July 30, 2025 • 19 mins
Malcolm Todd emerges as a captivating artist whose journey from a bedroom producer to a viral sensation epitomizes the complexities of young adulthood in contemporary society. The discourse delves into his meteoric rise, revealing how he transformed personal experiences and artistic exploration into a powerful connection with his audience. We examine the multifaceted influences that shaped his upbringing, from familial ties to the arts to the pandemic's impact on his creative output. In our analysis, we dissect his distinctive sound, characterized by an innovative blend of indie pop and R&B, as well as his willingness to embrace unconventional chord progressions. Ultimately, this episode serves as a profound exploration of authenticity in artistry, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own journeys amid the evolving landscape of success.
Who is
Welcome back to StageVibes, where we spotlight the next wave of musical talent making noise across the globe. Today’s feature is a voice you’ll be hearing a lot more of – Malcolm Todd.
Hailing from Los Angeles, Malcolm Todd brings a fresh blend of indie pop and R&B that feels both nostalgic and new. His witty lyrics, smooth delivery, and bedroom-produced vibe first captured attention with viral hits like Art House and Roommates. But in 2025, he took it to the next level.
With his self-titled debut album dropping earlier this year and the breakout single Chest Pain (I Love) charting across the U.S., Malcolm isn’t just buzzing – he’s booming. His sound speaks to a generation stuck between romantic chaos and self-discovery.
Stick around as we unpack the rise of Malcolm Todd – the charisma, the stories, and the sound of an artist who’s clearly just getting started.
The discussion centers on the burgeoning artist Malcolm Todd, whose ascension within the music industry has been nothing short of meteoric. Born in Los Angeles on September 15, 2003, Todd's upbringing was steeped in creative influences, with a father who was a television scriptwriter and a mother involved in musical theater. This familial backdrop not only nurtured his artistic inclinations but also provided him with a unique toolkit for storytelling through music. The hosts dissect his journey from a bedroom producer to a viral sensation, emphasizing the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which catalyzed his songwriting endeavors. His initial releases, particularly the EP 'Demos Before Prom,' garnered attention for their authenticity and self-sufficiency, setting the stage for his subsequent singles and a record deal with Columbia Records. The conversation elucidates Todd's philosophical approach to music-making, where artistry serves as a conduit for self-exploration rather than merely a means to fame.
Takeaways:
- Malcolm Todd's ascent from a bedroom producer to a viral sensation exemplifies the power of authenticity in music.
- The influence of his family's creative background significantly shaped his artistic development and storytelling abilities.
- His unique sound combines elements of indie pop and R&B, showcasing a distinctiveness that resonates deeply with listeners.
- Through his music, Todd articulates the complexities of young adulthood, transforming personal experiences into relatable art.
- The artist's commitment to authenticity and self-discovery is reflected in his deliberate choice of lyrics and sound.
- Malcolm Todd's journey underscores a modern narrative of success, emphasizing the importance of individuality in the evolving music landscape.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Columbia Records
- Cold Sun Creamery
- Omar Apollo
- Steve Lacy
- Gracie Abrams
- Jack Harlow
- Harry Daniels
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Who is Malcolm Todd?
It's a question you might behearing a lot lately, popping up
everywhere from, you know,your streaming playlist to major
festival lineups.
Right.
He's this really captivatingartist who's just exploded onto the
scene.
Totally exploded.
We're talking about someonewho went from, like, a bedroom producer
making music literally in hisown space to a viral sensation with
(00:22):
millions of listeners.
And his whole story isn't justabout the music itself, though.
The music is fantastic.
It's also about figuring outyoung adulthood.
Like navigating your 20s today.
All through his art.
Yeah, that whole messy,exciting, confusing time.
Exactly.
And that's really what we wantto do here in this deep dive.
Our mission is to, you know,cut through all the chatter and give
(00:44):
you a shortcut to reallyunderstanding Malcolm Todd.
Okay.
We've pulled together the keyinfo, found some surprising details,
and we want to give you thecontext behind his.
Well, honestly, his meteoric rise.
So by the end of this, you'llknow the deal.
Yeah.
You'll be properly informed.
You get a real sense of anartist who's not taking the usual
path, who's all aboutauthenticity, and who's finding his
(01:06):
own voice in a way that reallyseems to be connecting with people.
Okay, let's get into it.
We have to start at the beginning.
Right.
The early days.
Absolutely.
Gotta trace it back.
So Malcolm Todd Hobert, bornSeptember 15, 2003, out in Los Angeles,
California.
And it sounds like creativitywas just in the water in his house.
It really seems that way.
(01:26):
His dad, Tim Hobert, was a TVscript writer.
He actually worked on theMiddle, that sitcom.
Oh, wow.
The Middle.
Yeah.
Great show.
Right.
And apparently little MalcolmTodd even had a cameo once playing
a baseball player.
No way.
That's amazing.
And his mom, she was involvedin musical theater.
So you've got writing,narrative, performance, music.
(01:47):
It's all swirling around.
That's a serious creative foundation.
Like understanding story fromhis dad and music and performance
from his mom.
Exactly.
It's this dual influence.
He's not just growing upliking art.
He's immersed in the mechanicsof storytelling, both spoken and
sung.
How do you think that specificmix, you know, the TV writing and
the musical theater, mighthave shaped his songwriting, specifically,
(02:10):
beyond just making him musical.
That's a great question.
I think it probably gave himan innate sense of, like, structure
and emotional pacing.
