YUNGBLUD entered the punk rock scene in 2017, quickly making a modern impact on the genre. His music draws inspiration from a range of topics from politics to his upbringing in Doncaster, England, and touches on serious themes such as mental health. Throughout his discography, he has collaborated with artists including Machine Gun Kelly, Oli Sykes of Bring Me The Horizon, Denzel Curry, and more. His most recent collaboration brings together alternative and hip-hop influences alongside Atlanta’s Lil Yachty.
With the release of his first single of 2024, YUNGBLUD sits down with Hypebeast to break down the creative process behind “When We Die (Can We Still Get High?)”, working with Lil Yachty, potential plans for 2024 as well as how his fans actively influence his day-to-day life.
Hypebeast: A slower tempo track is not something we would have expected from you. What inspired you to start the year with this?
YUNGBLUD: I’ve been in a period of experimentation and this felt beautiful and real. Anything I want to do always has to be real. I’ve made my way through this by shutting my eyes and deciding on what I want to talk about and what feels real and right in the moment.
For the past year, I’ve been freeing myself to experiment with multiple sounds from hyper-pop to metal, rap, alternative and psychedelic music to really land on where I want to go artistically in the newer projects. This song just felt incredible when it came out and when Miles (Lil Yachty) got on it, I think that more than ever. It’s a statement that has turned a lot of people’s heads. So, I thought I’d put it out at the start of the new year when people might be thinking what I’m going to do next.
Tom Pallant
How did the concept of the single come about? What made finding euphoria in the after-life the story?
My entire life, I’ve always wanted to escape. Growing up, I never felt good enough and I was treated like I wasn’t good enough – from my views to my fashion, sexuality and my ideas of the world. YUNGBLUD is about escapism and going to a new place and finding new friends and ideas that allow you to express yourself in a way that you want to without hesitation, regret or fear.
We were making this record in Louisiana and my guitar player picked up a massive baritone guitar which allows you to play lower chords than a normal guitar and he played a small bit and it sounded like heaven. It sounded ethereal, orgasmic and like getting high and it’s always a trip when that happens. Then, I went to the pub, as always, with my notebook and I had the idea of “When we die, can we still get high?” floating around my imagination for years.
I always think about death and not being here. I always think of what it would be like if I wasn’t around. It’s pretty dark but I’ve always felt like that and walked side by side with the idea of death. I had this idea in my head of what it would be like when I leave. Would it be a reincarnation sort of thing? Am I going to be in a weird place with my mates? Can I listen to music there? I’ve always thought about that and because the song sounded heavenly and like transcending to another place, I thought this is the time. I wrote a poem and before Miles joined on the second verse, I had written:
Does Jesus run a rehab?
Is it possible to relapse on the other side?
I’m all for getting better
But the concept of forever has got me terrified
I took you in my car
I let you in my heart
But I can’t keep this going
The monkey’s in my head
And the devil’s in my bed
So, I think it’s worth knowing
When we die, can we still get high?
Tom Pallant
I wrote this in 20 minutes and when I came back in the room, everyone had the demo made and they put me on the mic to see what happens. It was probably take two where the chorus came out. I wanted a very big Brit-pop sound. I love The Verve, Oasis and Pulp, but I think when you do Brit-pop now, it can sound like you’re in a dad band. I had to think about how we could bring that forward. So, I thought to hit up Lil Yachty.
What was it like getting Lil Yachty on the track?
Miles and I have been wanting to work together since 2019. He hit me up on DM in 2019 and I didn’t see it! When collaborating with someone, it’s always about timing. Two years ago, we would have made something a bit more hype and rap, but it wouldn’t have lasted forever. We’re two artists that are about to make the best music of our lives and he represents what I do in his own scene, really – pushing boundaries and hoping your audience comes with you.
I’m not asking to sound like a 50-year-old dad band from the north of England. I asked to thicken up the basses, put strings on it and see what Miles’s imagination does. I hit him with the song, three weeks went by and I was in Brussels on tour and that’s when he text me saying he’s cutting it that night. I got it in the morning and sent it to the boys. It was fresh, different, and a new take on something I grew up listening to. I grew up on Brit-pop — I’m from these streets that were all about cold, cigarettes, and fish and chips. It’s cool we got an artist from Atlanta on this record. It sounds British as f**k but he twists it.My entire life, I’ve always wanted to escape.
The track is introducing a whole new vision to the two of you as artists.
It makes me excited about the future for what could inspire between the future of alternative and hip-hop. The lines have been so blurred between rock and hip-hop. They’re the same thing. They carry the same energy and feeling but from two different perspectives and cultures.
Community is important to you. How involved are they when you’re going through a rough time, be it creatively or personally?
My fanbase is everything to me. I felt so lonely all my life and all I wanted to do was find some mates. What’s so incredible is that it was my fans who took this whole thing and made it what it is. I always say that YUNGBLUD isn’t me, YUNGBLUD is all of us and I’m just part of the culture. It’s dark but it was always either this or death for me. I didn’t want to be here. Even though I’m very confident and smiley, happy and out there, I’m very dark when I wake up in the morning. The first hour of the day, I always feel like I’ve been kicked in the stomach and can’t wait to get online and see what’s happening in our world.
I never want to stop doing this and taking us to new places because I owe all my life to my fans. People say I saved their lives, but they’ve saved mine more than they could believe. All I want to do is belong in this community forever and keep finding new friends. My favorite thing in the world is when I look into the crowd and see two people find each other and have a good time together. It’s the sickest thing ever. As much as there’s a lot of darkness and hate in the world, as long as we keep loving and finding each other, I think it’s inevitably going to be alright. I know I sound like a hippie but whatever.
Tom Pallant
Tom Pallant
Will you be further exploring different genres in upcoming projects and a potential album?
In the year of experimentation, I got so many songs and great vibes. I’m thinking of putting out a project where I pour my brain out to my fans. I feel more frightened than ever because I’ve taken the time to work on my new projects. Normally, I’m always on the internet or on tour and I told the guys to take me off. It’s been a weird adjustment because I don’t get to see everyone everyday so I’m getting in the darkness a little bit more. If artists are comfortable, it’s a very dangerous place to be. If you’re scared and out of your comfort zone, you’re finding something crazy.
I went back to my first producer who did 21st Century Liability with me and decided to create like it’s the last thing we’re going to leave on earth. I’m excited. Everything is going to come hand-in-hand. I also have a mental announcement coming soon. It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done. The only thing I can say on it is imagine the world that we’ve built all in one place.
