Bassett was born and raised in Oceanside, California to parents Taylor and Laura, and he has five sisters. He was home-schooled.
His first introduction to musical theater was at age 8, over a decade before he starred as Ricky in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, when he was in a community theater production of High School Musical as J.V. Jock No. 2. Since then, he has starred in over 30 musical productions.
Bassett also sings and plays piano, guitar, and drums.
Bassett's first substantial role was in 2018, when he played the recurring role of Aidan Peters on the Disney Channel television series Stuck in the Middle.
Bassett was cast in his first starring role at age 17 as Ricky Bowen, the male lead, in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. According to Playbill, Bassett co-wrote "Just For A Moment" with co-star Olivia Rodrigo for the series' soundtrack.
In early 2020, Bassett signed with talent and entertainment company United Talent Agency as well as signed a recording contract with Warner Records. He released his first single, "Common Sense," on music platforms on April 3, 2020.
On March 12, 2021, Bassett released his self-titled debut EP, “Joshua Bassett” with the first single, “Lie Lie Lie”, being released on January 14, 2021. In late 2021, Bassett released a trio of songs: "Set Me Free", "Crisis", and "Secret".
In 2022, he released the singles "Doppelgänger" and "Smoke Slow, the lead single for his EP, "Sad Songs In A Hotel Room". After released SSIAHR, he released four singles, each a week apart - "would you love me now?", "SHE SAID HE SAID SHE SAID", "i'm sorry", and "Different". In the same year, he also performed "Smoke Slow" on Today, made his feature film debut in Better Nate Than Ever, and starred in the animated film, Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again.
In 2023, he embarked on The Complicated Tour across the United States and Europe.
secret
Joshua Bassett Lyrics
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We kissed, but it felt different
I should've seen it comin' then, mm
You wore that you only had a crush
You told me that you would cut him off
I should've seen it comin' then, mm
My friends all warned me I should run for the hills
But I defended you still
Oh, your secret's safe with me
And him, and all of our friends you told
Oh, you don't even know I know
Don't worry, 'cause I'm keepin' my mouth closed
Yeah, your secret's safe with me
And him, and everyone else who knows
Darlin', how could you be so cold?
Don't worry, 'cause I'm keepin' my mouth closed
Yeah, your secret's safe with me
I really hope you had your fun
Good for you foolin' everyone
You had me tricked for sixteen months, oh
Your smoke and mirrors had me hypnotized
Right in front of my eyes
Well, I heard the truth last night
Your secret's safe with me
And him, and all of our friends you told
Oh, you don't even know I know
Don't worry, 'cause I'm keepin' my mouth closed
Yeah, your secret's safe with me
And him, and everyone else who knows
Darlin', how could you be so cold?
Don't worry, 'cause I'm keepin' my mouth closed
When your woe-is-me stops workin'
I bet your songs won't sound the same
The truth you can't deny changed everything
Oh, you can't hide behind what's clear as day
Oh, your secret's safe with me
And him, and all of our friends you told
(All our friends you told, they know)
Oh, you don't even know I know (I know)
Don't worry, 'cause I'm keepin' my mouth closed (you know)
Yeah, your secret's safe with me
And him, and everyone else who knows
(All of our friends, they know)
Darlin', how could you be so cold?
Don't worry, 'cause I'm keepin' my mouth closed
Yeah, your secret's safe with me
And him, and all of our friends you told
Yeah, your secret's safe with me
And him, and all of our friends you told
Yeah, your secret's safe with me
In “Secret” by Joshua Bassett, the singer reminisces about his past relationship with a girl who kept her true feelings about him hidden. The song suggests that the girl pretended to have only a crush on another guy to keep Joshua in the friend zone while she saw other people. Joshua reflects on how easily he was tricked for 16 months by her elaborate smoke and mirrors, but he eventually found out the truth. Despite it all, he promises to keep her secret safe, as he acknowledges that rumors can be deadly. The chorus repeats this sentiment, as Joshua tells the girl that he is keeping his mouth closed and that both he and their mutual friends who know will not reveal her true feelings.
The verse where Joshua says “When your woe-is-me stops working, I bet your songs won't sound the same” is a reference to the fact that the girl he’s singing about is also a musician. It shows how the girl’s music, which may have been a cry for help or a reflection of her hidden feelings, will not carry the same weight or meaning once people find out the truth. Joshua’s own experience has made him wise to the fact that secrets can be dangerous, and he is empathetic enough to keep her secret even though she played him.
The song has a catchy tune that is characteristic of Joshua’s indie folk-pop sound. It talks about a common experience of being tricked by someone we care about, and it resonates with some personal experience of the singer. The lyrics are poignant and expressive, encapsulating the feelings of betrayal and disillusionment that come with discovering someone has lied and pretended to be something they're not. The song is a cautionary tale of the potential consequences of not being upfront with your feelings, and it's a reminder that secrets have the power to destroy relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I pulled into your driveway again
I arrived at your home once more
We kissed, but it felt different
We kissed each other, but I sensed a difference in it
I should've seen it comin' then, mm
I should've predicted what would happen next at that moment
You told me that you would cut him off
You informed me that you would break your friendship with him
My friends all warned me I should run for the hills
My friends advised me to get away from you
But I defended you still
But I still stood up for you
'Cause I knew rumors could kill, oh
Because I was aware that rumors could have severe consequences
Oh, your secret's safe with me
I will keep your secret confidential
Don't worry, 'cause I'm keepin' my mouth closed
No need to worry since I won't reveal your secret
I really hope you had your fun
I sincerely desire that you enjoyed your time
Good for you foolin' everyone
Congratulations on deceiving everyone
Your smoke and mirrors had me hypnotized
Your illusions had me completely engaged
Well, I heard the truth last night
But I found out the truth last night
When your woe-is-me stops workin'
When your attempts to gain sympathy aren't effective anymore
I bet your songs won't sound the same
I assume that your music will be different
The truth you can't deny changed everything
You can't reject the truth since it transformed everything
Oh, you can't hide behind what's clear as day
Oh, you can't conceal something that's evident
And him, and all of our friends you told
I'm not the only one who knows; he and our friends also know
Yeah, your secret's safe with me
I'll make sure your secret remains protected
Darlin', how could you be so cold?
My dear, how could you be so unfeeling?
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Davis Holmes Naish, Joshua T. Bassett, Katelyn Marie Tarver
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind