BoyWithUke | Final Album as BoyWithUke, Retiring the Mask, Toxic

BoyWithUke, whose real name is Chandel, discusses retiring the persona and mask that defined his music career. He reveals that the persona became a hindrance, leading to a loss of identity and hindering his artistic growth. Ultimately, he aims to pursue a more authentic musical journey as Chandel, embracing new sounds and styles while acknowledging the importance of his past work.

Name Change & Assimilation

• 00:00:28 Chandel explains that his legal name was originally the English spelling of his Korean name. Due to bullying in middle school and his parents' desire for him to have a more recognizable name for job applications, he adopted the name Charlie. This discussion highlights the pressures of assimilation and the impact of cultural identity on societal expectations.

BoyWithUke Persona

• 00:03:09 BoyWithUke was originally conceived as a protective persona, but it eventually became a barrier to Zach's true self. He reveals that the persona became detached from his true identity, limiting his creativity and leading to a feeling of losing himself in the character. This discussion shows how the persona hindered his artistic expression and personal growth.

Songwriting Process

• 00:06:37 Zach explains that his early songwriting involved a focus on catchy rhymes and simple chord progressions, particularly after the success of 'Toxic'. He reveals that the label encouraged this formulaic approach to maximize numbers and success. He notes that many of the lyrics were written to fulfill this formula, not necessarily to reflect his own feelings or ideas.

Retiring BoyWithUke

• 00:11:36 Zach announces the final BoyWithUke album, 'Burnout'. He feels that the persona and the music no longer aligned with his evolving artistic vision. He emphasizes a desire to pursue music that is more authentic to himself, free from constraints and expectations associated with BoyWithUke. Zach plans to start a new project as Chandel, moving on from the mask and persona.

Future as Chandel

• 00:15:59 Zach is eager to embark on a new musical journey as Chandel, free from the limitations of the BoyWithUke persona. He acknowledges the success achieved with BoyWithUke and is grateful for the opportunities it provided, but he seeks to create music that is more true to his current self. Chandel anticipates creating meaningful and experimental music while exploring new genres and sounds.