Yeah.
Maybe from his dad, he got howto convey feeling in a simple line,
you know, like dialogue.
And from the musical theaterside, how melody and chords can actually
carry the story, how theybuild Emotions like, he got this
(02:32):
toolkit for weaving narrativeand feeling together in a pop song
format.
Makes sense.
And the family connectiondoesn't stop there.
Right.
His sister, Audrey Hobert.
Yeah, she's also in the mix.
She's best friends with Gracie Abrams.
Right.
And didn't she work onGracie's album, the Secret of Us?
She did songwriting,background vocals, and she directs
music videos too.
Yeah.
So it's like this wholeecosystem of creativity around him
(02:55):
must have been super nurturing.
Definitely.
So where did his personalmusic journey start?
Well, the initial sparkapparently came from his mom introducing
him to Broadway stuff.
Those classic show tunes.
Ah, interesting.
So melody and drama right fromthe start.
Exactly.
But his own thing reallykicked off in high school.
Yeah.
Sophomore year, he grabs aguitar, starts playing at parties,
(03:19):
you know, figuring things out.
The classic high school bandexperience, pretty much.
But then Covid hits the pandemic.
And, like, for a lot ofcreative people, that isolation period
became, well, really productive.
Yeah.
A time to focus inward.
That's when he really startedwriting his own songs seriously,
turning all that uncertaintyinto, you know, art.
(03:41):
And that led to his first release.
Yep.
His first EP Demos BeforeProm, came out May 15, 2022.
And the amazing thing is thesewere songs he wrote and produced
himself while he was still inhigh school during that pandemic
time.
Oh, self sufficient from theget go.
Totally.
And they started gettingnoticed in 2022.
You could hear somethingspecial was brewing there.
(04:02):
Okay, and this is where thatinteresting tactic comes in, right?
Yeah, the slightly mischievouspart, to get attention.
Early on, he apparentlyclaimed some of his first songs were
unreleased Steve Lacy tracks.
That is bold, but also kind ofbrilliant in a guerrilla marketing
way.
It really was.
It shows he had this earlyinstinct for, like, how to cut through
(04:22):
the noise online.
It got people listening, whichwas the whole point.
A risky move, but it worked.
Definitely memorable.
So after demos before prom, hekept going independently.
Put out another EP calledShower Shoes in March 2023.
Just building his sound, doinghis thing, mostly from home.
And all this time was musichis only focus?
Not quite yet.
(04:42):
This part's really relatable.
Before music took overcompletely, he was actually working
part time at Cold Sun Creamery.
No way.
Skipping ice cream.
Yep.
While also studying musicproduction at the University of Oregon.
It's such a great contrast.
Right.
The everyday job and this hugetalent just waiting to break through
grounds him totally.
It makes the next part even crazier.
The breakthrough moment.
Oh, yeah.
(05:03):
2023, his single art Housejust absolutely explodes on TikTok
goes completely Viral?
Like overnight sensation kindof viral?
Pretty much.
His monthly listeners wentfrom, you know, manageable numbers
into the millions.
Suddenly his sound waseverywhere on the app.
People making videos, dances.
It just connected, that Gen Z connection.
(05:25):
The authenticity.
Exactly.
It showed his sound wasn'tjust good, it was resonating deeply
with what people wanted to hear.
It turned him from thispromising indie kid into a real force.
And art house wasn't the onlyone gaining steam.
Right?
No.
Roommates was also getting alot of attention.
All this organic buzz online.
Well, it got noticed by the industry.
Columbia Records.
(05:45):
Yep.
An executive there heard whatwas happening, saw the numbers, heard
the music and signed them.
Just like that.
The kid making demos andworking at Coldstone is on a major
label.
Incredible.
The power of the Internet,right there.
It really is.
And he didn't waste any timetranslating that online buzz to the
real world.
His first proper live show wassold out.
(06:06):
Where was that?
At Winston house in Venice, La.
July 2023.
To go from TikTok fame to asold out debut show that quickly,
it proved the connection wasreal, not just digital hype.
Wow, what a ride.
So okay, he's blown up, he'ssigned, he's playing live shows.
What kind of artist is heactually becoming through all this?
Let's dig into his philosophy.
(06:27):
Right.
Because it's clear music isn'tjust his job, it's deeper than that.
He talks about it not being anall defining trait.
Like it doesn't box him in.
Instead he sees it as a way tofigure himself out.
Like a tool for self discovery.
Yeah, exactly.
An ongoing process.
And he wants to share thatjourney, the figuring it out part,
with his audience.
(06:48):
Each song is like another stepin understanding who he is.
That's really interesting.
So whether he's on stage or inthe studio, the music itself, the
keyboards, the drums, thebass, it's all part of that exploration.
Totally.
He uses the sounds, the highsand lows, to explore his identity.
It's his really deep linkbetween his creative work and his
personal growth.
Like his music is a diary youcan dance to.
(07:10):
Huh.
I like that.
And this ties into how heapproaches being in his 20s.
Right.
Which can be a really weird,insecure time for a lot of people.
Yeah.
He seems to be tackling itdifferently with, as he puts it,
whimsy, youth in mind andmusic guiding the way he's trying
to avoid that typicalinsecurity trap.
Choosing playfulness insteadof right and trying.
To be really present andinstinctual in what he does.
(07:32):
He actively tries not to beoverly Influenced by, you know, trends
or expectations.
