Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryce Gardner.
Hi Bryce, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
graphic designer and visual artist, but over time, I realized that music was the next essential step in expressing my vision. Music gives me a medium to present myself in my most vivid and imaginative forms, letting me merge both my sonic and visual ideas into a single, immersive world.
Creating that world meant becoming Bugs. By adopting my childhood nickname as my artist alias, I’ve been able to put distance between my everyday self and my creative self. That separation gives me the freedom to let my unconscious mind speak without restraint, allowing the art, not the persona, to take the lead.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Throughout my life, I’ve struggled with finding balance in the things I’m passionate about. I tend to operate out of pure, almost manic obsession when I commit to something. I throw myself into it completely. While that intensity fuels my creativity, it has also led to strained friendships, long periods of isolation, and moments where I lose track of my sense of self because I become so immersed in whatever project I’m pursuing.
This mindset also makes sharing my work challenging. I fixate on ideas, never feeling “finished,” which can trap me in an endless loop of refinement. Most of the time, the only thing that breaks that cycle is mental exhaustion and a desire to move forward. That moment becomes the point where I finally let the work go and release it into the world, such as my latest project, Magdal Abysm.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a musical and visual artist through and through. As I mentioned earlier, I began in high school working as a graphic designer and visual artist for a wide range of musicians and brands. Today, my primary focus is my solo music released under the name Bugs, short for bed Bugs beauty sleep. I’m extremely proud of my debut project, Magdal Abysm, which I released this past Halloween. It’s a deeply personal body of work that I’ve been quietly developing for over two years, and I believe the visual identity I built around it is just as compelling as the music itself.
What truly sets me apart is my individualism and the intensity of my creative focus. I’m fully committed to realizing my vision, and I don’t see a world in which I don’t succeed. My dedication to crafting an unnerving, surreal sonic experience—paired with a strong visual narrative is something I know will resonate and draw attention at large.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Nashville has absolutely shaped the person I am today. The city and I have grown in parallel with each other, and I don’t see that trajectory changing anytime soon. Nashville has carried me through some of my highest highs and lowest lows, and no matter where you go, there’s always a kind face willing to meet you. It’s a place that has held me, challenged me, and pushed me to evolve.
If I had to choose something I dislike, it would be the traffic, which I know is the most cliché answer I could possibly give. But even that feels symbolic of my own experience. Sometimes it feels like there are too many people in one space, everything is backed up, and you feel stuck. I relate to that on a personal level, like I’ve filled the space around me with as much of myself as possible, and now I’m ready to expand, to break out of the comfortable mold I’ve built. In that way, Nashville constantly reminds me to keep moving, keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/bedbugsbeautysleep
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BryceCGardner
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MagdalAbysm
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bedbugsbeautysleep
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/magdalabysm
