Prologue
I think the word “blog” is ugly but I’m not smug enough to call this thing by another name. Bug’s Diary? Bug’s Journal? Pretentious! Though I am pretentious enough to give this blog a prologue. You might say… a plog.
I have never blogged before. Though I did have Tumblr circa 2011 specifically to interact with a crush (hi Jordan). I am relieved to tell you that page no longer exists.
I’m no blogger, but I do like to write. And I want to write about this moment of my life. It feels pivotal. I’ve also heard that Music Industry People (MIP) like it when artists have mailing lists. So, if you’re currently willing to read this blog, I hope you are willing to join my mailing list (click the Bug Home Page), and thus help the MIPs take me seriously. But I promise this is only one part stunt-to-get-mailing-listees and two parts sharing-my-inner-special-world.
The first special world I want to share with you, mailing listees/ blog readers, is the Bug Bogart backstory. In my brain, Bug is not new. Over the years, I’ve released music under several different pseudonyms. I’ve just been shy about it. But I’m feeling a little reckless these days and I’m ready to open the gates.
The Bug Bogart Backstory
Bug = the childhood nickname my Dad gave me
Bogart = my mother’s maiden name
It’s a personal name. To me, the name gives “baby tomboy meets classic Hollywood man” (apparently I am distantly related to Humphrey). I think those poles somewhat represent my tonal range.
The pseudonyms I chose before are all a bit more vague, a bit less snappy… hence, none stuck. I’m only slightly embarrassed of them. Each pseudonym represents a different phase of my life, or, in reflection, a different phase of angst:
Larkspur (2016)- personal identity angst (I was 20 years old)
Nature Boy (2018)- romantic angst (I was falling in love)
Loganism (phase 1, 2020) - television angst (it was the pandemic)
Loganism (phase 2, 2021)- broken hearted angst (I was dumped)
Bug Crusher (2023)- horny angst (it was the pandemic… still)
And finally:
Bog Bogart (2026)- societal angst?! (I am now a post-Saturn Return adult in a stable partnership. I finally have the headspace to look outside myself and just be angsty about the world)
Each name is hyperlinked to its individual Bandcamp page. You will find music. Thank you for being curious/ I’m sorry.
I do not think that music is good. In fact, I think a lot of it is cliche, poorly mixed, and without direction. Angsty and vague. But! I can give myself some credit… it’s not that bad!? I’m very quick to clarify: I’m not a gifted musician; I’ve never shown undeniable aptitude (or genuine determination) for mastering this craft. I think I’ve always just been an averagely-talented guy with a lot of feelings who works very hard. So I made a few EPs quietly in my closet and shared them each one time on Facebook.
So… Five EPs in ten years and not one show. That’s where my “solo project” world did not exist. My performing energy was given to For Jane/ Dilettante/ Absolute Treat (the band I shared with my best friend for ten years), and starting in 2022, a bunch of other bands. In 2024, I had a record year of 98 shows (mostly thanks to jangle pop darlings, Ducks Ltd)!
I’ve started Bug Bogart because I finally feel ready to be a front man. To me, being a member of other bands only scratches one side of the itch - which does feel good! But I want to know what it feels like to scratch the whole thing, and to scratch it alone. I anticipate it might hurt, but it might also feel great and unfathomably addictive.
I played my first solo show last week - it was a Kind People Only acoustic session at the Brockton Haunt (a little intimidating for me because the owner and I share an ex and it was not my proudest break up. Very “Toronto lesbian” situation). But the show was very nice! My first high school love (hi Sophie) came out to see me. We hadn’t seen each other in over 10 years!! We were together before either of us came out (as queer, as trans). I feel like some long-buried circles closed for me that night.
I wanted to share this backstory/ back catalogue before my first song came out - which is this Friday! I’m excited for things to start coming alive. If this new song gets even one play on a radio station, I’ll be over the moon. I’ll write more about that in my next entry.
Till then,
Bug