TRACK BY TRACK: Hugo Basclain Blooms On His New EP ‘freeway flowers’

Hugo Basclain rips pages out of his journal and separates the words with a striking R&B, soul and pop sound on his latest project freeway flowers. His intimate, innermost thoughts trail alongside string instrumentals and booming kickdrums that bring forth a multifaceted journey surrounding love, betrayal, grief and self-discovery.

The sonic world Basclain builds throughout this project maintains an “enter if you dare” essence, a notion to proceed with caution if you wish to hear the secrets that lie within. He approaches these haunting, formative moments with evocative lyricism and captivating vocals that keep you seated for the entire ride. 

Much of the project centres around the idea of flowers growing through concrete – a metaphor for colour and light shining through even in the darkest times. On freeway flowers, Basclain not only shines through the hardship he’s been dealt in life, but blooms larger and brighter than he could have ever imagine.

“The idea for freeway flowers came about due to a lesson and value that my mum taught me from a very young age. My father wasn’t around, and even when he was, he wasn’t much of a father to us. Things were super tough during my childhood. My mum raised me and my brother solely by herself, and as a single mother raising two children, that’s an amazing task and one that is underestimated all over the world,” he said.

“No matter how hard things got for our family throughout the years, my mum always found a way to give us what felt like the world. I had no idea until I grew up, just how hard it was for her to support two kids in every facet of life. Through every hardship we faced, she excelled and put her best foot forward and taught us that no matter the circumstance, through every hardship, you can grow and become something,”

“Through that lesson, this project was born, for even through concrete, flowers can grow. The whole project is centred around hardship that we as humans learn to grow through. I’ve always wanted to make a project that is an ode to the lessons my amazing mum has taught me throughout the years and this project feels like it's that.”

For The Music, Hugo Basclain has given us sincere insights into the story and inspirations that encompass freeway flowers track-by-track.

forced my hand

I wrote forced my hand from the turmoil of a fading relationship. As it faded, it felt like this person was doing more and more to force my hand, and to ultimately shoulder the difficult decision to end things. The song delves into the emotional struggle of feeling trapped and compelled to act, despite the pain it may cause. I really tried to capture the feeling of grappling with the inevitability of letting go.

forced my hand came together effortlessly, thanks to a strong foundation we had to build upon. My producer Lukas Costas called in guitarist Dalton Stanley from Nashville, who absolutely killed his guitar part complete with pinch harmonics and added a whole new dimension to the track.

Upon presenting it to my A&R, they urged us to create a grander vocal arrangement, suggesting it should sound like a choir of Hugos. Taking this directive, we meticulously stacked over 50 vocal tracks in the section leading into the final chorus, resulting in a captivating cascade of harmonies.

The process was labour-intensive, but the end result was undeniably worth it.

drown

drown is an exploration of the bittersweet allure of a toxic relationship. The song dives into the experience of being with someone that there's undeniable chemistry, yet the pain that follows is too much. I wanted to capture the feeling between desire and self-preservation making ‘drown’ a poignant exploration of these conflicting emotions.

Creating drown was a journey that exceeded my expectations. It became the piece that tied all my records together, using elements from different songs to craft something unique.

The pop/rnb influences from i want u, created a really solid foundation blended with the heavier guitar elements from lovers brought intensity and raw energy; a dynamic contrast that felt cohesive yet fresh.

Though drown started really solid but an additional rewrite was crucial. This refinement allowed the song to fully take shape and reach its final form.

i want u

i want u was a song that came across my desk as a recommendation from my executive producer, who had co-written it back in 2018 with the talented Blessing Offor, a Grammy-nominated artist. From the moment I pressed play, I was captivated. The song struck a chord with me immediately, resonating with its infectious melody and heartfelt lyrics. It was one of those rare instances where I knew I had stumbled upon something truly special.

Upon hearing i want u for the first time, I felt an instant connection to the song. It seemed to speak directly to me, addressing emotions and experiences that felt deeply personal. It was as if this song was the missing puzzle piece that would complete the picture I had been painting with my record. I saw immense potential in i want u and I was determined to bring out its full brilliance.