So it's about what feels rightto him right now.
Exactly what Malcolm wouldwant to do right now.
That commitment to just beinghimself is pretty refreshing, especially
in the music industry.
You really see that comethrough, don't you?
Like that sign at Austin City Limits?
(07:54):
Oh, yeah.
That was brilliant.
On the big screen at acl, itjust said, Malcolm Todd and his band
had a sleepover last night andtalked about their feelings.
It's so unexpected and human.
Instantly relatable.
Totally.
Or his Spotify bio.
Just girl, I love you, girl,in that sort of 2000s R&B vibe.
Simple, playful, sets a mood.
And you even hear it in the music.
(08:15):
Right.
The ad libs.
Yeah.
Those little snippets of himand his friends talking, laughing,
just woven into the tracks.
It makes the music feel solived in, so authentic.
It's not separate from his life.
It is his life.
That's a really cool way toapproach it.
And speaking of unique paths,his whole college years experience
is pretty unconventional too, Right?
(08:36):
He did study music productionformerly at the University of Oregon
for a bit.
Okay.
But he talks about touring,being on the road as basically making
up for the college experiencehe feels he kind of missed out on.
So the tour bus became hisdorm room, essentially.
Pretty much.
He describes living andtouring with his band, who are his
best friends, as this fun wayof making those years up.
(09:00):
It's like this intense,accelerated coming of age learning
life lessons in venues insteadof classrooms.
That must have impacted hiscreative process too, right?
Being constantly on the move.
Definitely.
There was this period when hewas opening for Omar Apollo on that
big world tour with KevinAbstract, also on the bill.
Yeah, a huge tour.
And.
And during that time, heactually intentionally tried not
(09:20):
to make music.
Really?
Why?
That seems counterintuitivewhen you have momentum.
He felt like he was justoverworking himself, forcing it.
And crucially, he felt theinspiration wasn't coming from a
real place.
It wasn't genuine.
That takes a lot of selfawareness, especially when you're
young and things are taking off.
It really does.
Instead of just grindingthrough it, he stepped back.
(09:40):
Yeah.
He said he spent time chippingaway, trying to find what made him
excited again.
Yeah, it was like a creative reset.
So where did that new sparkcome from?
This is the surprising part, right?
Yeah.
Totally unexpected.
He started watching sportsdocumentaries, sports docs.
Like, about athletes.
Exactly.
He's apparently really struckby their dedication, their 100% effort,
(10:03):
how they poured everythinginto their craft.
Often not for money, but justfor the love of it for the discipline,
huh?
Finding inspiration anddiscipline in pure effort.
Yeah.
It seems like it gave him thisrenewed sense of intrinsic motivation.
Like it's not just about fameor hits, it's about the work itself,
putting your whole self intoit, like those athletes do.
That really deepens thepicture of him as an artist.
(10:25):
It's not just about vibes.
There's real discipline there.
Absolutely.
Which leads us perfectly intotalking about his actual creative
process and the sound he's building.
Because you can hear thatdedication in the music.
Right, so.
So his inspirations.
He listens to Paul Simon.
Stevie Wonder.
Claro.
Quite a mix.
But he approaches them differently.
(10:45):
Yeah, this is key.
He says it's less about tryingto sound like them and more about
being inspired by the feelingof them.
Okay, what does that mean?
In practice?
He's not copying licks.
He's absorbing the vibe, the emotion.
Exactly.
It's more conceptual.
So maybe he's taking PaulSimon's knack for storytelling, or
Stevie Wonder's incrediblesense of groove and joy, or Claro's
(11:08):
anger, intimate bedroom pop vulnerability.
And he's internalizing thatfeeling, that essence, and then channeling
it through his own musical language.
Yeah, it allows him to beinfluenced, but still sound completely
original.
That's way more interestingthan just imitation.
So what is his sound then?
How would you describe it?
It's generally seen as thisblend of indie pop and R and B.
You can definitely hear echoesof the bedroom pop scene, that DIY
(11:31):
personal feel.
And also some of thatsmoother, atmospheric alternative
R and b from the 2000 and tens.
And who does he get comparedto the artists you mentioned earlier?
Yeah, names like Steve Lacy,Omar Apollo, Dominic Fike, Rex, Orange
county come up.
Also Smino, Kali Uccis, evenTyler the creator.
That's quite a lineup.
All artists known for beingunique, genre bending.
(11:52):
Exactly.
It puts him in that categoryof artists who aren't afraid to mix
things up.
The descriptions often mentiongroovy production with intricate
vocal layers.
Okay, so good beats, rich vocals.
Makes sense.
But didn't you mentionsomething specific?
He likes to use somethingabout chords.
Yes, this is a cool detail.
He apparently enjoys usingobscure chords.
(12:12):
Obscure chords.
Okay, as a non musician, whatdoes that actually mean for the listener?
Does it make it sound weird orjust different?
Ha, Good question.
It doesn't necessarily make itsound weird or unlistenable at all.
Think of it like a lot of popmusic uses very predictable, familiar
chord changes.
They feel comfortable, easyusing obscure chords.
(12:33):
Maybe chords that are lesscommon or have a bit more Tension
or are voiced in an unusual way.
He adds these little momentsof harmonic surprise.
It keeps your ear interested.
It can add a touch ofmelancholy or complexity or just
freshness without being jarring.
It's like a little twist thatelevates the sound beyond the standard
(12:54):
pop formula.
Okay, I get it.
