Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Sally Boy announces his signing to Loud Robot/RCA Records today. In celebration of the announcement, he released his new track and music video “Bad Habits” which is the third track to be released this summer and will be featured on his forthcoming EP Lies I Tell Myself coming later this year.
“I’ve been keeping touch with my younger self the past few months and he’s hyped. This is what we wanted way back when I started making music, so it’s surreal to say I’m a signed artist. I’m ecstatic to work with a label like Loud Robot/RCA that can keep stride with my hyperactive energy — I’m glad we’re doing it together :)”
Additionally, Sally Boy is excited to announce the second season of his variety show The Sally Boy Show. The 4 episode season will showcase a mix of talent from the singer/songwriter as he performs, writes and directs the musical performances, comedy sketches, monologues and more.
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
I mean to be honest that would be a long and boring answer if I really broke it down. This project has been a minute in the making so there’s just too much to get into. However to keep it jolly rancher, this project is the byproduct of learning to get better at being myself and figuring out what’s best for me. Have I figured it out? no. Do I really know how to be myself? By no means. But I’m getting there and this project is just my latest achievement in understanding myself.
How would you describe the highs and lows of being an artist?
They range from, I am a god and no one makes shit like me or ever will, to, maybe I should consider a different profession. Theres no telling which one I’ll get any given day and I’m still tryna figure out how to trigger the former rather than the latter.
What’s a musical guilty pleasure of yours?
I guess like early 2000’s music and John Mayer? Can’t look me dead in the eyes and say “Burning Up Doesn’t Knock” cause you’re lying. I know it and you do too. Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers had the industry on lock and it should have never changed. But that’s not a guilty pleasure cause I’m not guilty of that. It’s pure pleasure.
What are some sources of inspiration for you?
My friends tend to inspire me the most. I think they make the best music ever and it inspires me that they want to make music with me cause i’m like really? Y’all be doin all that and still wanna spend time on my music? dope.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
Any artist who just says and does what’s on their mind. Tyler, Bowie, Kanye, Gaga. They give absolutely no fucks. Do you know how hard it is to just not care what other people think especially when you have that many people ingesting and creating opinions on you and your art? Man that’s something special for real.
Favorite activity to blow off some steam?
Probably video games or playin basketball. The caveat though is that if I lose it just creates more steam. I hate losing so much. Miss me with that.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
I wrote this song Bad Habits in one night a minute ago right after I finished the EREZ EP and just got in and banged it out. Most of what you hear in the final product is what ended up in the world. Basically I just wanted to write a song that exemplified the way I handle my harmful tendencies which is by joking about them and making them charming lil off the cuff remarks. So ya that’s the whole story bang.
What are some things you do to deal with anxiety and creative blocks?
Read, go on walks, put my phone away and be a human for once in my life. So much anxiety is created by my phone and numbers and engagement that when I put it down and go outside and see people I’m like wow im such a fucking idiot. Why am I trippin over trivial shit? You make good music now, hold yourself like that and I don’t worry about the popularity contest that is the internet. I guess I’ve answered both what I do and what causes my anxiety. Oops. I ramble.
What’s the future looking like for you?
Beautiful, full of opportunity, exciting. Who knows forreal, I just choose to believe that I’m doing the right thing and will be rewarded for it. Whether that’s career or just in my life with the wonderful people that surround me. Hopefully a vespa I’m tryna scoot my cute ass round town.
What inspires your visuals, videos, looks etc?
The song. It all comes back to the song for me. Whenever I sit down and concin myeptualize a video or cover art for a song I just explain in detail what the song meant to me and provide references, whether that’s screenshots, emotions, phrases, a little poem I wrote/read. I know that videos and cover art are not my specialty so I try to put the person in charge, in my state of mind, in order to best display how the energy of the video should feel.
What is the most embarrassing memory and most proud moment of your career so far ?
I have a horrible memory (blessing and curse) so let me ponder this momentarily.
I think it’s funny that I’m telling you I’m pondering when I could literally just step away from my computer for like 5 minutes and ponder and not tell you that.
Most Embarrassing: Before Sally Boy when I played a show to a room full of old Chinese kids who were visiting American schools for a week. They just did not get down and I also played in a lecture hall. All around uncomfortable.
Most Proud: Facetiming with my parents when I signed my first deal. Very cool stuff.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Again bad memory so I won’t remember any exact words but just being reminded to have fun with music is always important. Also to be good to your team.
I don’t have a mentor or anything so it’s not like I be getting consistent advice or mantras drilled into me. If you know any mentors out there, hit my line that’d be cool.
Where do you think the music and entertainment industry is headed after this past year?
I mean its hard to say really cause there’s parts of it that are just so UGH disgusting poopoo lame. But there’s other aspects that are quite exciting.
I think most of the music coming out and being made is really good, I’m a huge fan. It’s fresh and unique, the culmination of people being inside and honing their craft.
But also like I said earlier it’s becoming a popularity contest. The accessibility of music is a wonderful thing, and has opened the door for music on the whole, but over quarantine the only way to break music was to become big over the internet…and a lot of people did. Which is good but also prioritizes the person over the music sometimes. I’m not complaining I be getting listeners from tik tok or whatever. I don’t know how the industry is gonna turn out just that it’s always gonna be a dumpster fire.
