BAYEM has never been one to stay inside the lines. As a kid growing up in Indianapolis, his music taste was an amalgamation of underground house, acid jazz, neo soul, and mainstream music. As he grew older, he added modern pop to the mix and began to create a sound that was entirely his own.
Following features on Hulu’s Sex Appeal and The Kardashians, BAYEM continued that exploration on his 2023 project ‘Oasis.’ The concept EP experimented with futurism internet vaporwave and 80s sounds.
BAYEM is continuing to pave his own path with his latest R&B single “Regrets.”
We chatted with BAYEM about “Regrets,” finding his place, and what’s up next.
What inspired your new single “Regrets”?
It was very much a spur of the moment song. I had just finished up a long day at the studio and decided on a whim to write. I started with the chord progression on keys and everything else just fell into place.
What was the writing and production process like?
It was seamless. There are days where writing a song feels like pulling teeth with no anesthesia. This was not one of those moments. It was more like the creative spirit just took over and before I knew it the song was written.
Your latest EP ‘Oasis’ is inspired by spaces and environments. If you could set up fans in the perfect environment to listen to “Regrets,” what do you imagine it looking like?
Any space that is intimate and safe to you will be perfect for this song. It’s all about not having any ill will to past loves because they helped shape the current version of you. Being somewhere you can expand emotionally will allow you to fully sink into that bittersweet feeling.
Your single “Thrill” recently became your first song to hit 1 million streams. What’s it like to know that people are enjoying your music so much?
It feels surreal, honestly. Crossing that threshold felt like receiving a collective message of, “I hear you.” That song was written about a time that I was really lost in life, so for it to resonate that much shows me that a lot of people have felt the same. We’re all uniquely the same after all.
What are you looking forward to most in 2024?
I’m looking forward to doing more. More music, more interaction, more growth. That’s what ultimately drives this journey, that overwhelming desire to grow and adjust on a daily basis.
What is one quote that you have heard or that you go by that you want to ECHO out to the world?
My dad actually had this hung up on my bedroom door as a kid, but it still resonates:
“Take yourself seriously, because there are people you know and don’t know that are waiting on you to be successful.”
We never know the part we play in the bigger picture, but it’s up to us to show up as best we can for the betterment of everyone.
Featured Photo Credit: Kennedy Weaver
Amelia Cordischi, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Juice Box Press, is an accomplished digital marketing professional with over a decade of experience in media and communications. Her work has been featured in notable publications, including The Boston Globe. A communications graduate of Simmons University in Boston, Amelia served as manager of Simmons College Radio (“The Shark”), where she also launched and co-hosted her radio show, The Find.
In addition to her editorial work, Amelia is an established freelance photographer, with bylines in Blended Magazine and CelebMix, capturing artists and cultural moments across the music and media landscape. Her career began at WCVB-TV’s Chronicle, the ABC affiliate in Boston, where she gained firsthand experience in broadcast journalism and storytelling.
When she’s not taking photos from the photo pit, interviewing emerging artists, or crafting the next Juice Box Press feature, Amelia can be found thrifting and exploring the world of sustainable fashion.