Like adding an unexpected spice.
It keeps it from being boring.
Exactly.
It's a deliberate choice tomaintain uniqueness.
Yeah.
And his lyrics have evolvedtoo, right?
Alongside the music.
Yeah.
Let's Talk lyrics.
Those recent tracks, you OweMe and Cute Shirt Interlude, they
deal with breakups, but not inthe usual sad way.
(13:14):
Right.
Instead of just melancholy,they dig into the anger, the confusion,
even the lust that can stillbe there after things end.
There's this description of anear boyish touch.
It's raw, maybe a bit impatient.
Less polished sadness, morecomplex feelings.
More honest about themessiness of it all.
Totally.
But then you get a track likeComfort Me, which he says the whole
(13:34):
different wave.
He explicitly said it's not alove song, right?
Yep.
He calls it a testament tosexual desire in your 20s.
The lyrics are super direct,very straightforward about that hunger.
And the music itself reflects that.
Oh, absolutely.
The production is amazing onthat track.
The chords feel like they'reconsumed by that desire.
There's this buildup oftension, maybe in the synths or the
(13:56):
rhythm.
And then it finds this releaseat the peak.
The vocals layer up.
It crashes like waves.
It really mirrors thatphysical feeling, the intensity of
desire.
It's sonic storytelling.
Wow.
That sounds like it reallycaptures that specific 20 something
feeling.
Mature, confusing, but still playful.
Perfectly put.
It captures that in between stage.
(14:17):
And he's talked about gettingmore comfortable with songwriting,
right?
Yeah.
He said once he committed, itbecame very easy to pour his heart
out.
Especially he mentioned aftergetting used to the breakup thing.
Huh.
Like heartbreak unlocked the floodgates.
A common artist's experienceturning pain into material.
Definitely.
Does he have favorite lyricshe's written?
He does.
He mentioned a couple he loves.
(14:38):
I want to share an apartment,a room and a bed from Roommates.
Calls it a bar.
For sure.
Like a really solid, impactful line.
Okay.
Deep and earnest.
What else?
And then showing that playfulside, he also loves I'm 6 foot 4
without my shoes from Roger Cruwl.
He just thinks it's fun.
Everyone loves it.
Huh.
That's great.
It shows the range right there.
(14:59):
The heartfelt and the justplain fun.
Exactly.
The serious and the whimsical.
All part of the package.
Which brings us to his actualrise to stardom.
It's been fast.
One of the key milestones.
Super fast.
Okay, so demos before promgets buzzed.
Yeah.
Then comes the debut mixtapeunder Columbia, Sweet Boy, April
2024.
(15:19):
That immediately leads to theSweet Boy US tour.
Then he plays ACL, that bigfestival slot.
And then the massiveopportunity opening for Omar Apollo
on the God Said no world tourin 2024.
Phew.
That's a packed year or so.
And that Omar Apolloconnection was huge for him personally
too.
Oh, yeah.
He said Omar was a biginspiration back in high school,
so touring with him was like adream come true moment.
(15:40):
Did he get any advice from Omar?
He did, and it sounds like itreally stuck with him.
Omar apparently told him, ifyou're listening to stuff and you're
not loving what you hear, then stop.
Just make what you want to hear.
You have that power.
Wow.
That fits perfectly with hiswhole philosophy, doesn't it?
Trust your own instinct.
Exactly.
Reinforces that authenticity thing.
(16:01):
And their connection wentbeyond just the tour, the collaboration.
Yep.
They put out a single togetherin 2025 called bleed.
And the music video had cameosfrom Jack Harlow and Harry Daniels.
Whoa, that's some serious clout.
Shows the respect he's gettingin the industry already.
Definitely.
And alongside these bigmoments, he's been building his own
audience with headliningtours, too.
(16:23):
The Sweet boy tour in 24, thewholesome rock star tour in 25.
Going from opener to headlinerthat quickly is impressive.
Shows he can carry a show onhis own.
What about album success?
That came quickly too.
His self titled debut album,Malcolm Todd dropped April 4, 2025,
and it charted big time.
It hit the Billboard 200, hisfirst entry on that main album chart.
(16:45):
Huge milestone.
That is huge.
And the single Chest Payne,Chest Pain, I Love that.
Became his first Billboard Hot100 single.
Peaked at number 68.
Amazing.
And it wasn't just the US.
It charted on rock charts inCanada where it went gold.
The uk globally.
It really had wide appeal.
Wow.
Golden Canada already.
(17:05):
And he's not stopping there, right?
There's more coming.
Nope.
No rest.
He's got a deluxe version ofthe album Malcolm Todd, still coming
out August 8, 2025.
Includes a new single calledOriginal Always Creating.
So looking further ahead, howdoes he see his sound evolving?
He predicts it'll becomeevolved and more mature.
He specifically says he wantsto take more risks and kind of grow
(17:27):
alongside.
His audience, inviting them onthe journey.
I like that.
Yeah.
And he's pretty open about howintense this whole ride has been.
Turning 21amidst all this.
He called It a rollercoasterof major highs and deep lows.
Very honest.
Yeah, I respect that honesty.
Does he ever think about whathis younger self would make of all
this?
He does.
He averaged talking to hishigh school self.
The kid just starting out.
(17:47):
He thinks younger Malcolmwould just be like, no way, dude.
That's actually crazy.
Congrats.
That's so cool.
He'd just be stoked for me.
Oh, that's sweet.
