In case you missed it, Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus are back with new boygenius songs (officially) for the first time since 2018. boygenius is a supergroup these three indie rockers and friends formed in 2018 when the friends decided to embark on a tour together. What was originally supposed to be one song the trio could perform on stage together morphed into the boygenius EP released in 2018. Now, almost 5 years later, the group is officially reuniting for an album that releases in March of this year. In honor of that, here is why we shall stan boygenius forever and always.
As young female artists on the indie rock scene, Dacus, Bridgers, and Baker ran in the same circles, with Dacus and Bridgers even opening for Baker on two separate tours in 2016. The three would always complain about being compared in the industry, despite having very different sounds. Instead of letting the media pit them against each other, they became fast friends. In 2018, they all co-headlined a tour and decided to collaborate on a song to perform together. Instead of one song, the three artists kept writing and the 2018 EP, boygenius was birthed and lives were changed. On songs like “Ketchum” and “ID,” they showed how beautifully their voices and unique vocals could blend. They proved how masterful their lyrical skills were in each and every song. With one six-song EP, the group whose formation was a bit accidental cemented their place as an indie rock staple in the hearts of listeners.
However, as the years went on, no new official boygenius music was released. Dacus, Bridgers, and Baker would occasionally accompany each other on performances or feature on their tracks (one of my personal favorites being Baker and Dacus joining Bridgers on “Graceland Too”). In 2020, the group released some demos to raise some money for charity, but there was no news on official music. Flash forward to January 18, 2023, the group announced their first full-length album with three singles, “$20,” “Emily, I’m Sorry,” and “True Blue.” The songs showcased how the artists had all grown over the years, with elements of their developed vocals and songwriting shining through the same enchanting allure they had back in 2018.
What makes boygenius so special to me is that the listener can see how everything they do is a product of passion and love. Each song is so unique and special because the three artists just allow the music to take them wherever it wants. The listening experience is a journey and one that I would absolutely recommend. One of my favorite stories about the origins of the group comes from its name. Lucy Dacus mentioned how so often in the music field, women second guess their work, saying things like “I don’t know if this is good or not,” and other phrases. She then explained how so many male artists come into the studio and never second guess their work, as no one tried to belittle their music or writing when they were younger; they were just declared “geniuses.” boygenius is the epitome of this idea — follow every thought, no matter how silly it may seem, because something wonderful is going to come out in some way. The Record is out March 31, 2023, and if you haven’t listened to their music yet, I’d check it out!