Meet Bogush | Singer-songwriter

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

Hi Bogush, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I didn’t have much of a choice! Before coming to the US I didn’t have any real work experience other than being a performer/singer-songwriter. My very first “job” was music – I used to busk for a living on the streets in Europe. And when I moved here, soon enough I made a decision to keep doing that and make money solely on music. I didn’t know anyone in LA and all I had was my acoustic guitar. That’s why this decision was so important – it forced me to constantly keep making new connections and discover new opportunities. But also, once you try to live like that and make it work – you REALLY don’t want to quit it.

This kind of life style is very “intoxicating”. There are very few things in life that give me more joy and satisfaction than playing my own songs in front of the audience and receiving the initial feedback, feeling people’s energy. The connection between you and the listener is like some sort of special time-limited bond. When you understand that you wrote something that people can relate to, something that resonates with them – that’s one of the best feelings in the world. On top of that, I’ve come a long way from a quite “exotic” place and have a lot of stories to tell through my songs, and being able to make a living while doing it – it’s almost like a drug. After awhile you just can’t say “no” to that, no matter how unstable it can be.

I feel very spoiled by this, though. I’m not sure if I will be able to handle a normal day-time job now. I’m just too used to being my own boss and having my own schedule. When I talk to my peers that have actual jobs, it feels very sobering. It reminds me that I should always appreciate that I can live this way. It can definitely be challenging financially, but that’s what keeps you invigorated!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The most obvious thing that sets me apart from others must be my background. I come from a god-forgotten place called Belarus, which is infamously known as “the last dictatorship in Europe”. When you come from a place like this to always-sunny California, it feels like two different worlds collide. The first time I performed my songs in Santa Monica, I felt so out of place I was even questioning whether I chose the right city to move to! As a socially-conscious songwriter, I had hard time fitting in this paradise-like life style with all the yoga sessions and surfers around. Nobody really knows the place you come from and nobody cares what your “background baggage” is. But by living here longer and trying out what works and what doesn’t, you find the way to cater your brand and use your differences to your benefit. Step by step you become a welcomed part of the scene. Now people even happen to recognize me in the streets and express their gratitude! Which I’m still getting used to.

What I’m most proud about is that in my short time of living here I managed to find like-minded and extremely talented people who want to work with me and understand me on the creative level. That’s the best thing about living in Los Angeles – it’s full of people! All kinds of people. And if you try hard enough, you will find the ones you’re looking for. Now I’m having my own band and I’m excited to promote my debut single as a solo artist called “Trails” which is out now. My cinematographer and I spent some good amount of time and effort on making some great visuals for this one, so it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My absolute first place to go to would be Cafe 50’s on Santa Monica Blvd for breakfast. Not only they serve good food there, this place is like a time machine to America’s Golden Age. It’s almost like a small theme park within a restaurant. It has a jukebox, a telephone booth and the best milkshakes ever. And on top of that, they serve pretty good vegetarian burgers!

Then I would take my friend to one and only Federal Coffee. The best baristas in the city work there. They’re always open for a chat and hugs with customers’ dogs.

During the day I would show them around Santa Monica and Venice as these are the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles hands down.

I would definitely make sure my friend and I visit one of the local open mics. Like the one in Trip! or UnUrban Coffehouse. Or if we feel more jazzy, I would probably take them to Neat Bar on Pico Blvd which is my most recent discovery.

Overall, I keep a lot of areas undiscovered specifically for the moment like this when somebody comes to visit. That way there would be new places to see and new first experiences for both of us.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There’re three people I’d like to give a shoutout to:

Cole Boscoe – a singer-songwriter and yoga instructor whom I met while we were both busking at Santa Monica Pier. He became my bandmate and my best friend here in America.

Joaquin Sosa – the best cinematographer that I personally know in LA. If it weren’t for him, my songs wouldn’t “look” so great. He’s one of that rare kind of filmmakers that would go with you on the edge of the mountain if the shot is worth it.

Zóra – a breath-taking singer-songwriter from Hungary who gives shows in local venues all across Los Angeles. She’s been a gateway for me to the most unique and memorable musical events in the city. She definitely feels like an important part of cultural “lore” of today’s Los Angeles.

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

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