BoyWithUke

BoyWithUke (real name: Charly Yang) (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 "Understand" (2022). He has become one of the most popular faceless artists on the platform. He is currently signed to Republic Records.

BoyWithUke
BoyWithUke, wearing his mask with two white circle lights for eyes and a black hoodie and pants, holds a broken ukulele in front of himself while looking away
BoyWithUke in a promotional image for "IDGAF"
Background information
Born (2002-08-25) August 25, 2002
GenresAlt-pop
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
Instrument(s)
  • Ukulele
  • guitar
  • electric guitar
  • piano
  • singing
  • cello
Years active2020–present
LabelsRepublic

Career

2020–2021: Beginnings on TikTok and "Toxic"

BoyWithUke began uploading to TikTok in 2020 after being introduced to the platform by his brother. At first, his content did not attract much attention on the platform, until 2021, when 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 billion 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] On September 30, 2022, he released the single "Sick of U" featuring Oliver Tree.[9]

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 Luminate Data.[1]

2023–present: Antisocial and "Out of Reach"

BoyWithUke released the extended play Antisocial on February 24, 2023. It contains three songs, including the already debuted single, "Rockstar", which was released on February 10, as well as two songs that had previously been teased on his TikTok, "IDTWCBF (Friends)" and "Nosedive". On April 7, 2023, BoyWithUke released another single, "Out of Reach". It is the full version of one of his minute-long songs on TikTok. He also debuted the single with a Roblox concert featuring "Out of Reach", "Toxic", and "IDGAF".

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".[1] His famous songs besides these include "Two Moons", "Long Drives", "Loafers" and "Sick of U" (featuring Oliver Tree).

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 upon 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 references 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][10] 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]

Discography

Albums
List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[11]		 AUS
[12]		 AUT
[13]		 CAN
[14]		 IRE
[15]		 NLD
[16]		 NOR
[17]		 NZ
[16]		 SWI
[18]		 UK
[19]
Melatonin Dreams
  • Released: January 22, 2021
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 ——————————
Fever Dreams
  • Released: June 4, 2021
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 ——————————
Serotonin Dreams
  • Released: May 6, 2022
  • Label: Republic
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 72644833517221356143

EPs
  • Trouvaille (March 5, 2021)
  • Faded (September 10, 2021)
  • Antisocial (February 24, 2023)

Singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[20]		 AUS
[21]		 AUT
[13]		 CAN
[22]		 GER
[23]		 IRE
[15]		 NOR
[17]		 SWI
[18]		 UK
[19]		 WW
[24]
"Two Moons" 2021 ——41————66—— Fever Dreams
"Toxic"[3] —[upper-alpha 1]982071297232256260 Serotonin Dreams
"Long Drives" 2022 ——————————
"IDGAF"
(featuring Blackbear)[29]		 99956961—52——48117
"Sick of U"
(featuring Oliver Tree)[9]		 —————————— Non-album singles
"Rockstar" 2023 ——————————
"IDTWCBF (Friends)" ——————————
"Nosedive" ——————————
"Out of Reach" ——————————

Notes
  1. "Toxic" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[25]

References
  1. Olivier, Bobby (February 18, 2022). "Meet BoyWithUke, TikTok's Masked Singer Waking Up to Alt-Pop Stardom". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  2. Rutherford, Kevin (June 28, 2022). "BoyWithUke Notches First No. 1 on a Billboard Songs Chart With 'Toxic'". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  3. Driever, Natalie (November 26, 2021). "BOYWITHUKE - "TOXIC"". 1LIVE (in German). Westdeutscher Rundfunk. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  4. "British single certifications – Boywithuke – Toxic". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  5. "American single certifications – BoyWithUke – Toxic". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  6. Billboard Staff (May 13, 2022). "21 UNDER 21: SEE WHO MADE THE 2022 LIST". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  7. 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.
  8. Zellner, Xander (May 17, 2022). "Nate Smith Rules Emerging Artists Chart, Thanks to 'Whiskey on You' Single". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  9. Paul, Larisha (September 30, 2022). "BoyWithUke And Oliver Tree Learn To Move On With New Single 'Sick Of U'". UDiscoverMusic. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  10. "Ones To Watch". Ones to Watch. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  11. "Billboard 200: Week of May 21, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  12. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 16 May 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1680. Australian Recording Industry Association. May 16, 2022. p. 6.
  13. "Discographie BoyWithUke". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  14. "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of May 21, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  15. "Discography BoyWithUke". irish-charts.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  16. "Discografie BoyWithUke". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  17. "Discography BoyWithUke". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  18. "BoyWithUke – Toxic". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  19. "BoyWithUke | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  20. "Blackbear Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  21. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 28 March 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1673. Australian Recording Industry Association. March 28, 2022. p. 2.
  22. Peaks on the Canadian Hot 100:
  23. "Discographie von BoyWithUke". offiziellecharts.de (in German). Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  24. Peaks on the Global 200:
  25. "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of April 30, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  26. "American single certifications – BoyWithUke". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  27. "British single certifications – BoyWithUke – Toxic". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  28. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (BoyWithUke)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  29. "Ones To Watch". Ones to Watch. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
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