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.
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. 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. "Toxic" was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
2021–2022: Republic Records and Serotonin Dreams
In late 2021, BoyWithUke signed a deal with record label Republic Records. In 2022, he released the single "IDGAF", featuring Blackbear, from his album Serotonin Dreams. He released his debut major-label album, Serotonin Dreams, under Republic Records. It debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay and Billboard 200 charts and features "Toxic" as its lead single. After the album's release, BoyWithUke was listed as one of the top ten Billboard Emerging Artists. On September 30, 2022, he released the single "Sick of U" featuring Oliver Tree.
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.
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. His music is centered around the ukulele but also incorporates other instruments such as the piano. He self-composes his music on GarageBand from his iPad, a free digital audio workstation for Apple devices.
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" (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 generally 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 realization 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. BoyWithUke revealed that he kept his identity hidden because he wants people to pay attention to his music and talent and not his looks. In October of 2023, he officially revealed his face and name, Charley Yang.
Psycho
boywithuke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I′m sleep-deprived
Tobi says that I'm the worst of my kind
The voice that trails behind makes me petrified
Thinking I won′t live to see 25
They tell me I should go, go, go, go
They say I have no ho-home, no home
They tell me I'm a psycho, psycho
(Sweatshirt's dirty)
(My friends hurt me)
(My girlfriend is flirting with another dude)
(Tobi tells me that he doesn′t like your attitude)
Throw all this pain, I fear my health
Are you insane? Why are you calling for help?
After all this time we′ve spent together
You really gotta leave me cooped up all to myself?
With all this pain and suffering
I let the raindrops hit my friends
Excuse myself in the kitchen table
I don't have a clue of what you want me to do
They tell me I should go, go, go, go
They say I have no ho-home, no home
They tell me I should go, go, go, go
They tell me I′m a psycho, psycho
The lyrics of boywithuke's song, Psycho, are a poignant reflection of the inner turmoils that someone goes through when they feel like they are isolated from the world around them. The song starts with Tobi, presumably a voice inside the singer's head, telling him lies when he is sleep-deprived, leading him to think that he won't live to see 25. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, where the singer is subject to various forces from the outside world that make him feel like he doesn't have a home or a sense of belonging.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrases, "They tell me I should go, go, go, go / They say I have no ho-home, no home / They tell me I should go, go, go, go / They tell me I'm a psycho, psycho" which shows the repeated messaging that the singer receives from the people around him. Despite all of this, the singer is unable to comprehend what he needs to do to make things right. In a state of mental and emotional distress, he finds solace in his friends and allows himself to feel lost and helpless.
Overall, the lyrics of the song serve as a reminder of how important it is to be kind and compassionate to those around us who might be going through similar situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Tobi tells me lies
Tobi is dishonest with me
When I'm sleep-deprived
I am exhausted and not thinking clearly
Tobi says that I'm the worst of my kind
Tobi believes I am a terrible person
The voice that trails behind makes me petrified
I am scared of the negative self-talk in my head
Thinking I won't live to see 25
I have doubts about my future and worry about dying young
They tell me I should go, go, go, go
Others pressure me to leave my current situation
They say I have no ho-home, no home
Others believe I have no place to go
They tell me I'm a psycho, psycho
Others label me as crazy or unstable
(Sweatshirt's dirty)
I am struggling with the demands of daily life
(My friends hurt me)
My relationships with friends are causing me emotional pain
(My girlfriend is flirting with another dude)
I feel betrayed by my partner's flirting behavior
(Tobi tells me that he doesn't like your attitude)
Tobi disapproves of my behavior
Throw all this pain, I fear my health
I worry about the impact of emotional pain on my physical health
Are you insane? Why are you calling for help?
I am confused and frustrated by others' offers of help
After all this time we've spent together
I feel hurt that my relationship with someone may be ending
You really gotta leave me cooped up all to myself?
I feel lonely and abandoned by others
With all this pain and suffering
I am struggling with significant emotional distress
I let the raindrops hit my friends
I am hurt by my friends' actions and feel like they are letting me down
Excuse myself in the kitchen table
I am withdrawing or avoiding social situations
I don't have a clue of what you want me to do
I am confused by what others expect of me
Writer(s): Charley Yang
Contributed by Alaina E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
w
on Migraine
my fav before i die
w
on King Of Nothing
w song
pooop
on Loafers
boywithuke is only god
pooop
on Toxic
Im drowning because I cant swim, time to eat chocolate and punch wood.
Thatoneuntalentedkid
on Toxic
bro route 9 is so good. i lnow all of boywithukes songs but i like loafers and route 9
Chase
on Haha, Hi
I luv it