The ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ actor and singer was candid about struggles with fame and his personal life during ‘An Evening With Joshua Bassett & Spotify’ at Book Club Bar in Brooklyn.
No stranger to the pervasiveness of fame, Joshua Bassett tells all in his new memoir, Rookie. The 25-year-old actor and singer is most known for his role as Ricky on “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” and past relationships with Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter. In Rookie, Bassett unpacks his public and private life, and threatening struggles he’s dealt with along the way.
In a partnership with Spotify, Bassett hosted a release party for the book at Book Club Bar in Brooklyn on May 27. Before the night officially started, the ambiance was warm and inviting, with the singer personally introducing himself to nearly every attendee.
“I share a lot of secrets in this book,” Bassett noted before reading select chapters to guests. “I want to bring you along with me.”
While reading, he recounted stories across a full emotional range. Beginning with cheeky reflections on sneaking onto red carpets, he soon pivoted to the darker moments of his life. For instance, he recalled the time in 2021 when he was hospitalized with septic shock and heart failure, a medical surprise that nearly killed him. From there, Bassett became teary-eyed speaking about suicidal ideas and struggling with his mental health. He continued sharing a private story where a friend “literally talked him off the edge.”
“We live in a very divided time,” Bassett shared with the crowd. “There’s a lot of isolation and independence that I think is beautiful. But, we also need each other, and we need to ask for help.”
(Courtesy The Knockturnal)
Between chapters, Bassett acoustically performed “Lifeline” and “All in Due Time” from his 2022 EP “Sad Songs in a Hotel Room.” The intimate setting proved perfect for the mini concert, both songs exploring similar themes of connection found in the book.
At the end of the night, Bassett helped distribute playing cards to the audience, branded as “public, private & secret cards.” Each one included a thoughtful question ranging in profundity, some prompting people to discuss their own hardest moments. Following, Bassett encouraged attendees to share their cards and get to know the people around them.
“The key to happiness is connection and friendship,” Bassett ended the night by declaring. “That’s my life goal, to help the world see that a little more. We can do a lot more together. I think we need to be collaborating on how to make the world a better place.”
In Bassett’s growing partnership with Spotify, fans with Premium can listen to the audiobook of “Rookie,” narrarated by Bassett.