Like giving himself a fistbump across time.
Totally.
A symbolic fist bump.
It keeps him grounded, youknow, for sure.
And how does he feel right now?
Has he made it?
It sounds like a mix.
He says sometimes he feelslike he has.
Yeah.
(18:07):
But then he adds, a lot oftimes, I feel like I'm eager to see
what else is out there.
The hunger is still there.
That curiosity.
Exactly.
That blend of satisfaction andrestlessness, that's probably what's
going to keep him pushingforward, keep him interesting.
Definitely.
That drive ensures this deepdive into himself through music is
far from over.
(18:28):
Absolutely.
So wrapping this up, MalcolmTodd really does feel like the quintessential
modern artist, doesn't he?
Navigating growth, fame,authenticity, all very publicly with
this really unique sound.
Yeah, he's sharing the wholemessy, exciting process of growing
up through his music, from theobscure chords to the honest lyrics
about, you know, desire and confession.
(18:50):
And his journey just hammershome that success doesn't have to
follow the old rules anymore.
Digital virality, definingadulthood on your own terms.
Right.
He's done that.
He found his path not just inmusic school, but on the road through
friendships, even watchingsports docs.
It wasn't a straight line,which really.
Makes you think, right?
What does his story tell usabout defining our own success, our
(19:12):
own maturity?
Do we stick to the script?
Or is there power in embracingour own unique, maybe slightly whimsical,
but definitely authentic journey?
Something to definitely ponderwhile you're listening to his next
track.
It's clear Malcolm Todd isfiguring it out his own way, and
it's fascinating to watch.
Who is Malcolm Todd?
It's a question you might behearing a lot lately, popping up
everywhere from, you know,your streaming playlist to major
festival lineups.
Right.
He's this really captivatingartist who's just exploded onto the
scene.
Totally exploded.
We're talking about someonewho went from, like, a bedroom producer
making music literally in hisown space to a viral sensation with
(00:22):
millions of listeners.
And his whole story isn't justabout the music itself, though.
The music is fantastic.
It's also about figuring outyoung adulthood.
Like navigating your 20s today.
All through his art.
Yeah, that whole messy,exciting, confusing time.
Exactly.
And that's really what we wantto do here in this deep dive.
Our mission is to, you know,cut through all the chatter and give
(00:44):
you a shortcut to reallyunderstanding Malcolm Todd.
Okay.
We've pulled together the keyinfo, found some surprising details,
and we want to give you thecontext behind his.
Well, honestly, his meteoric rise.
So by the end of this, you'llknow the deal.
Yeah.
You'll be properly informed.
You get a real sense of anartist who's not taking the usual
path, who's all aboutauthenticity, and who's finding his
(01:06):
own voice in a way that reallyseems to be connecting with people.
Okay, let's get into it.
We have to start at the beginning.
Right.
The early days.
Absolutely.
Gotta trace it back.
So Malcolm Todd Hobert, bornSeptember 15, 2003, out in Los Angeles,
California.
And it sounds like creativitywas just in the water in his house.
It really seems that way.
(01:26):
His dad, Tim Hobert, was a TVscript writer.
He actually worked on theMiddle, that sitcom.
Oh, wow.
The Middle.
Yeah.
Great show.
Right.
And apparently little MalcolmTodd even had a cameo once playing
a baseball player.
No way.
That's amazing.
And his mom, she was involvedin musical theater.
So you've got writing,narrative, performance, music.
(01:47):
It's all swirling around.
That's a serious creative foundation.
Like understanding story fromhis dad and music and performance
from his mom.
Exactly.
It's this dual influence.
He's not just growing upliking art.
He's immersed in the mechanicsof storytelling, both spoken and
sung.
How do you think that specificmix, you know, the TV writing and
the musical theater, mighthave shaped his songwriting, specifically,
(02:10):
beyond just making him musical.
That's a great question.
I think it probably gave himan innate sense of, like, structure
and emotional pacing.
Yeah.
Maybe from his dad, he got howto convey feeling in a simple line,
you know, like dialogue.
And from the musical theaterside, how melody and chords can actually
carry the story, how theybuild Emotions like, he got this
(02:32):
toolkit for weaving narrativeand feeling together in a pop song
format.
Makes sense.
And the family connectiondoesn't stop there.
Right.
His sister, Audrey Hobert.
Yeah, she's also in the mix.
She's best friends with Gracie Abrams.
Right.
And didn't she work onGracie's album, the Secret of Us?
She did songwriting,background vocals, and she directs
music videos too.
Yeah.
So it's like this wholeecosystem of creativity around him
(02:55):
must have been super nurturing.
Definitely.
So where did his personalmusic journey start?
Well, the initial sparkapparently came from his mom introducing
him to Broadway stuff.
Those classic show tunes.
Ah, interesting.
So melody and drama right fromthe start.
Exactly.
But his own thing reallykicked off in high school.
Yeah.
Sophomore year, he grabs aguitar, starts playing at parties,
(03:19):
you know, figuring things out.
The classic high school bandexperience, pretty much.
But then Covid hits the pandemic.
And, like, for a lot ofcreative people, that isolation period
became, well, really productive.
Yeah.
A time to focus inward.
That's when he really startedwriting his own songs seriously,
turning all that uncertaintyinto, you know, art.
(03:41):
And that led to his first release.
Yep.
His first EP Demos BeforeProm, came out May 15, 2022.
