Richardine Bartee
Hailing from a “pre-gentrified Brooklyn” as he points out in his interview, Tony Tulloch AKA BXHXLD is a singer-songwriter from the Crown Heights area of Brooklyn, New York.
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aking a different approach with his interview, we spent a significant amount of time to discuss tastemakers and publications, their power and responsibilities, and what the business is like to an apparent quaint artist like BXHXLD. In our conversation, race-related issues come up, but it is not the basis of the chat. The singer also references social media, feeling like he’s alone in his thoughts when it comes to artistry and fashion. Surprisingly, the artist couldn’t share anything positive about his neighbourhood.
Like they say in the storybooks, it was love at first sight. The first time I came across BXHXLD’s music I thought it was unconventional, but with a pop sensibility that could easily bubble from the beaten concrete to the bright marquees in all major cities. In my mind, all he needed was the support and for someone at VICE’s Noisey to cosign him. It hasn’t happened yet, but I think it will. Not necessarily the VICE cosigns, but the moment where he breaks through as a new artist to the masses.
Whenever he releases music that isn’t as cutting-edge as the previous, he gets slack for it from friends. Based on what he shared with me, he would only receive backlash when he taps into his Jamaican roots. Most specifically, an ode record to Kylie Jenner is my favourite BXHXLD record to date.
Last year, a few months ago, he released a music video for it. Shockingly, it didn’t get the feedback I thought it deserved. I think it’s one of those things—when people say individuals are before their time. With that in mind, it’s difficult for a visionary to understand why it takes such a significant amount of time for the rest of the world to catch up. Being responsible at the time of confusion is rare, and we are rare. We won’t get upset. We’ll just continue to push the music and the artist forward until it catches on.
BXHXLD has a three-track EP out titled, “Kylie Was Right” and a single track called, “Boys Don’t Cry”.
Stream the insightful, honest audio interview to learn about what he’s like when he’s in a relationship, his friendship with Alex Tumay, and more. Sidebar: When he isn’t making music, BXHXLD works in the financial industry.
His favourite book is “Nineteen Eighty-Four” by George Orwell. Currently, his favourite lyric comes from a sample used in Kanye West’s “On Sight” from the Yeezus album—released in 2013.
