BoyWithUke is a Korean-American alt-pop singer, musician and internet personality who hides his appearance. He rose to popularity on the online platform TikTok with his singles "Toxic" (2021) and "Understand" (2022), and has become one of the most popular faceless artists on the platform. He is currently signed to 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. 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 a 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.

, he has seven million followers on TikTok and almost two hundred thousand streams in the United States, according to Luminate Data.

2023–present: Antisocial 
BoyWithUke his extended play Antisocial on February 24, 2023. It contains three songs, including the 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 in a Roblox concert which also featured "Toxic", and "IDGAF".

BoyWithUke later released "Trauma" as a single on August 4, 2023.

Artistry 
BoyWithUke wears an opaque face shield with two large LED lights 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) and "Understand"

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 focuses on realization and generally more positive values, while still having occasional references to the importance of its predecessors.

Personal life 
BoyWithUke keeps most of his personal life private. During his performance in Seoul Jazz Festival, he claimed that he was born in Daegu. 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 and still keeps his identity hidden because he wants people to pay attention to the music and talent and not his looks.

Discography

Albums

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

Singles

Awards and nominations

Notes

References 

Alternative pop musicians
21st-century American singers
Pseudonymous artists

2002 births
Living people