BoyWithUke on Embracing Change and Looking Forward to the Future With New Album, Burnout

For most of his musical career, viral sensation and singer-songwriter BoyWithUke made a name for himself under a masked veil of anonymity. Just over a year after finally revealing his face and identity as Charley Yang, he's ready to (mostly) leave that era behind him with the release of his new—and final—album, Burnout.

It's his first full-length project since removing the mask known by millions of fans worldwide in October of 2023, giving Charley the chance to get more vulnerable and authentic than ever, building out a more mature and refined sound in the process. While being "faceless" allowed him to walk the line between worldwide fame and privacy, the album's 14 tracks show BoyWithUke at his most exposed as he faces his fears, embraces change and looks forward to the future. We got the opportunity to chat with him about what these songs represent and what's next for him in the interview below.

Sweety High: What does the album title Burnout mean to you? Why did that title feel like the perfect summation of this group of songs?

BoyWithUke: Burnout to me means acceptance of change and letting go. I felt like the title was perfect because not only was I literally burnt out, but because I felt like this project was BoyWithUke's final album. It felt fitting to let BoyWithUke burn out (like a candle).

(Burnout via AWAL Recordings)

 

SH: What do you feel are the overarching themes of the album? What kind of feel do you hope fans take away from it?

BoyWithUke: I guess the overarching theme is to accept that things change, especially people. I hope fans can feel good listening to the music and also accept change and adversity in their own lives as well.

 

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SH: How would you describe the album's sound? Production-wise, how did you go about bringing these tracks to life?

BoyWithUke: Honestly, I don't know. It's kind of all over the place. Production-wise, I tried to be as experimental as possible, especially with the structure and sound of the songs. I spent three years basically making the same song hundreds of times, so it was nice to let go of that.

(Artistic credit:  Connor Gaskey)

 

SH: How do you feel that these songs represent where you are in life right now?

BoyWithUke: To be honest, only a few tracks really resonate with my life right now. I started creating these songs a year ago, so some tracks feel old and remind me of my past self.

 

SH: What does it mean to you that you'll be putting your masked alias behind you once it's complete? How do you think your approach will look different moving forward?

BoyWithUke: Basically BoyWithUke will stay BoyWithUke, and the iconic masked look will probably come back, while I plan on pursuing different things. The plan is to continue creating music, just under a different style, approach, and alias. Ideally a bit more low-key and intimate. There's definitely conflict between who BoyWithUke is and who I am, and I think the fans deserve to keep the BoyWithUke they had grown accustomed to.

 

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SH: What is your favorite song on the album? Why?

BoywithUke: It's hard to pick a favorite. If I had to choose, probably "Ghost" or "Easier." "Ghost" because it's the closest I've ever gotten to creating a song I would actually listen to, and "Easier" because performing this song live was a surreal experience.

 

SH: How do you think you've evolved as an artist since Lucid Dreams?

BoyWithUke: I think I've expanded my knowledge on production. I made Lucid Dreams on my iPad, whereas Burnout was made on my laptop using a much more powerful DAW. I think I've also gotten braver and more experimental with my choices.

(Photo credit:  Connor Gaskey)

 

SH: Is there anything else we should know about Burnout?

BoyWithUke: I can do so much better.

 

For more on our favorite new music out today, click HERE to read our interview with Jade LeMac on her latest single, "Pink Balloon."