Barst

Barst is the solo project of Bart Desmet, a Belgian musician known for his innovative and genre-defying sound. Under the name BARST, Desmet crafts expansive, atmospheric music that goes beyond traditional singer-songwriter styles, blending elements of black metal, shoegaze, math noise, drone, and orchestral textures. His approach involves using a diverse array of pedals, synths, samplers, drone tracks, drum machines, and effects to create immersive soundscapes that invite listeners to explore their own imaginative worlds. Desmet aims to transcend conventional music structures and even dreams of developing a gesamtkunstwerk that engages all senses, incorporating visuals and potentially taste and smell alongside sound.

BARST’s musical journey launched publicly with a limited tape release on Consouling Sounds on Record Store Day 2015, which coincided with a live performance alongside Treha Sekotori. This collaboration blossomed into a stunning joint album with Treha Sektori and RM74, released at the Garden of Drones festival. Desmet has played numerous live shows and maintains an ongoing evolution in his artistic expression, constantly exploring new and surprising forms within his expansive sonic universe.