Brianna Garrick known by her stage name Bekhari is a promising young singer and songwriter based in New Jersey. over the past year, she’s developed a strong social media presence thanks to her collaborative work with some of the most influential photographers on Instagram like Andre Uncut and A Kid Named Trav. However, has her popularity grew her presence in the music scene began to subside. Now she’s back with hot new single “Type” and ready to take back her spot in the indie music scene. I recently got the chance to sit down with Bekhari to talk about duality in the entertainment industry, her new single “Type” and much more. Read the full interview below!
For some time now, you been noticeably missing in action from the music scene. What’s was the reasoning for the break?
First, I’d like the say the break was caused by me. I just wasn’t confident in my music! I had to take some time to reevaluate my music because it came a point when I didn’t like my own music and I felt as if it wasn’t enough. So I shied away from it and starting to work on my theater career. My dream is to be on Broadway. I’m an independent as well but I really want to be on Broadway. I was working on a lot, too much to be involved in the music scene. So I shied away until I felt confident enough to come back with a bang!
For some fans this news is a first. Fans know you as an artist but they may not know you as an actress. How did you get into the performing arts?
I moved to [New] Jersey in 2008 just at the start of high school. During my sophomore year at [Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy] the school was turned into a performing arts high school and I’ve been in the arts for all of my life so that was perfect for me. My first lead role there was Hot Mikado and from then on the school was partnered with Paper Mill Playhouse. My biggest break was when I landed the role Aida and I was nominated for a Rise Star Award. I went on to Rutgers but I felt their program wasn’t challenging enough. Two years after I transferred to Kean. At Kean I did children’s tour in a play called Kindness where I played three characters. So as part of the program at Kean I’ve been involved in stage directing, costume design, hair and all of those things I studied. So if I wasn’t in a show I was working behind the scenes doing the set. That’s who I am when I am not Bekhari, that’s when I’m Brianna Garrick.
Let’s talk about duality since that seems to be a theme in your work. There a new sub-genre in R&B now called Trap&B. We’ve seen it become popular through artists like Bryson Tiller and Young Thug. What are you thoughts on Trap&B?
I love it! I support the mixing of genres. I feel like that’s what music is all about. It’s a new sound. I’m all about being well-rounded. I have Caribbean parents, I am American, I have experience living in Jersey and living in the Bronx. Just me as a person is a mixed genre! The music I’m making now is mixing reggae and soul. I’m mixing everything that’s me.
Let’s talk about your new single “Type”! Who did you work with? What was the inspiration behind it? What made you want to release it?
I started writing this song two years ago. I wrote the song thinking that it would be for a guy was dating before but now that I’ve revisited the song I read it and I didn’t feel that way. So I just re-wrote it on my current relationship. But it was hard trying to find a producer to work with. Everyone’s rapping and so it was hard me to find a producer that had the patience to work with my vision. I posted on Twitter that I was looking for a producer and I came across sirm00re and JJ. That’s how Type came about.
What can fans expect next from Bekhari?
There will definitely be a visual for Type and Andre Uncut will be behind the scenes with that. I also will be re-releasing “Art Mark” and “Royalty”. I’m definitely pushing for “Art Mark” to be bigger than type. I won’t say there is an EP coming but stay tuned.
Stay connected with Bekhari on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Take a listen to Bekhari’s new single “Type” and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
