Text by Katia Gorshkova
Edgar Allan Poe wrote, “it is a happiness to wonder; it is a happiness to dream.” While the quote itself may come from one of his rather dark short stories, when taken out of context by itself, it can be applied to anyone who has the courage to be a dreamer. It evokes a sense of curiosity, it makes you wonder what it would be like to pursue your passions, your purpose.
If happiness is pursuing your dreams, then Joshua Bassett is definitely on the right path. Earlier in his career, the young actor made appearances in Grey’s Anatomy and Dirty John. Now best known for portraying the lead role of Richard “Ricky” Bowen on the Disney+ show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Joshua is a rising star not only in the world of television entertainment, but also in the music industry, having already two singles under his belt.
On top of playing five instruments and being a skilled singer, songwriter, and musician, Joshua remains humble and true to himself. “I’m a homeschooled kid who loves music from Oceanside, San Diego,” he says. “I hold onto that as I navigate the world. I’m just learning and crafting, but this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I’m able to be Joshua in my songs.”
Seeing someone rise to fame while still remaining honest is as refreshing as it is endearing. The singer told Flanelle that he comes from a rather musical family. His father was a professional pianist, playing classical music in the house from the time Joshua was still a toddler. At the age of seven, he was introduced to his first instrument, the drums, which he quickly picked up and even started playing at church. While in his teens, he turned a grounding into an opportunity to keep learning and convinced his parents to let him have a guitar while alone in his room. He eventually taught himself how to play, inspired by his musical icons, artists like Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Sara Bareilles, Billy Joel, and more.
When Joshua was 15, he inherited his late grandfather’s ukulele, which he added to his growing arsenal of instruments.
But his musical discovery doesn’t stop at simply playing instruments, since the young musician is also a talented singer. “I sort of fell into it when I was seven. My sisters had been doing musical theatre and I wanted to be just like them, so I gave it a go! I definitely cried upwards of ten times just minutes before I finally gained the courage to audition,” he says when describing his beginning in musicals. His stage fright experience is most certainly relatable to most people, but his perseverance and passion are inspiring, and tell a story of how when you are truly excited by something, anything becomes possible.
Furthermore, it certainly helps that Joshua is surrounded by a family whose members are all musically talented. “One time, the whole family joined a production of Annie – including my dog,” he says humorously. “At any given moment, you could hear all of us singing a different song in the house. It was awesome to have such a musical family.”
Over the years, the promising musician decided to search for new challenges and opportunities and began making the daily drive to Los Angeles at the age of 16 in order to attend auditions. Eventually, he booked various shows, including the remake of the classic High School Musical, a franchise that has been so iconic for almost two decades. When asked if there’s any additional pressure in this project because of how popular it already is, Joshua told Flanelle, “The cool thing about this show is that it’s a completely new and meta take on it. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, so we just have fun! Definitely cool to have a handful of the original cast members hand down the baton and cheer us on.”
While working on the show, he also scored a record deal with Warner Records, and began feverishly writing music. Earlier in 2020, he released two singles, “Common Sense” and “Anyone Else.” Both received praise and gained instant popularity on streaming platforms, which encouraged the young songster to continue working on more songs. While “Common Sense” is a slow ballad showing skillful guitar techniques, “Anyone Else” is a slightly more upbeat tune about unrequited love. “It’s about falling in love with somebody you can’t be with. You don’t know how you’re supposed to think about anyone else. It’s a genuine story.”
When the whole world stopped for lockdown in March 2020, Joshua admitted that it initially threw him off the wagon, creatively speaking. Eventually, however, he found a way out of the rut. “I think it’s actually given me more time and inspiration to get to work on my music. I’ve had some of the hardest creative blocks but also written some of my favourite songs in lockdown.”
How does he overcome these blocks as an artist? “I’m still figuring that out! It’s a rollercoaster for sure. I find that my environment can have a heavy influence. Typically, whenever I can’t write any music, it’s a signal that I need to go have a little more life experience, switch things up, and expose myself to new art and music.”
Now that life is picking up again, we asked the actor what he envisions for himself in the future. “There’s so much to do! I would love to produce, write, direct, score films, make music, tour, and maybe someday write a book! I don’t really think I’m all too interesting, but I have definitely learned some valuable lessons in my short time, and I’d love to save others some of the time it took me to learn them… we will see!”
And as for the near future, the talented artist is getting ready to reveal some exciting projects he has been working on. We are definitely eager to see what else the young star comes up with. With passion on one side and talent on the other, Joshua most certainly dreams big and, like Gloria Steinem once said, “dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”
TEAM CREDITS
Talent: Joshua Bassett @joshuatbassett
Photographer: Filip Milenkovic @filip.milenkovic
Creative Director: Faith Picozzi @faithpicozzicreative
Fashion: Jake Sammis @jakesammis
Grooming: Kindra Mann @kmannmakeup
