Boygenius

Boygenius Artistfacts

  • 2018-2024
    Lucy DacusVocals, guitar2018-2024
    Julien BakerVocals, guitar2018-2024
    Phoebe BridgersVocals, guitar2018-2024
  • Boygenius are an indie-rock supergroup founded by singer-songwriters Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker, and Phoebe Bridgers. Dacus and Bridgers both opened for Baker in the early days of their careers and the trio became friends before they started making music together. In 2018, shortly after Dacus released her sophomore Historian album, they issued their debut, self-titled EP to critical acclaim. Their full-length debut, The Record, followed in 2023, earning them a pair of Grammys for the single "Not Strong Enough" and another for Best Alternative Music Album.
  • Their band name was inspired by an inside joke aimed at male collaborators whose arrogance outweighs their talent. In 2018, Julien Baker told Newsweek it refers to "the archetype of the tortured genius, a specifically male artist who has been told since birth that their every thought is not only worthwhile but brilliant."
  • After issuing their first EP, the group didn't have any concrete plans to reunite for a full-fledged album. Bridgers was feeling creatively depleted after the release of her 2020 album, Punisher, and missed her friends during the COVID-19 pandemic. She found herself writing a Boygenius-style song, which ended up being "Emily I'm Sorry," and suggested they get the band back together.
  • In honor of the song "Bite The Hand" from their debut EP, all three women got a tattoo of a tooth on their wrists (they wanted to get them on their hands, but their tattoo artist talked them out of it, saying the ink wouldn't last). The song, and the tattoo, is a reminder to stay true to themselves and not give too much of themselves away to their fans. They show off the tats on the cover art for The Record.
  • Barack Obama included "Not Strong Enough" on his annual summertime playlist in 2023, but Dacus was not impressed. She retweeted the playlist with a barb aimed at the former US president: "war criminal :( ."

    Dacus, whose response lit up the internet, clarified her point to The New Yorker in 2025. "My issue was being used in a personality campaign without my consent," she said. "I was actually really surprised that people don't already know that every president is a war criminal, and, also, war itself is criminal." She added, "I would say the same about Biden, I would say the same about Trump."
  • Dacus and Baker officially announced they were a couple in 2025, the same year Dacus released her Forever Is A Feeling album. The single "Best Guess" is a love song inspired by Baker.
  • The group announced their hiatus in 2024 with the aim of focusing on their solo careers and other projects. That same year, Baker formed a country duo with rock singer-songwriter Torres.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.