by mariah estran
photo courtesy of vaultboy
Sometimes, everything just sucks. It’s a simple little phrase, one that has most likely left the mouths of millions of individuals, including up-and-coming pop artist vaultboy. Except for him, the expression has led him to create the viral debut tune, “everything sucks.”
The song started as a simple teaser on TikTok, and shortly after, fans reacted and started creating their own content. “Once the song started going crazy on TikTok, I set to finishing it,” the singer says.
So, by its official release in May, it accumulated over a million streams within its first week.
You might say he struck gold on the popular video-sharing platform. But it's the song's memorable lyrics and overall bubbly nature that make it an instant delight. He sings of spending money at arcades while leaving his bad days behind. A no-need-for-prescription mood lifter that has one side effect, singing along.
We got a moment to speak with vaultboy about “everything sucks.” He told us more about creating the song, what inspired him while producing, how TikTok has helped his journey, and if there will be a new single soon.
In May, you released your debut single “everything sucks.” It has accumulated lots of streams and appreciation from listeners due to its relatability and catchiness. What was the songwriting process like for this track?
vaultboy: “Strangely enough, I actually wrote a good portion of the song in the shower! I was trying to come up with a happy song to post on TikTok, and usually have trouble writing happy songs. I sarcastically mumbled ‘everything sucks, just kidding’ to myself and then the rest of the verse came super naturally! Once the song started going crazy on TikTok, I set to finishing it, and with a little help from my friend gnash, managed to put the rest together!”
Through this track, you have shown your audience this great, bubbly-pop sound. Who inspired you while figuring out the production for this single?
vaultboy: “Honestly, the verse was just a combination of a bunch of sounds I really like to use a lot: synth bass, a mellotron, and some bit-crushed snaps. I didn’t put a lot of thought into it! But when I started producing the chorus, I knew I wanted it to be a really hard-hitting bass and a bunch of vocal layers, similar to songs like ‘Bad’ by Lennon Stella and ‘i’m so tired’ by Lauv and Troye Sivan.”
You’ve had experience collaborating with other artists and helping with their songs. But what was it that pushed you to finally release your own single?
vaultboy: “I’ve been making music my whole life, and sometimes you write a song that you feel like you were meant to sing. For me it was a handful of songs, but that’s when I decided to start releasing songs as vaultboy!”
A snippet of “everything sucks” was put on TikTok before its initial release. It gained traction, and you continued to promote it on the platform. Personally, how do you feel TikTok has helped your musical journey?
vaultboy: “TikTok is like the Wild West for content. You have to try new things and push yourself out of your creative comfort zone constantly. For me, I think there’s a lot of songs I never would have written if I didn't start sharing my music on TikTok, so I have a deep gratitude for the way it’s helped me and my songwriting!”
Now, you’re continuing to create tons of fun videos for your viewers! From singing songs on the spot to jumping out of a plane. Why is it important to you to keep this virtual connection with your fans?
vaultboy: “Well, I definitely wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am if it wasn’t for all of my fans engaging with my content, so I think it’s important to keep sharing as much as I can. I love that I get to make music and that’s all because of them!”
You’ve got your first single, you’re teasing songs on TikTok, but what can fans expect from vaultboy next? What are you hoping to do as you enter this new stage in your journey?
vaultboy: “They can probably expect me to tease more songs, if I’m being honest! But definitely expect some more music. Working on a lot of new music, and I don’t think I’m going to run out any time soon!”