"Burnout" is BoyWithUke's newest album, filled with tracks that deal with themes of heartbreak, self-sabotage, and mental health. With resonant vocals, and a genre-blending style, these alternative pop tracks feature rap, rock, and electronic influences that bring power to the lyrics.
TRACKLIST
Can You Feel It?
Burn
Ghost
Gaslight
Stranger
Backseat
Coffee
Paper Planes
Petrichor
Pitfall
Corduroy
Love Lost
Easier
Change
BoyWithUke is a Korean-American musician whose gentle vocals, introspective lyricism, and ukulele-heavy instrumentals make up his distinctive style. The singer himself is named Charley Yang, but his musical moniker is far more fitting for his engaging talents. With a catchy, recognizable sound, BoyWithUke's music resonated with a wider audience through social media platforms, starting with TikTok. His songs have hundreds of millions of streams, and he has over six million monthly listeners on Spotify. Having performed on stages across the globe, he is no stranger to sharing his immersive alternative pop sound with the world, and is currently touring "Burnout" through Europe, Asia, Australia, and America.
Can You Feel It?
The album starts off strong with an immersive dive into a rushing mind with this fast-paced track that uses introspection to capture the frustrations, fears, and glories of life after love. It's an impossible situation to be in, knowing someone you love is living their life without you, and this track is a glorious expression of all the possible paths of identity struggles and self-destruction that can come from being on your own after a breakup. Slow piano opens the song as an intense pulsing of electronic vocals support a cool dark pop atmosphere. BoyWithUke's vocals come in with a melodic, fast-paced cross between rap and singing. The lyrics will have you spinning down the spiral of uncertainty when it comes to a relationship, with words like "tell me what you're thinking, I don't wanna have to shout." In an unfiltered and open look at the tendencies we crawl towards when life gets messy, track will have you captivated with the dizzying truths of coping with reality. Messages of perseverance and pain are punctuated by bass-heavy electronic instrumentals and energizing percussion. This passionate song will having feeling exhilarated from the dark places it takes you.
Burn
The second track in this album is a genre-blending anthem of letting go of a relationship. The instrumentals gain power with their dynamic and changing style over the coarse of the song, starting with the glowing sound of a keyboard melody and a loud and forceful percussive pulse alongside BoyWithUke's high and atmospheric vocals. An ominous, almost haunting high electronic pattern joins the mix and the title is shouted in a boldly distorted way that amps up the emotion in the tune as all the instrumentals layer together bringing a rock element to the sound. With a vocal swagger reminiscent of Milky Chance, the verses delve into reflective thoughts that seek a calm within the emotional storm. Lyrics like "I sold my soul for a cease fire" demonstrate the emotional turmoil that feels like sacrifice in the nuances of relationships. Ultimately, this powerful song carries a sound of movement while its lyrics take on emotional exhaustion that comes after the end of a passionate love.
Ghost
The third track of this album is a song for the romantics, filled with messages of longing and a blend of intimate and catchy musical expression. With nostalgia, resonant guitar and ambient instrumentals the verses take us down a love-struck road of memories through slow and intentional singing. Speeding up with some of BoyWithUke's iconic speak-singing charm, the song moves through metaphors and meanings of material things in comparison to love on an expressive and captivating journey. The chorus is an open exploration of what could have been, complete with layered high and deep vocals, mood-setting percussion and lyrics like "I wanted to hold you in hopeless romance." Showing off the depth of BoyWithUke's vocal range, his singing dives into vulnerable depths, then the song speeds up and overlaps the array of vocals and instrumentals with a captivating build. Emotion moves through every part of this song, through its confessional and explorational sound.
Gaslight
Guitar opens the track before BoyWithUke's high and narrative vocals with a bright and gentle sound to set the scene of toxic connection before intense, reverberating guitar brings a darkness to the tune, matching the rest of the song with a dark pop-rock sound to support the intense and heart-wrenching message. Through belting out the truths of how his ex treated him to powerful instrumentals, the song takes a turn and it feels like the speaker is lifting a weight off of his chest with this passionate expression. Lyrics like "you can keep all of our friend since at least I know my worth" represent the journey of healing that the speaker takes by understanding that he deserves kindness. The words slide in cheeky notes of revenge and as the tune softens out, bringing a calm acceptance to the end of the track. In a cathartic and powerful representation of moving on, "Gaslight" will empower you to release your frustrations.
