's from seeing an artist perform at a previous show.
Gina: In today’s era, how has the role of A&R evolved?
Bx: I'd say it's somewhat evolved from traditional, 'ear to the ground' discovery of artists, to streaming numbers & data analytics.
Instead of truly developing an artist from the ground-up, most A&Rs today look for ones that are already gaining traction. That's why I love curators like diabolicaldiscs, ibreathemusicallday & aurision because they spotlight truly talented artists at their start.
Gina: So, you recently took a step back from music for a while. Was that hiatus intentional? Did being such a multi-faceted creative play a role?
Bx: Yes and no. I'm never not writing music... but recording was a different story. Although recording did help me branch out and learn new skills that not only help me, but help out the music community as a whole. I was more than happy to learn how to promote, host shows & curate as well.
Gina: What legacy are you seeking to build through your work?
Bx: My legacy will be built on determination, kindness and most importantly, community. I want to leave behind a movement that will motivate creatives to prop up one other & our talent for the whole world to see!!!
