WRITTEN BY CAITLIN TRAVERS
Indie and alternative artist Bo Baskoro (he/him) released his new single “Tongue Tied” earlier this week, continuing to demonstrate his clear passion and prowess at singing and songwriting. The single, which boasts honest, gritty lyrics and an overall sound incredibly reminiscent of a coming-of-age movie, also has an added layer of meaning woven into the lyrics. Baskoro describes the song as “having that tangible chemistry with someone but lacking the confidence to make a move and tell them how you feel,” and notes that his “inspiration comes from my lack of confidence in making that move with the person or people I’ve liked. I hope to God that there are other people out there that feel the same because I can’t be the only one out here with no game like that.” This message clearly makes a home for itself in “Tongue Tied”: I’m sure many listeners, including myself, can relate to the feelings the song encapsulates—but Portland native turned LA lover Bo Baskoro also makes an effort to connect with his community in ways beyond his incredible lyricism.
As an artist, mental health advocate, model, and actor, Baskoro uses his multiple artistic talents to consistently create widespread impacts, uplifting those around him. Whether it’s through his work with international brand Maxwell House®, following his recovery from a tumor and labrum tear surgery, or the experiences he’s shared regarding his Tourette’s Syndrome, Baskoro is an inspiration to many.
Now featured as one of the faces of MAX by Maxwell House®, and with a mini-documentary commissioned by them recognizing his experience and artistic drive amidst his trials celebrating its seventh year next month, Baskoro has consistently demonstrated his remarkable creativity and abundant ambition. He also continues to inspire in his outspokenness regarding mental health, which is all the more important in a world that still largely brushes past neurodiversity. Baskoro notes that “[he’s] worked so hard to free [himself] from the world where the topic of mental health was taboo and finally explore [his] symptoms and navigate through them with a professional... there’s a power in knowing the diagnosis of all of the quirks that made [him] feel like [he] was a broken burden to the people around me, and finally hearing that these symptoms fell into the diagnosis of Tourette’s, General Anxiety, OCD and Depression helped [him] finally feel like [he] could take control of what was happening to [him] and finally learn how to manage it."
Looking into his remarkably inspiring story, and especially its application into Baskoro’s singing and songwriting, has made listening to his most recent song all the more special—and I simply cannot recommend “Tongue Tied” enough as a perfect end-of-summer song. Stream “Tongue Tied,” out on all digital streaming platforms!