Teaming up with Lukas, we set out to expand on the already solid foundation of i want u and infuse it with our own creative energy. We delved into the song, exploring different musical avenues and experimenting with various elements to enhance its impact. One of the key decisions we made was to introduce a waltz feel to the song—a stylistic choice that felt uniquely 'me' and added an extra layer of depth and personality to the track.

With each addition and refinement, i want u blossomed into something even more extraordinary. It was a collaborative effort fuelled by passion and creativity, resulting in a rendition of the song that felt truly authentic and genuine. The process of bringing i want u to life was a labour of love, and the end result was better than I imagined and I’m super happy with how this one turned out.

i want u I always felt was the missing puzzle piece to the project, capturing the feelings of new beginnings and intense emotions in a new relationship. I tried to encapsulate the thrill and excitement of falling for someone new, evoking a sense of euphoria and anticipation.

echoes

Lukas and I were deeply engrossed in the creative process, working on echoes, when we encountered a roadblock. We struggled to find the perfect lyrical twist, and frustration began to creep in. In an effort to refresh our minds, we decided to take a break and wander through Lukas' neighbourhood in North Hollywood, hoping a change of scenery would ignite some inspiration.

As we walked, exchanging ideas and melodies, we found ourselves seated on a curb, contemplating our next move. Suddenly, serendipity intervened in the form of a passerby carrying a trombone case. Lukas, intrigued, couldn't resist asking, "Is that a trombone?" The passerby, surprised by Lukas' knowledge, engaged in conversation.

We exchanged contacts, and he later sent Lukas an incredible horn orchestration inspired by Forget About You by Devin Kennedy, one of the tracks we used as a reference. This unexpected connection led us to spend hours in the studio, working tirelessly on the horn arrangement until 4 am.

Interestingly, Devin Kennedy, whose music initially sparked our collaboration, also contributed to echoes by adding some mesmerising lead guitar parts, enriching the song even further.

Looking back, that chance encounter in North Hollywood not only helped us overcome our creative block but also paved the way for a remarkable collaboration that took our song to new heights. It speaks to the power of spontaneity, musical synergy, and the boundless potential that emerges when artists join forces with open minds.

I wrote echoes about the end of a long-distance relationship. I explore my feelings of nostalgia and the realisation that I miss the relationship more than the person. It was a bittersweet clarity that hit me. Despite the intense emotions behind the lyrics, I wanted to deliver the song with a light-hearted sonic.

lovers

lovers emerged from the emotional aftermath of a breakup, a period where life can feel muted and less vibrant. This sentiment of post-breakup malaise is a universally relatable emotion, and it provided the fertile ground upon which the song was created.

The collaborative process with The Gifted boys in the studio was incredibly fluid and efficient. Within just a few hours, the essence of ‘lovers’ had crystallised, with the song seemingly writing itself. And upon leaving the session, it was clear that we had created something truly special.

Following the initial session, further refinement of the song's musical elements took place in collaboration with Lukas, my executive producer. Together, we worked to ensure that every musical choice and arrangement complemented the raw emotion conveyed in the vocals. We wanted the music to serve as a perfect backdrop to the yearning and melancholy expressed in the lyrics.

A particular lyric, "chaos on all accounts, when lovers renounce their vows," served as a guiding principle for the song's production and instrumentation. This line encapsulated the tumultuous nature of heartbreak, and we sought to reflect this chaos in the music itself. Moments of sadness and heartache were juxtaposed with bursts of chaotic energy, creating a dynamic and emotionally resonant sonic landscape.

As lovers took shape, it became evident that the song was more than just a standalone piece of music—it was the culmination of all the emotions and experiences explored throughout the EP. Every note, every lyric, and every musical choice was infused with the passion and intensity of the feelings it sought to convey, resulting in a song that felt like a true reflection of the human experience.

Hugo Basclain’s freeway flowers is out now on all streaming platforms.