Stranger
Percussive acoustic guitar-picking and BoyWithUke's self-assured vocals will capture your attention in this observational track about a mysterious woman. Taking listeners through an enticing encounter, the song is a captivating exploration of storytelling. Energizing percussion and the tantalizing tone of the song will wrap you up in the excitement of exploring someone new, with words like "she's just a stranger but it seems as if she doesn't want to be". Low, jazzy keyboard and soft vocalizing punctuate the invigorating preposition that the song makes, with bold words like "tell me what you want". Honest about the vices that make you feel good, the lyrics darkly descend down spirals of drugs and sex with mentions of who the speaker is and how he got to that point. Enjoy the titillating sound of intimacy and zesty dark pop mood in "Stranger".
Backseat
When you take a look at where you are in life, sometimes you realize it's best to simply dive into your desires. This song will have you feeling the thrill of risk with its acoustic guitar opening that becomes heavy electric, and BoyWithUke's whirlwind vocals that take you on a speedy trip through feelings of confusion. Gaining a rock-like vocal distortion, the lyrics get in their head about the possibilities of a potentially romantic situation before the song smooths out to a cool sound that matches the spontaneous physical connection that emerges in the lyrics. Messages like "teach me how to move, baby" will give you a thrill as the song acknowledges the benefit of enjoying what makes you happy in the moment, even if it won't last.
Coffee
A gentle mix of guitar and vocals coast in the comfort of "Coffee" through introspective lyrics that take on the confusing uncertainty in experiencing emotions. Unsure how to read a woman's actions, the speaker of the track goes down a thought-spiral of self. The lyrics describe how the speaker feels out of place in the way they think and the things they do, with relatable hopes of fitting in shining through lyrics like "Googling how to be normal in high school." The track moves from mellow singing to a down-to-Earth rap interlude that develops a more conversational and slow feel and deals with very real fears and struggles with identity. An ambient delve into dark vocals brings a wise perspective on existence before electronic instrumentals switch up the tone of the song to a dark pop haze, feeling a little lost and ending with the words "calling out for anyone, but probably Mom." For anyone who struggles with understanding people and yourself, this song will make you feel heard.
Paper Planes
This next track uses a pop rock sound to explore ego, mental health, and relationships. From getting caught up in fame to struggling with internal experiences, this song admits to flaws and explains the way the speaker's perception works with lyrics like "I listen for the birds in silence, but I can only hear war planes." Bold imagery in the song's meaning show a hope for a peaceful mind though the truth is that isn't the speaker's reality. Violent suppositions increase the feeling of a relationship disconnect, on top of lyrics like "I don't know who you are to me." Percussion, expressive guitar, and BoyWithUke's high vocals will immerse you in the dizzying journey of self and reflection in this track. Hauntingly vulnerable and beautifully raw, "Paper Planes" is the type of song that will leave you lost in thought.
Petrichor
A gentle experience of existence and nostalgia works through the soft sound of this track. A mix of natural imagery and self-doubt come from the lyrics while a desire for a healthy mind is clear throughout the song. Glowing guitar and BoyWithUke's somber, reflective vocals create a nostalgic sound of longing while words like "if only I were smart enough to know what's good for me" express the hopelessness that so many of us feel when it comes to making decisions. Life doesn't come with a rulebook to follow, so when you're living, there's a looming truth that mistakes can happen. This moving track grapples with that part of existence, dwelling on the past and different relationships and things that could have been.
