Review Fix Exclusive: BAER Talks ‘Breathe The Same’ And More

Review Fix chats with singer-songwriter BAER, who discusses her origin in the industry and her debut single, “Breathe The Same,” as well as her goals for the future.

Review Fix: How do you think your unique background affects your music?

BAER: Because I grew up in a multitude of places, I’ve also been exposed to many different types of people, and many different lanes of “popular” music. I feel like the constant shift I’ve had to face culturally has allowed me to also become more open minded with music, and observe (subconsciously at first) what types of music connect with what types of people. Through the years, I’ve definitely found a constant between all the different types of music that connect with people – and it’s actually much more simple than music schools teach it to be! People connect with emotion, whether that’s in the form of melody, lyrics, the chord progression, or even just the vocal tone/performance of the artist. I’ve seen this happen in Mandarin and English! On a more basic level, people also connect with movement – if the song has an awesome groove and you can move to it (and sometimes the lyrics could even be nonexistent), you’ve probably created something popular.

Review Fix: How was “Breathe The Same” written? What inspired it?

BAER: I was going through a very confusing phase of my life when this song was written. I had so many questions about a certain friendship in my life; I had a really tight-knit working relationship with this person through most of my years at Berklee College of Music, and through that we also became really close friends. However, as the friendship progressed and school ended, the relationship started bringing me more and more frustration and sadness. I felt that we were very different, on so many levels, and there were a lot of things I tried to communicate to him that I felt he never understood, and it would hurt me or upset me. Slowly, we saw less of each other, and whenever we did, I felt his energy weighing me down. I never really blamed him…I just felt that we were fundamentally opposites and not the kind that compliment each other. It was causing me a lot of angst, and I wanted to talk to him so many times, but I knew it would just be wasted energy because he wouldn’t be able to see where I was coming from. I didn’t intend to “write a song about my feelings”, but one day when I was brainstorming, I came up with the line “We don’t breathe the same air” and that made so much sense in relation to my friendship. It did become an outlet, and I never sent him the text message I was originally going to! The song has much elemental imagery, as I was trying to communicate the idea that sometimes people and relationships don’t work out and it’s simply because fundamentally, we are different, and maybe these elements just don’t mix well. It’s nobody’s fault, and I still hope to see him succeed and be happy.

Review Fix: What’s on your musical bucket list?

BAER: I want to be able to create a solid team of people that I love to be around and work with, and travel the world from place to place, experiencing different people, scenery, and cultures, be inspired, and create amazing music. Sort of like a big musical retreat around the world. And hopefully, be able to connect with other artists and creatives around the world also!
I also want to eventually create a label that combines fashion, music, and lifestyle; I think all three of these go hand in hand, and I want to create a whole aesthetic and brand in the form of these three things.

Review Fix: What inspires your style?

BAER: Most things I encounter in my day to day life will impact me in some way. Sometimes I see something or hear something and I’m like, “Nope!”, and I know that would not be something I would gravitate towards stylistically (I’m talking in a general sense here, aesthetically, musically, emotionally, etc). But mostly what inspires me stylistically is amazing art, whether it be in the form of film, music, photography, or sometimes even drawings/paintings (my best friend, who has so graciously helped me out with the artwork for my single and EP, is an amazing illustrator). For example, I love the grandeur of most of Christopher Nolan’s films. When I see something that epic and impressive, it inspires me to create something just as grand. I secretly hope that Christopher Nolan will read this and contact me to direct my music video for Breathe The Same!

Musically (and in some cases, aesthetically), I feel very inspired by Kanye West, Rihanna, Beyonce, Jack U, Fetty Wap, Ty Dolla Sign, Travis Scott, Galantis…there is a lot of cool stuff happening musically!

Review Fix: What are your goals musically for the next year?

BAER: I want to start gathering new material, as well as start brainstorming and coming up with ideas for a tour to promote the EP! I want to feel inspired again; this EP was written about a specific phase in my life that I am ready to move on from. Once everything is out there, I cannot wait to live out new experiences and write and create different things. I also want to work with more people, as most of the songs from this EP were started off alone. Sometimes that is the best place to be, and sometimes magic happens with another person you feel very connected with. It’s all exciting!

Review Fix: Bottom line, why should someone check out your tunes?

BAER: I think most people would be able to connect to it on some level – whether just to the groove, or completely and entirely to the song and the music. I try and create things that are genuine to me, and I think honesty and real, raw emotions are what connects us as human beings. My music is the bridge!

Review Fix: What’s next?

BAER: Honestly, next up after the whole EP is released…a vacation! I haven’t been home in almost two years and my family misses me, and I miss them so much. Living across the world from home all by myself and hustling every day has been quite the grind, and I can’t wait to have two weeks to relax in my bedroom in Taiwan where everything started!