Bashy on first album in 15 years: “I didn’t know whether I was gonna make music again”

Bashy Discusses His “Very Honest” Second Album ‘Being Poor Is Expensive’ and His Journey Back to Music

Bashy has opened up about his new album ‘Being Poor Is Expensive,’ marking his return to music after a 15-year hiatus. Last week, the Kensal Rise-raised star made his comeback, having taken a break to pursue an acting career. Bashy, whose real name is Ashley Thomas, initially gained fame as an emerging star in the burgeoning grime scene of the early 2000s. He released his seminal ‘Chupa Chups’ mixtape in 2007 and his debut album ‘Catch Me If You Can’ in 2009, both considered UK underground classics.

Now, 15 years later, Thomas aimed to create a “very honest and raw” record about northwest London, inspired by how Kendrick Lamar talks about Compton or Nas about New York. He credited his friend Kano’s 2016 Mercury Prize-nominated album ‘Made in the Manor’ with motivating him to showcase the “vibes and culture” of his hometown, “Nart Wes’.”

Bashy explained his long hiatus from rap, noting that he has always considered himself an actor, having studied theater at the prestigious BRIT School. He made his film debut in the British dystopian film Shank in the early 2010s and has since starred in acclaimed TV shows like Top Boy and Lena Waithe’s Them, for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination in 2022.

Reflecting on his return to music, Bashy shared, “I was acting and I am focused on that aspect of my career. But music, I’ll always love music ’til the day I perish.” He added, “I’ve put in over 10,000 hours in music. I did music for free for years just for the passion of it. I was paying to do music: paying to go on pirate radio and stuff like that, pay your little subs. So yeah, I always love music and have an affinity for it, so this is a special album to me.”

Bashy revealed he wasn’t sure if he would ever release music again as an artist. The decision to make his second studio album came from feeling he had something important to say. He credited UK producers Toddla T and Progression with motivating him to get back into the studio, explaining, “They called me and were essentially telling me who I am and what my voice means and could mean and I brushed it off. Maybe that planted a small seed in my mind.”

He wanted to talk about his environment and found the process therapeutic, allowing him to address and explore buried feelings. Bashy also aimed to immortalize his heritage as a third-generation West Indian in his music, sampling the iconic lover’s rock song ‘Let Me Down Easy’ by Dennis Brown on the album’s title track. He wanted to incorporate seminal songs from his culture, much like how American rappers incorporate soul and R&B samples, creating a “distinctly Black British” sound.

The influence of the Windrush generation is highlighted on the heartwarming ‘Made In Britain,’ featuring a prayer recited by Bashy’s grandmother about her hopes for her bloodline. This prayer wasn’t recorded specifically for the album but was captured during an interview with her, reflecting his desire to preserve the voices of the Windrush generation.

Bashy had no expectations for ‘Being Poor Is Expensive,’ emphasizing that he is an independent artist who has always invested in himself. He views this album as a progression in his career and a piece of art he is proud of.

Reflecting on the enduring legacy of grime, Bashy noted, “Grime is forever. If you’re from the school of grime, it’s dope. You can go and do other things, but that essence is always there for a lot of us, especially ones that come from that [early] era. I think grime is one of the early sounds of London. Yeah, man, grime is forever, man.”

Bashy’s powerful 2007 song ‘Black Boys’ remains his most important hit and is widely regarded as a seminal track. Looking back on its legacy, he said, “That song is like bigger than me and it’s got a message. It wasn’t anything to do with money, it wasn’t anything to do with commercial success, it wasn’t anything to do with any of that. But it struck a chord with the people.” He expressed pride that the song continues to uplift people and show his heart and intentions.

The pensive ‘How Black Men Lose Their Smile’ from ‘Being Poor Is Expensive’ follows in the same vein as ‘Black Boys,’ with Bashy noting, “I’m an older guy, but the soul is the same.”

Bashy recently performed for the first time in a while at an intimate launch event with the BBC. Reflecting on the performance, he admitted he was nervous but felt good sharing his music with close friends and family, calling it a “bucket-list” moment. He looks forward to his headline show later this year and hopes listeners will resonate with the album and join him to experience it live.

Although the date and venue for his comeback concert are yet to be announced, Bashy will perform two small shows at UNDR in Ladbroke Grove on July 12 and HMV Oxford Street on July 15.