vaultboy
Is Anything But A "disaster" in His Newest Release
By Bailey Meyers and Ken Tse
ARTIST Q&A
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ARTIST Q&A 〰️
Nearly one year has passed since Rolling Stone Magazine proclaimed internet-native vaultboy as the “King of Sad Songs.” The title, while taking exception to his cheery 2021 TikTok hit “everything sucks”, is one that holds true following the release of his latest single “disaster.” The song was created in true vaultboy fashion, birthed from a series on his YouTube channel, the “77-minute songwriting challenge.” Masterfully conveying how past pain and trauma can lead to a broken and unmendable relationship, “disaster” demonstrates the impressive commitment of the artist to put out dynamic, meaningful music. We recently spoke to vaultboy about his recent single, “Disaster”, his relationship with social media, and his artistic process when posting and producing.
Hey, vaultboy! Thanks so much for speaking with us, and congrats on the release of “Disaster”! What did your creative process look like in making the song?
Thank you so much! The creative process for this song was interesting because it was the first in a series I do on YouTube called the “77-minute songwriting challenge”. I started with the single word ‘disaster’ and the writing came fairly easily. That isn’t always the case, but I think we’ve all had someone in our lives that we could call a disaster, and lyrics always come faster when they’re from experience.
“Disaster” talks about pain in another person. Can you tell us any personal context of the song?
The person I had in mind when I was writing it was actually the partner of someone close to me. She inflicted a lot of damage, and a lot that stemmed from her own pain/trauma.
What is one message that you want listeners to take away from the track?
Don’t let your own pain reflect onto your relationships!
1.3m followers on TikTok, and you’ve been live-streaming since 2018— how would you describe your relationship with the internet and social media?
A disaster… just kidding! Honestly, it has its ups and downs on my mental health, but overall it’s been extremely important in getting me to the place I’m at. Wouldn’t trade it, but I’m always looking to have healthier habits with the internet.
Has your success in both mediums affected the way you make music at all? How so?
About a year ago I would’ve said yes, but on any given day, I find myself chasing a good song for the same reasons: to understand my emotions and process my feelings. In the moment, I often wonder if a specific line might do well on TikTok, but it rarely will change my opinion on a good lyric.
Are there ever any nerves before releasing a song? How do you know when a song is finished?
Lots and lots of nerves. I find myself trying to disconnect a bit more around releases recently. Honestly, sometimes it feels like a song is never finished, so you just make the call at some point, and then hope everyone enjoys it!
You tease a lot of snippets on TikTok. How do you decide which ones to turn into full songs?
Part of me just looks to see what goes viral, but honestly, I’ll finish a song even if it doesn’t. The biggest thing for me is: do I love the song, does it make me feel things, and does it feel important to put into the world.
Did you always want to be a musician? In another universe, what profession would you take on and why?
I’ve wanted to be a singer since I was a little kid, but if I wasn’t I always loved the idea of being some type of scientist.
You’ve already worked with names like gnash, eric nam, and Sarah Barrios. What’s been the most valuable thing you’ve learned from a collaborator?
I didn’t learn this from anyone in particular, but collaborating has taught me that some of the best art comes from working with people who see things differently than you do.
What are your plans for the rest of 2022?
Lots of more new music, and I just announced my first tour supporting New Hope Club! Super excited to get on the road and finally meet some of my fans!