London artist Bakar is perhaps the perfect embodiment of what music can, and probably will, look like in the future. Channeling the oddly-alluring gray space in between genres, his uncategorizable style removes itself from the bounds of genre, and as a result, the lively expression of songs such as his latest, “Hell N Back,” can exist without any expectation as to what a Bakar record should sound like. Instead, the budding star continues to march to the beat of his own drum, making some of the best music out right now in the process.
With this, speaking specifically to the new single, Bakar seems to have found a direction for his latest sonic adventure, meshing pop-induced whistles with jazzy brass and the songwriting structure of a rap/soul hybrid. Per usual, this colorful palette of influences entirely defies expectation in a brilliant way, best embodied by the free-spirited smiles shown throughout the song’s accompanying visuals. Bakar is a custom-made star in a world full of cookie cutters, and “Hell N Back” attests, soaking its lyrics in a love-born journey that I can’t seem to stop singing in my head.
Needless to say, yet again, Bakar has delivered exactly what I didn’t know I needed. “Hell N Back” may just be one of my favorite songs from the London representative to date, and while I’d love to say I could put its appeal into words, I simply can’t. The art speaks for itself here, so go show some love and watch the official video for “Hell N Back” below!