Meet Multi-Sensory Art’s Inspiring Figurehead: BSP’s seamless blends of audio and visual art aim to inspire real change in the world
Songwriter Profile: BSP
Most people would consider music performance and abstract painting as hard enough to do individually, but this distinctive songwriter thinks nothing of performing both together…and as you can imagine it makes for quite compelling artwork. Bri aka BSP is certainly as unique as they come. She is a multi-disciplinary artist using her synesthesia to explore the relationship between music and colours, culminating in an interwoven display of art you will not find anywhere else.
BSP usually rotates between bases in London, UK and Madeira, Portugal – not often making it back to her hometown of Rome in Italy. She tells SS Mag that since starting her artistic journey over eight years ago, it’s led her away from her hometown. While at times she feels divided and misses old friends and family; BSP’s relentless touring to pretty much every corner of Europe, her somewhat nomadic hideaway in Madeira Portugal, and her art admin HQ in London have allowed her to forge new friendships and build a new family of creatives from around the world.
BSP has been interested in and passionate about multisensory art since her early years, but it was as a teenager when her devotion for singing deepened, while she was also harbouring a secret passion for painting. For a long time she hesitated to reveal the visual side of her artistic vision, and it was eventually her agent who one day discovered her hidden artworks, that encouraged her to showcase both as part of her identity. This was a pivotal moment helping her to realise the profound connection between visual art and music, and it would not be until this transformative moment, that she actually discovered she had synesthesia – a neurological condition which she describes as “a gift that allows me to perceive colours while listening to music.”
“I embarked on a journey of exploration and experimentation, gradually bringing the two art forms together on stage. What was once concealed out of fear blossomed into a unique and fulfilling experience that continues to shape my artistic expression.”
While BSP has been writing in some capacity since her teenage years – creating small books, writing stories of magical worlds and later journaling consistently (which would become a major hobby she still practises today) – it wasn’t until she revealed some of her song lyrics to her agent Max, that she got the encouragement she needed to integrate this practice into her artistic performances.
“Their encouragement propelled me to embrace songwriting as an integral part of my creative endeavours. Art, singing, and writing have become inseparable for me. I carry a small notebook brimming with painted pages, lyrics, or poetry wherever I go.”
One of the biggest challenges for BSP to date has not been any technical obstacle or marketing hurdle, but was actually breaking the news to her family as a teenager that she wasn’t going to finish her Performative Arts degree at university, and instead was to pursue a singing career. Despite their initial discouragement brought on by a concern for her financial independence, she of course decided to go ahead with it anyway. BSP would spend the months that followed singing at private events and doing voiceover sessions for Disney cartoons, all while juggling a number of different jobs, performing in bars and clubs and carrying her singing gear, stage shoes and dresses in the back of her car.
While achievements such as performances at The Tate Modern, Venice Biennale, and a Sky Arts documentary about her work might look like her biggest milestones on paper, she mentions the biggest turning point in her life was in fact meeting her vocal coach and agent. They would provide her with the purpose, vision and understanding she had longed for.
“Their belief in me and my artistry was a milestone, as it allowed me to fully embrace my nature and surrender to my creative calling.”
We almost felt silly asking BSP what makes her music different from other artists, as just taking one glance at her stage performance will clarify it’s as unique as they come. But of course what sets her music apart is its close interplay with her paintings; she describes this interplay as “a symbiotic relationship that brings paintings to life and music to vivid imagery.”
While Bri credits independence as the main catalyst for the freedom of her artistic expression (with her 2022 album ‘In My Garden’ released on indie label YMX), she also credits collaborations as ultimately amplifying the essence of her music.
“While independence allows for creative freedom, it is the collective synergy and shared vision that help me stay authentic and distinct. I am not a standardised and homogeneous product—I embrace my multisensory nature, which inherently sets me apart.”
Just listening to her music alone, it’s probably much more influenced by electro pop and trip-hop than much of the standard pop music she grew up with. She tells SS Mag some of her biggest musical inspirations have been bands such as Portishead, Morcheeba, Lamb; and more recently FKA Twigs and Caroline Polachek.
One of the shows BSP has performed this year ‘Fluttering Colours’ explores pressing environmental issues she feels are so important for people to engage in. She shares some of the most poignant lyrics she wrote for this performance below.
“The pressing issue of climate change and the displacement of both humans and animals compels me to address this theme on stage. By presenting it in a unique and entertaining way, I hope to inspire individuals to reflect on these challenges and take meaningful action.”
BSP is also involved in two other shows, ‘Digital Classic’ which delves into the realms of digital connection and human loneliness, and ‘Ephemeral Echoes’ which embraces a more intimate club atmosphere. Her goals for the future are “to refine my performances, expanding my reach, and nurturing a deep connection with audiences worldwide” as well as a bold move to create a clothing line with a fashion designer. She is also leading a workshop around Europe called ‘Liquid Sounds’ which aims to give attendees a closer understanding of and relationship with synesthesia together with creative practice. It’s pretty clear that BSP is a songwriter not only brimming with creativity, but also with purpose and an immense motivation to change, inspire, and grow.
If you didn’t know about BSP before, now you have an untold amount of reasons to check out this prolific, distinctive, and immensely creative songwriter and artist. To see details of all her current shows and workshops click here, and follow her on social media to stay updated (links below). Have a look at her Etsy store if you’re interested in buying a painting. Lastly, we’ll leave you with a quote from BSP outlining how her songwriting and artistic endeavours are to be understood and experienced by whomever may be lucky enough to witness them.