Pitfall
A speedy, dynamic, and entrancing acoustic guitar fingerpicking bring a beautiful start to this self-reflective track. Seeking clarity and a release, this song takes on difficult ideas from dreams and memories. The speaker feels suffocated by his reality, and an intense guitar-heavy instrumental sound drives the severity of the emotion into the tune. Learning to embrace the person he is, the speaker hopes to find love and a way to move beyond the emotional bounds that hold him back. With extreme pressure acting as a starting point for the race of confusing emotions the speaker feels, the lyrics say "I wanted to be everything you want me to be". Electronic instrumentals and a mind-bending musical experience will captivate you in this introspective deep dive.
Corduroy
The little things that we let slide on the surface can really affect us deep down, and "Corduroy" is a testament to that. With lyrics that span topics of morbidity, exhaustion, and traumatizing memories, this song deals with mental illness in an open and honest way. Painfully expressive, soft vocals work throughout the song, accompanied by acoustic guitar. There's a clear emotional weight carried through the words and BoyWithUke's voice delves into passionate lows in a confession of the way he feels. Words like "I can't imagine what it's like to live with certainty" are powerfully bold as they convey the difficult instability that makes life a struggle. Craving safety and security, the song deals with contemplating suicide, before the idea of people and experiences pull the speaker towards continuing on with life. I cried with the words of this song as it delivers the truly impactful message that everyone has pain, and you don't know what people are going through.
Love Lost
The next track in the album is about self-sabotage, taking listeners into a relationship. The speaker jumps into a new experience, moving with his partner, then the song dives into the fear as he abandons the life they made. Guitar, percussion, and BoyWithUke's vocalizing bring a somber tone to this song. Mourning music, possessions, and memories that are twinged with sadness due to the end of the relationship, the lyrics tinker around the truth behind the speaker's leaving. The song merely expresses negativity towards the connection he once had, saying "my home is now my grave." Moving onto a downward spiral with poor decisions and chaos, this track is a window into the speaker's self-destructive coping skills. Throaty vocal interludes and a building instrumental power embolden the lyrics' pain and self-loathing. Darkened with feelings of regret, this devastating track will take you into the heart-breaking story of the speaker.
Easier
Regrets and romantic nostalgia come through this emotional song.
Gentle guitar strumming brings a pretty sense of calm to the opening of the tune before BoyWithUke's remorseful vocals begin. Explaining how he killed every part of their relationship, the lyrics admit to their mistakes with a blend of singing and speaking that carry a sound of regret. Wishing he could erase their relationship from existence as a solution to the pain he feels, the speaker's words are soaked with regret. A hazy shift in the sound comes from electronic instrumentals and deep, distorted vocals create an interesting sound of relief and confusion. Instrumentals blend in a loud and emotional array of strings, guitar, piano, and more.
Change
Ending the album on a more uplifting note, this song beautifully emphasizes growth and open communication. Unlike the other tracks on this album, "Change" shows the speaker making healthy choices. Instead of pulling back from a relationship, the speaker is present and eager to work things out, even repeating the lyrics "don't run away, we'll be okay". Warm guitar and BoyWithUke's gentle vocals nourish the pure optimism in this song, with its speaker offering to connect while aiming to give their partner the chance to choose how she wants their interactions to be. A cool instrumental interlude of electronic distortion and invigorating percussion add texture to the track before the delicate acoustic guitar closes off the song with a sound of warmth. Comfort and happiness will warm your heart in this uplifting tune of connection.
An incredible dive into introspection, "Burnout" is an album that doesn't shy away from the difficult truths of life. With an alternative pop sound throughout the songs in this collection, a dark and emotional musical exploration is in store for listeners as they experience the highs of basking in vices and the lows of pushing people away. Dynamic electronic and acoustic instrumentals create an intense storytelling throughout the tracks, acting as a wordless voicing of emotion that compliments the lyrics. The songs themselves touch on truly dark themes of self-sabotage, mental illness, and struggles with relationships. With lyrics that emphasize the heart-wrenching vulnerability in the songs, these tracks are comforting in their honesty. Through a rollercoaster of emotion, the album ends on a high note which allows listeners to reflect on all the songs and the growth that can emerge from their emotional messages. Check out the link below to explore BoyWithUke's music.
Written By Hanna Kowal
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