With influences ranging from At the Drive In to The National, DC-based musician Bartees Strange is reinventing what it means to be a “Black artist.”
“Conform, go crazy or become an artist.” DC-based musician Bartees Strange understands this sentiment well. As an artist, he’s pushing the boundaries of music by refusing to conform to one genre which, especially for artists of color, tends to be incredibly limiting. With influences ranging from At the Drive In to The National, Strange is reinventing what it means to be a “Black artist.”
For Live on KEXP, Troy Nelson dissects Strange’s history and influences to uncover how he became the revolutionary artist he is today.
Recorded 12/09/2020.