BoyWithUke
BoyWithUke (born August 25, 2002) is a pseudonymous American alt-pop singer, musician and internet personality. He rose to popularity on the online platform TikTok with his most viral single "Toxic" (2021) and with his second most viral single "IDGAF". He has become one of the most popular faceless artists on the platform. He is currently signed to Republic Records.
 BoyWithUke IDGAF Album Cover | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August 25, 2002 Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Genres | alt-pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Ukulele, guitar, piano, singing |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Labels | Republic Records |
Career
2020–2021: Beginnings on TikTok and Toxic
BoyWithUke began uploading to TikTok in 2020 after being introduced to the platform by his brother. His content at first didn't garnish any momentum on the platform, until 2021, several of his videos (including Minute-Long Songs) started to perform well.[1]
In September 2021, BoyWithUke released his extended play Faded, which features the single "Toxic". "Toxic" went viral on TikTok and was featured in over sixty-nine thousand videos on the platform. It was streamed around half a billon times.[2][3] The single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay charts after being on the charts for thirty-one consecutive weeks, which was the sixth-longest rise to No. 1 in Alternative Airplay's history.[2] "Toxic" was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[4][5]
2021–2022: Republic Records and Serotonin Dreams
In late 2021, BoyWithUke signed a deal with record label Republic Records.[6] In 2022, he released the single "IDGAF", featuring Blackbear, from his album Serotonin Dreams.[7] He released his debut major-label album, Serotonin Dreams, under Republic Records.[6] It debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay and Billboard 200 charts and features "Toxic" as its lead single.[2][8] After the album's release, BoyWithUke was listed as one of the top ten Billboard Emerging Artists.[8]
Throughout 2022, BoyWithUke opened for the indie-pop trio AJR on their OK Orchestra Tour.
As of March 2023, he has seven million followers on TikTok and almost two hundred thousand streams in the United States, according to MRC Data.[1]
2023-Present: Antisocial
BoyWithUke released the Extended Play "Antisocial" on February 24 with it including three songs, notably, the EP contained the already debuted single, Rockstar, as the two other songs were teased previously on his TikTok, with these songs being "idtwcbf(friends)" and "Nosedive"
BoyWithUke released a new single, "Out Of Reach" on April 7, 2023.
Artistry
BoyWithUke wears an opaque face shield with two large LED lights in order to ensure his anonymity.[1] His music is centered around the ukulele but also incorporates other instruments such as the piano.[3] He self-composes his music on GarageBand from his iPad, a free digital audio workstation for Apple devices.[6]
BoyWithUke's music has been described as "alternative" and "alt-pop". His famous songs besides these include "Two Moons", "Long Drives", "Loafers" and "Sick of U" (ft. Oliver Tree). His less known songs include collab with mxmtoons "Prairies", "She Said No", "Contigo", and "Scared of The Dark" a few from Fever Dreams including "Psycho", "Out of Tune", and some songs from Melatonin dreams "Letter From my Bed", "Lovely", "Route 9".
BoyWithUke's albums are said to follow a "Dreams Saga", with Melatonin Dreams talking heavily about depression and suicidal thoughts. Fever Dreams is said to be based apon one being less depressed and suicidal than its predecessor, but ultimately still focuses its core values on low self-esteem and general melancholic and depressed themes. Serotonin Dreams is supposedly him "waking up" and the "Magnum Opus" of the saga as overall unlike its antecedent, Serotonin Dreams is focusing on realisation and generally more positive values, whilst still having occasional referances to the values of its predecessors.
Personal life
BoyWithUke keeps most of his personal life private. He has revealed that he lives in Boston, Massachusetts. BoyWithUke stated that he was forced into classical music from the age of four, but later dropped it. This was followed by him resuming music through writing music in high school.[1][9] BoyWithUke revealed that he kept and still keeps his identity hidden because he wants people to pay attention to the music and talent and not his looks.[1]
In many of his songs, he used the name 'Tobi' including Psycho, Out of Tune and Sick of U Album Cover. He once said that he doesn't have many voices in his head. If he had, he would choose Tobi as a good name.[10]
Discography
Albums
- Melatonin Dreams (22 January 2021)
- Fever Dreams (4 June 2021)
- Serotonin Dreams (6 May 2022)
EPs
- Trouvaille (5 March 2021)
- Faded (10 September 2021)[11]
- Antisocial (24 February 2023)
References
- Olivier, Bobby (February 18, 2022). "Meet BoyWithUke, TikTok's Masked Singer Waking Up to Alt-Pop Stardom". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Rutherford, Kevin (June 28, 2022). "BoyWithUke Notches First No. 1 on a Billboard Songs Chart With 'Toxic'". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Driever, Natalie (November 26, 2021). "BOYWITHUKE - "TOXIC"". 1LIVE (in German). Westdeutscher Rundfunk. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "British single certifications – Boywithuke – Toxic". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- "American single certifications – BoyWithUke – Toxic". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- Billboard Staff (May 13, 2022). "21 UNDER 21: SEE WHO MADE THE 2022 LIST". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Mier, Tomás (March 30, 2022). "Machine Gun Kelly Sings From a Cat Lady's Bedroom in 'Make Up Sex' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
Meanwhile, Blackbear recently joined BoyWithUke on "IDGAF" earlier this year.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Zellner, Xander (May 17, 2022). "Nate Smith Rules Emerging Artists Chart, Thanks to 'Whiskey on You' Single". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "Ones To Watch". Ones to Watch. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- User, Reddit (7 October 2022). "Who is Tobi? r/BoyWithAUke".
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - "Ones To Watch". Ones to Watch. Retrieved 2022-10-16.