And the amazing thing is thesewere songs he wrote and produced
himself while he was still inhigh school during that pandemic
time.
Oh, self sufficient from theget go.
Totally.
And they started gettingnoticed in 2022.
You could hear somethingspecial was brewing there.
(04:02):
Okay, and this is where thatinteresting tactic comes in, right?
Yeah, the slightly mischievouspart, to get attention.
Early on, he apparentlyclaimed some of his first songs were
unreleased Steve Lacy tracks.
That is bold, but also kind ofbrilliant in a guerrilla marketing
way.
It really was.
It shows he had this earlyinstinct for, like, how to cut through
(04:22):
the noise online.
It got people listening, whichwas the whole point.
A risky move, but it worked.
Definitely memorable.
So after demos before prom, hekept going independently.
Put out another EP calledShower Shoes in March 2023.
Just building his sound, doinghis thing, mostly from home.
And all this time was musichis only focus?
Not quite yet.
(04:42):
This part's really relatable.
Before music took overcompletely, he was actually working
part time at Cold Sun Creamery.
No way.
Skipping ice cream.
Yep.
While also studying musicproduction at the University of Oregon.
It's such a great contrast.
Right.
The everyday job and this hugetalent just waiting to break through
grounds him totally.
It makes the next part even crazier.
The breakthrough moment.
Oh, yeah.
(05:03):
2023, his single art Housejust absolutely explodes on TikTok
goes completely Viral?
Like overnight sensation kindof viral?
Pretty much.
His monthly listeners wentfrom, you know, manageable numbers
into the millions.
Suddenly his sound waseverywhere on the app.
People making videos, dances.
It just connected, that Gen Z connection.
(05:25):
The authenticity.
Exactly.
It showed his sound wasn'tjust good, it was resonating deeply
with what people wanted to hear.
It turned him from thispromising indie kid into a real force.
And art house wasn't the onlyone gaining steam.
Right?
No.
Roommates was also getting alot of attention.
All this organic buzz online.
Well, it got noticed by the industry.
Columbia Records.
(05:45):
Yep.
An executive there heard whatwas happening, saw the numbers, heard
the music and signed them.
Just like that.
The kid making demos andworking at Coldstone is on a major
label.
Incredible.
The power of the Internet,right there.
It really is.
And he didn't waste any timetranslating that online buzz to the
real world.
His first proper live show wassold out.
(06:06):
Where was that?
At Winston house in Venice, La.
July 2023.
To go from TikTok fame to asold out debut show that quickly,
it proved the connection wasreal, not just digital hype.
Wow, what a ride.
So okay, he's blown up, he'ssigned, he's playing live shows.
What kind of artist is heactually becoming through all this?
Let's dig into his philosophy.
(06:27):
Right.
Because it's clear music isn'tjust his job, it's deeper than that.
He talks about it not being anall defining trait.
Like it doesn't box him in.
Instead he sees it as a way tofigure himself out.
Like a tool for self discovery.
Yeah, exactly.
An ongoing process.
And he wants to share thatjourney, the figuring it out part,
with his audience.
(06:48):
Each song is like another stepin understanding who he is.
That's really interesting.
So whether he's on stage or inthe studio, the music itself, the
keyboards, the drums, thebass, it's all part of that exploration.
Totally.
He uses the sounds, the highsand lows, to explore his identity.
It's his really deep linkbetween his creative work and his
personal growth.
Like his music is a diary youcan dance to.
(07:10):
Huh.
I like that.
And this ties into how heapproaches being in his 20s.
Right.
Which can be a really weird,insecure time for a lot of people.
Yeah.
He seems to be tackling itdifferently with, as he puts it,
whimsy, youth in mind andmusic guiding the way he's trying
to avoid that typicalinsecurity trap.
Choosing playfulness insteadof right and trying.
To be really present andinstinctual in what he does.
(07:32):
He actively tries not to beoverly Influenced by, you know, trends
or expectations.
So it's about what feels rightto him right now.
Exactly what Malcolm wouldwant to do right now.
That commitment to just beinghimself is pretty refreshing, especially
in the music industry.
You really see that comethrough, don't you?
Like that sign at Austin City Limits?
(07:54):
Oh, yeah.
That was brilliant.
On the big screen at acl, itjust said, Malcolm Todd and his band
had a sleepover last night andtalked about their feelings.
It's so unexpected and human.
Instantly relatable.
Totally.
Or his Spotify bio.
Just girl, I love you, girl,in that sort of 2000s R&B vibe.
Simple, playful, sets a mood.
And you even hear it in the music.
(08:15):
Right.
The ad libs.
Yeah.
Those little snippets of himand his friends talking, laughing,
just woven into the tracks.
It makes the music feel solived in, so authentic.
It's not separate from his life.
It is his life.
That's a really cool way toapproach it.
And speaking of unique paths,his whole college years experience
is pretty unconventional too, Right?
(08:36):
He did study music productionformerly at the University of Oregon
for a bit.
Okay.
But he talks about touring,being on the road as basically making
up for the college experiencehe feels he kind of missed out on.
So the tour bus became hisdorm room, essentially.
Pretty much.
He describes living andtouring with his band, who are his
best friends, as this fun wayof making those years up.
(09:00):
It's like this intense,accelerated coming of age learning
life lessons in venues insteadof classrooms.
That must have impacted hiscreative process too, right?
Being constantly on the move.
Definitely.
There was this period when hewas opening for Omar Apollo on that
big world tour with KevinAbstract, also on the bill.
