Meet Bagarisha | Musician & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bagarisha and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bagarisha, why did you pursue a creative career?
When I was 16, I participated in Umbria Jazz Clinics as part of the Berklee Summer Program, and it was the first time in my life that I truly lived with music. My parents are not musicians; in fact, they prefer silence to music. So, this experience was completely new to me. We would take classes in the morning, and the music never stopped—people played on the streets, in cafes, at the festival. After that trip, I realized that music is everything I want to do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Moving to the US was a pivotal moment in my life. At Berklee, I met many talented people from all over the world, which was inspiring but also made me a bit insecure because suddenly the competition was much higher. I had to learn to regain confidence, realizing that I could only compete with my past self, grow at my own pace, and achieve things in my own time.

I sing for everyone who is striving for love, life, light, and liberation. I want people to be free and at peace with one another. My debut album, “Svet” (which translates to “Light” from Russian), captures this feeling. It will be released on May 10th, and you can already listen to three singles everywhere:

https://lnkfi.re/Alisa
https://lnkfi.re/Otgoloski
https://lnkfi.re/TakNelzya

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in NYC now, and the best part about it is constantly meeting new interesting people. For this reason if I had friends visiting NY, I would definitely introduce them to my friends here. People are what make this place so special!

Also, I would definitely try to hit those spots: The Francis Kite Club, Barzakh, Salon On Kingston (Thursday nights), Producer Monday at Nublu, Lunatico, Dizzy’s at Lincoln Performing Center, exhibitions at the MET, Whitney Museum, MOMA, and Bric Theatre.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely! I’m a strong believer in the power of community to bring people together. “Genius” is a collective term; people who have made a change in the world were influenced by their teachers, parents, friends, etc. They coexisted with others and nurtured their minds while conversing and learning from them.

For me, my greatest mentor remains my teacher in Russia, Nikolai Chermoshentsev. He introduced me to various genres of music and theater, instilling in me a love for Russian folklore, culture, and literature. To this day, he is the one person who believes in me the most, and we are always in touch. Later, at Berklee, I’d say my main mentor was Alain Mallet, who showed me how to develop my original music. Additionally, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Danilo Perez, and Marco Pignataro have been invaluable sources of support.

Website: https://bagarisha.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bagarishamusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bagarisha

Image Credits
Alexandra Chizhova