Exclusive Interview: Bo Baskoro Discusses “The Lonely Nights,” Breaking Down His Walls, Writing for Himself, and More

Bo Baskoro, a singer-songwriter, actor, and mental health advocate, stands out as one of the industry’s most captivating new voices. Whether he’s immersing himself in a character or crafting harmonious melodies with invigorating productions, this gifted storyteller consistently delivers an unparalleled level of authenticity that resonates with fans worldwide. But don’t just take our word for it; let the six million streams on Spotify alone serve as a testament to his undeniable talent.

In November of this year, the talented recording artist unveiled the acoustic version of his hit single, “The Lonely Nights,” an electrifying track that delves into the mixed emotions accompanying the conclusion of a relationship.

Pop Culturalist had the privilege of speaking with Bo about “The Lonely Nights,” the exciting next chapter of his career where he’s increasingly writing for himself, introducing another layer of vulnerability, and more.

PC: You grew up studying martial arts. What ultimately led to that transition into music and acting?
Bo: That’s a really great question. I still do martial arts. But when I was younger, I was training in Korea to be a martial arts instructor. There was an episode of the CW’s Smallville where the two characters break up to a song called “Where I stood” by Missy Higgins. I was like, “Oh my God. This is so sad. I want to make people sad.” [laughs] It sparked my interest in writing songs, but there have been a few instances where I keep getting signs that music and acting were the directions that I really wanted to go. Smallville was the thing that pushed me into songwriting.

As far as learning music, there was a game called Donkey Kong 64. It had a character named Lanky Kong who played the trombone. I didn’t know what the trombone was at the time. He had this move that he played this lick and everything would explode around him. I was like, “This is so frickin’ sick. I need to learn how to play that.” I made my mom get me a trombone, and I was in the band for that. That was my first introduction to music.

PC: You also moved from Portland to Los Angeles. How has that music scene and community influenced your artistry and growth?
Bo: So I didn’t think my sound was very marketable in Portland. Portland is a really independent area. They have very specific niche sounds there. I feel like it’s been cool here because there are so many different types of sounds and artists. Everyone’s so enthusiastic about the craft here, and it’s such a collaborative environment. People are consistently ready to write with the next person. It’s been a little more inclusive that way, and I really like that. It’s also a bit intimidating because people here are the real deal.

PC: You’ve also had so much success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Bo: One of the first songs that I released was called “High.” That whole thing happened because I had hip surgery from a tumor and a labrum tear in my hip that forced me to move out from where I was living with my roommates. I had to live with my mom and her walk-in closet living room. From that, I ended up getting introduced to this production company from this commercial that I was doing at the time. They found out that I had just started walking again and that I had this ambition for music. They were like, “Hey, your life is pretty miserable. Do you want to be on TV?” [laughs] So they brought me on. The campaign was for Maxwell House Coffee. It was a rebranding campaign. I had written a song that they were putting into it. Because of my story, I was kind of like the face for it and it introduced me to Harvey Mason Jr., who’s the president of the Recording Academy here. That was the most significant moment for me because it propelled me into taking music more seriously.

PC: In addition to being a singer-songwriter, you’re also an actor. Have you found that your experiences as an artist have impacted your work as an actor and vice versa?
Bo: Life experiences are what I write about in the first place. There are certain jobs that I’ve done that have been really beneficial for me. With my songwriting, I’m taking those experiences and putting them into sound. With acting, I’m taking those experiences and emulating them to fit another circumstance. That’s been really cool to be able to take something and shift it into different mediums.

PC: There’s such an introspective and universal quality to your songwriting. What is your process like when you’re working on a new song? Has it ever been a scary prospect to be as vulnerable as you are in your craft?
Bo: Yeah. It’s a challenge for me still, but I’ve realized recently that a lot of my decisions have been dictated by other people’s opinions. So while I’m writing music, I’ve caught myself multiple times being like, “Would this specific person like this line or would this specific person judge me for this?” It’s almost hindered that honesty and vulnerability. But lately, I’ve been really trying to strip that off and be fully, fully honest. It’s really cool because once it’s out there, it’s like you’re immortalizing that part of yourself in sound for the entire world to see. A friend of mine once said, “If it feels scary to say it, then you should probably say it.” I have to constantly remind myself of that because it’s a vulnerable art form.

I come from a small town in Portland. I remember there was a song that I wrote that when it came out, people were like, “Wait a second. Are you saying…?” They started judging me for a song as if it was happening in the moment. Some people don’t understand that certain songs may be about past experiences. There’s so much that goes into it.

When that started happening more, I was like, “I don’t like this. This is really gross.” I started building up these walls or thoughts like, “I hope no one judges me for this.” But now, I’m like, “This shouldn’t matter because it’s me and it’s mine.”

PC: It’s that authenticity that’s connecting with your fans. You also recently dropped the acoustic version of “The Lonely Nights.” Can you tell us about the song and what inspired it?
Bo: Yeah. [laughs] Speaking of telling people about my life. Most of my songs are pretty honest, but “The Lonely Nights” is one of the most petty songs that I’ve done where I’m calling someone out. This song came about because I was feeling replaced. I think a lot of people have experienced this where in society, people rely on relationships and romance as part of their identity. So if they’re not getting what they want, they’ll still hang onto something while trying to find it elsewhere as well. That’s what this song is about.

But on the other side of that coin, it’s also me taking responsibility for why someone would want to leave me in the first place. I voice it in the bridge, and I’m really proud of that because I’m often not able to be direct about my feelings. I say the line, “I hate that you wanted love more than you wanted me.” I think that a lot of people just want a relationship and it doesn’t matter who it’s from. If it’s not going the way they want it, then they will hop around and try to find that specific love they want. It leaves destruction in someone’s path because you don’t know what that does to people. If you’re not honest about what your standards are, what your expectations are, and you just abandoned them, it’s like, “Well, what was wrong in the first place? I thought things were going well.” It comes from feeling replaced and feeling like I was a tool, but also taking responsibility for what made someone feel like they needed something different.

PC: You’ve also steadily been releasing music throughout the years. If you had to pick a song that best encompasses who you are as an artist in this moment, which would it be and why?
Bo: That’s such a good question, especially right now because I’m exploring different sounds and directions that I want to write. As far as songwriting goes, it’s “Close Enough” and “Love You Now.” Actually, it’s “Wildfire.” It encompasses the honesty of my lyrics. I stripped everything back because a lot of my productions are big productions. This one is so minimal. We threw a few things in, and we focused on the lyrics, how honest it was, and how authentic it was.

PC: You’ve also been such an advocate for mental health. Why has it been so important for you to tie that into your craft and platform?
Bo: I think it’s because not a lot of people prioritize their mental health. That’s what led to problems that I’ve experienced or led to the ways that I’ve hurt people or the ways that people have hurt me. I know that I’m not the only one that feels like that. So I try to incorporate that honesty because that came from me exploring my own mental health and coming to the realization that I’m responsible for a lot of the sh*tty things that were happening to me or the things that I did to other people. I don’t think people are either honest with themselves or they consider their actions and how they affect other people.

In the songwriting world, you hear so many petty songs. They’re artists that I have listened to that all their songs are about how someone’s hurt them. But I’m like, “There’s something in between your side of the story and their side of the story that’s more true.” I think that people want revenge more than closure. So I’m trying to be as honest as I can with myself and the ways that I feel, why I react the way I do, and why I feel the way I do, and I’m trying to encourage other people to do the same. Mental health is a huge priority for me. I feel like a lot of people prioritize their physical health, but they don’t with their mental health. They’re two sides of the same coin.

To keep up with Bo, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify.