by brittany and everly ormiston
photo by joupin ghamsari
Indie-pop singer-songwriter vaultboy creates irresistible tracks that compel listeners to dance their hearts out while also finding comfort in the relatable lyricism. His recent single, “way after forever,” paints the picture of a flawless love story and showcases his mesmerizing vocals. His upcoming body of work/debut album will share the same vulnerability “way after forever” illustrates. vaultboy plans to take this new music out on the road later this year, and into 2024 and beyond. vaultboy may be known for his sad songs, but his ability to uplift others through his gentle spirit and mental health advocacy puts him in an exclusive category all on his own.
It’s been a few weeks now since “way after forever” was released. How has the response been for this track, and was it what you expected?
vaultboy: “The response has been amazing! I really love the song and wanted to do well, but I like to keep my expectations pretty low. That said, people have been responding super well and streaming it like crazy so I'm super grateful!”
“way after forever” has your delicate, yet powerful vocals at the forefront with soft instrumentals and simplistic production accompanying them. Tell us about the creation of this track. Did it differ at all from the creative process of your previous projects?
vaultboy: “The special thing about this song is it started in an old songwriting notebook that I used to write songs in about eight years ago. I had found the notebook, and started the idea, writing about half of the chorus. After that, I finished the song with some friends in LA last fall. On the production side, we just tried to keep it simple and let the song speak for itself.”
The lyric “and if the Earth ends, I'll love you in space” truly makes you believe in love, and cherish the relationships you have. What/who did you think about when recording ‘way after forever’ to effortlessly deliver such an emotional track?
vaultboy: “I wrote the song about a past relationship I had been in that didn't work out. At the time I wasn't quite over it, and instead of writing a sad song about it, I wanted to sing about the relationship as if everything had worked out. For me, the song is kind of like a bittersweet daydream, and I think I had that mindset while recording it as well.”
Your EP, this is what i get, has upbeat tracks with vulnerable lyrics. On the other hand, listening to “way after forever” makes you feel as if you’re floating on air and deep in love. Does this single give listeners a glimpse into your next body of work, and the themes it encompasses? If so, what are a few details you can share?
vaultboy: “I'm working on a lot of new music right now and, honestly, I think some of the songs will catch people off guard a little bit... not in a bad way, I think I'm just growing as an artist right now and trying some new things. That said, people can expect the same vulnerability that ‘way after forever’ encompasses.”
Rolling Stone deemed you as the “king of sad songs.” How does it feel being given this title, and what was your reaction (positive or negative)?
vaultboy: “Obviously, I was over the moon (not to quote my own song lol). To be honest, I was super grateful to be recognized in the first place. Getting that sort of title in addition to the recognition is still insane to me!”
As a mental health advocate, you provide support, hope, and a voice for individuals. What drew you to become an advocate? What are a few coping strategies you utilize frequently to meet your own mental health needs?
vaultboy: “I don't know if I ever really became an ‘advocate’ intentionally. I think through my own struggles and through being there for the people around me it just happened naturally. I'd say I'm a bit more in touch with my emotions than most men, but I find it silly to not be. I cope in a lot of different ways, but for me the best thing I can do when I'm feeling anxious or depressed is to talk to my best friend about it, and give my brain a little active rest and decompress with videos games or something.”
You toured with Nightly this past fall, and completed a headlining tour last month. Describe your experiences, and what are three things you learned while out on the road?
vaultboy: “Playing live and having people sing along is a pretty wild experience. It still doesn't feel real when I think about it. Three things I learned are: You HAVE to actively take care of your voice on tour, every show will happen in the blink of an eye so you have to be present, and alone time is underrated.”
In the past two years, your song “everything sucks” went viral on TikTok, you’ve released several EPs, and toured the country. What do you see on the horizon for vaultboy?
vaultboy: “Well, right now I'm working on my first album. I'm also looking at what my options are for future tours for later this year and 2024. But hopefully, the horizon is all good times and a LOT more music!”