Yeah, a huge tour.
And.
And during that time, heactually intentionally tried not
(09:20):
to make music.
Really?
Why?
That seems counterintuitivewhen you have momentum.
He felt like he was justoverworking himself, forcing it.
And crucially, he felt theinspiration wasn't coming from a
real place.
It wasn't genuine.
That takes a lot of selfawareness, especially when you're
young and things are taking off.
It really does.
Instead of just grindingthrough it, he stepped back.
(09:40):
Yeah.
He said he spent time chippingaway, trying to find what made him
excited again.
Yeah, it was like a creative reset.
So where did that new sparkcome from?
This is the surprising part, right?
Yeah.
Totally unexpected.
He started watching sportsdocumentaries, sports docs.
Like, about athletes.
Exactly.
He's apparently really struckby their dedication, their 100% effort,
(10:03):
how they poured everythinginto their craft.
Often not for money, but justfor the love of it for the discipline,
huh?
Finding inspiration anddiscipline in pure effort.
Yeah.
It seems like it gave him thisrenewed sense of intrinsic motivation.
Like it's not just about fameor hits, it's about the work itself,
putting your whole self intoit, like those athletes do.
That really deepens thepicture of him as an artist.
(10:25):
It's not just about vibes.
There's real discipline there.
Absolutely.
Which leads us perfectly intotalking about his actual creative
process and the sound he's building.
Because you can hear thatdedication in the music.
Right, so.
So his inspirations.
He listens to Paul Simon.
Stevie Wonder.
Claro.
Quite a mix.
But he approaches them differently.
(10:45):
Yeah, this is key.
He says it's less about tryingto sound like them and more about
being inspired by the feelingof them.
Okay, what does that mean?
In practice?
He's not copying licks.
He's absorbing the vibe, the emotion.
Exactly.
It's more conceptual.
So maybe he's taking PaulSimon's knack for storytelling, or
Stevie Wonder's incrediblesense of groove and joy, or Claro's
(11:08):
anger, intimate bedroom pop vulnerability.
And he's internalizing thatfeeling, that essence, and then channeling
it through his own musical language.
Yeah, it allows him to beinfluenced, but still sound completely
original.
That's way more interestingthan just imitation.
So what is his sound then?
How would you describe it?
It's generally seen as thisblend of indie pop and R and B.
You can definitely hear echoesof the bedroom pop scene, that DIY
(11:31):
personal feel.
And also some of thatsmoother, atmospheric alternative
R and b from the 2000 and tens.
And who does he get comparedto the artists you mentioned earlier?
Yeah, names like Steve Lacy,Omar Apollo, Dominic Fike, Rex, Orange
county come up.
Also Smino, Kali Uccis, evenTyler the creator.
That's quite a lineup.
All artists known for beingunique, genre bending.
(11:52):
Exactly.
It puts him in that categoryof artists who aren't afraid to mix
things up.
The descriptions often mentiongroovy production with intricate
vocal layers.
Okay, so good beats, rich vocals.
Makes sense.
But didn't you mentionsomething specific?
He likes to use somethingabout chords.
Yes, this is a cool detail.
He apparently enjoys usingobscure chords.
(12:12):
Obscure chords.
Okay, as a non musician, whatdoes that actually mean for the listener?
Does it make it sound weird orjust different?
Ha, Good question.
It doesn't necessarily make itsound weird or unlistenable at all.
Think of it like a lot of popmusic uses very predictable, familiar
chord changes.
They feel comfortable, easyusing obscure chords.
(12:33):
Maybe chords that are lesscommon or have a bit more Tension
or are voiced in an unusual way.
He adds these little momentsof harmonic surprise.
It keeps your ear interested.
It can add a touch ofmelancholy or complexity or just
freshness without being jarring.
It's like a little twist thatelevates the sound beyond the standard
(12:54):
pop formula.
Okay, I get it.
Like adding an unexpected spice.
It keeps it from being boring.
Exactly.
It's a deliberate choice tomaintain uniqueness.
Yeah.
And his lyrics have evolvedtoo, right?
Alongside the music.
Yeah.
Let's Talk lyrics.
Those recent tracks, you OweMe and Cute Shirt Interlude, they
deal with breakups, but not inthe usual sad way.
(13:14):
Right.
Instead of just melancholy,they dig into the anger, the confusion,
even the lust that can stillbe there after things end.
There's this description of anear boyish touch.
It's raw, maybe a bit impatient.
Less polished sadness, morecomplex feelings.
More honest about themessiness of it all.
Totally.
But then you get a track likeComfort Me, which he says the whole
(13:34):
different wave.
He explicitly said it's not alove song, right?
Yep.
He calls it a testament tosexual desire in your 20s.
The lyrics are super direct,very straightforward about that hunger.
And the music itself reflects that.
Oh, absolutely.
The production is amazing onthat track.
The chords feel like they'reconsumed by that desire.
There's this buildup oftension, maybe in the synths or the
(13:56):
rhythm.
And then it finds this releaseat the peak.
The vocals layer up.
It crashes like waves.
It really mirrors thatphysical feeling, the intensity of
desire.
It's sonic storytelling.
Wow.
That sounds like it reallycaptures that specific 20 something
feeling.
Mature, confusing, but still playful.
Perfectly put.
It captures that in between stage.
(14:17):
And he's talked about gettingmore comfortable with songwriting,
right?
Yeah.
