Boygenius

Boygenius is an American indie rock supergroup formed by singer-songwriters Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus. The group officially debuted in 2018 with their self-titled EP. The formation of the group was described as accidental, stemming from mutual admiration and friendship among the three artists who had previously toured together. They decided to book a co-headlining tour in early 2018 and initially planned to record a single for their performances. However, during a four-day recording session, they found themselves with an abundance of ideas, leading to the creation of their debut EP. This EP, titled “Boygenius,” was written, recorded, and self-produced predominantly by women, a deliberate choice to foster a collaborative environment free from traditional industry pressures. The EP received widespread acclaim, with NPR Music naming it the 12th best album of 2018, despite it being an EP. Their subsequent tour included performances across the U.S., a spot on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” and a Tiny Desk Concert.

Following their initial EP, the members of Boygenius continued to collaborate on various projects while also focusing on their individual solo careers. In 2020, they contributed to Hayley Williams’ EP “Petals for Armor II” and provided backing vocals on each other’s solo albums, including Bridgers’ Grammy-nominated “Punisher,” Baker’s “Little Oblivions,” and Dacus’s “Home Video.” These collaborations, recorded on the same day, maintained the collaborative spirit of their initial EP. In July 2020, they released demos from their “Boygenius” EP sessions on Bandcamp, raising over $23,000 for charitable organizations. After occasional surprise appearances on each other’s tours, they performed their first full show together since 2018 in November 2021.

In January 2022, Boygenius recorded their debut studio album, “The Record,” at Shangri-La in Malibu, California. The album was announced in January 2023 with a release date of March 31, 2023. It included three singles: “$20,” “Emily I’m Sorry,” and “True Blue,” all featuring music videos directed by Kristen Stewart. “The Record” achieved significant critical and commercial success, topping charts in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and reaching number four on the U.S. Billboard 200. The album earned the group three Grammy Awards and one Brit Award. They embarked on “The Tour” in 2023, featuring special guests such as Carly Rae Jepsen and Broken Social Scene, and later released their second EP, “The Rest,” in October 2023. The group made a notable appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in November 2023 before announcing an indefinite hiatus in February 2024, following their Grammy wins.