He said once he committed, itbecame very easy to pour his heart
out.
Especially he mentioned aftergetting used to the breakup thing.
Huh.
Like heartbreak unlocked the floodgates.
A common artist's experienceturning pain into material.
Definitely.
Does he have favorite lyricshe's written?
He does.
He mentioned a couple he loves.
(14:38):
I want to share an apartment,a room and a bed from Roommates.
Calls it a bar.
For sure.
Like a really solid, impactful line.
Okay.
Deep and earnest.
What else?
And then showing that playfulside, he also loves I'm 6 foot 4
without my shoes from Roger Cruwl.
He just thinks it's fun.
Everyone loves it.
Huh.
That's great.
It shows the range right there.
(14:59):
The heartfelt and the justplain fun.
Exactly.
The serious and the whimsical.
All part of the package.
Which brings us to his actualrise to stardom.
It's been fast.
One of the key milestones.
Super fast.
Okay, so demos before promgets buzzed.
Yeah.
Then comes the debut mixtapeunder Columbia, Sweet Boy, April
2024.
(15:19):
That immediately leads to theSweet Boy US tour.
Then he plays ACL, that bigfestival slot.
And then the massiveopportunity opening for Omar Apollo
on the God Said no world tourin 2024.
Phew.
That's a packed year or so.
And that Omar Apolloconnection was huge for him personally
too.
Oh, yeah.
He said Omar was a biginspiration back in high school,
so touring with him was like adream come true moment.
(15:40):
Did he get any advice from Omar?
He did, and it sounds like itreally stuck with him.
Omar apparently told him, ifyou're listening to stuff and you're
not loving what you hear, then stop.
Just make what you want to hear.
You have that power.
Wow.
That fits perfectly with hiswhole philosophy, doesn't it?
Trust your own instinct.
Exactly.
Reinforces that authenticity thing.
(16:01):
And their connection wentbeyond just the tour, the collaboration.
Yep.
They put out a single togetherin 2025 called bleed.
And the music video had cameosfrom Jack Harlow and Harry Daniels.
Whoa, that's some serious clout.
Shows the respect he's gettingin the industry already.
Definitely.
And alongside these bigmoments, he's been building his own
audience with headliningtours, too.
(16:23):
The Sweet boy tour in 24, thewholesome rock star tour in 25.
Going from opener to headlinerthat quickly is impressive.
Shows he can carry a show onhis own.
What about album success?
That came quickly too.
His self titled debut album,Malcolm Todd dropped April 4, 2025,
and it charted big time.
It hit the Billboard 200, hisfirst entry on that main album chart.
(16:45):
Huge milestone.
That is huge.
And the single Chest Payne,Chest Pain, I Love that.
Became his first Billboard Hot100 single.
Peaked at number 68.
Amazing.
And it wasn't just the US.
It charted on rock charts inCanada where it went gold.
The uk globally.
It really had wide appeal.
Wow.
Golden Canada already.
(17:05):
And he's not stopping there, right?
There's more coming.
Nope.
No rest.
He's got a deluxe version ofthe album Malcolm Todd, still coming
out August 8, 2025.
Includes a new single calledOriginal Always Creating.
So looking further ahead, howdoes he see his sound evolving?
He predicts it'll becomeevolved and more mature.
He specifically says he wantsto take more risks and kind of grow
(17:27):
alongside.
His audience, inviting them onthe journey.
I like that.
Yeah.
And he's pretty open about howintense this whole ride has been.
Turning 21amidst all this.
He called It a rollercoasterof major highs and deep lows.
Very honest.
Yeah, I respect that honesty.
Does he ever think about whathis younger self would make of all
this?
He does.
He averaged talking to hishigh school self.
The kid just starting out.
(17:47):
He thinks younger Malcolmwould just be like, no way, dude.
That's actually crazy.
Congrats.
That's so cool.
He'd just be stoked for me.
Oh, that's sweet.
Like giving himself a fistbump across time.
Totally.
A symbolic fist bump.
It keeps him grounded, youknow, for sure.
And how does he feel right now?
Has he made it?
It sounds like a mix.
He says sometimes he feelslike he has.
Yeah.
(18:07):
But then he adds, a lot oftimes, I feel like I'm eager to see
what else is out there.
The hunger is still there.
That curiosity.
Exactly.
That blend of satisfaction andrestlessness, that's probably what's
going to keep him pushingforward, keep him interesting.
Definitely.
That drive ensures this deepdive into himself through music is
far from over.
(18:28):
Absolutely.
So wrapping this up, MalcolmTodd really does feel like the quintessential
modern artist, doesn't he?
Navigating growth, fame,authenticity, all very publicly with
this really unique sound.
Yeah, he's sharing the wholemessy, exciting process of growing
up through his music, from theobscure chords to the honest lyrics
about, you know, desire and confession.
(18:50):
And his journey just hammershome that success doesn't have to
follow the old rules anymore.
Digital virality, definingadulthood on your own terms.
Right.
He's done that.
He found his path not just inmusic school, but on the road through
friendships, even watchingsports docs.
It wasn't a straight line,which really.
Makes you think, right?
What does his story tell usabout defining our own success, our
(19:12):
own maturity?
Do we stick to the script?
Or is there power in embracingour own unique, maybe slightly whimsical,
but definitely authentic journey?
Something to definitely ponderwhile you're listening to his next
track.
It's clear Malcolm Todd isfiguring it out his own way, and
it's fascinating to watch.
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