There is nothing more catchy than a song with an upbeat tune, with dreamy melodies and relatable lyrics. The rising indie pop star, Malcolm Todd, captures every essence of alternative R&B with his mellow voice and addictive, “head-nodding” kind of grooves. Starting in 2024, Malcolm Todd, an American musician, songwriter and producer, gained traction on TikTok through his mixtape “Sweet Boy,” which went viral. Since then, he has gained almost 17 million listeners per month and hundreds of millions of album plays.
“Sweet Boy”
Drawing influences from bedroom-pop music, Malcolm Todd’s 2024 hit album “Sweet Boy” reminded many listeners of popular artists such as Steve Lacy, Dominic Fike and Omar Apollo, as this genre tends to include “groovy production with intricate vocal layers,” a style that appeals to many teenagers. On this album, Todd attempted to illustrate the intense and confusing emotions of young love, heartbreak and the pain of growing up. Through this album, he explores the process of letting go of a relationship and looking for what is yet to come. He does this through a few of his most popular hits on the album, “Roommates,” “Earrings” and “Sweet Boy.” Each song covers an insecurity he faced during this time of his life, as he desires to go back to the times of joy of him and his partner. He characterizes himself as a “sweet boy” to reflect on his vulnerability and his lovesick personality.
This coming-of-age story depicts a typical teenager’s emotions with yearning and reflection while navigating first loves, creating a relatable sense of longing for his listeners. His upbeat tracks contrast with his calm voice, causing his songs to sound casual, but they are symbolically intense. Quite often, when songs go viral on TikTok, they gain traction but quickly lose appeal after numerous repeats. However, songs on “Sweet Boy” rarely lost hype, as they repeatedly hit the Billboard charts and maintained their positions.
“Malcolm Todd”
“Malcolm Todd” was his first studio album, released in 2025, that quickly earned him a place on the Billboard Top 100. His song “Chest Pain (I Love)” went viral on TikTok once again due to its heartfelt and yearning quality of sound. The lyrics captured an even more painful heartbreak and the toxicity of long-distance relationships. His starting track “Harry Styles” was a satire play at capturing the feelings of being a new artist and appealing to the expectations of his stardom and the industry. Through songs like “Bleed” featuring Omar Apollo, an artist he originally identified with, and “Make Me a Better Man,” he questioned his love for himself, evaluating the impact toxic relationships had on his identity. He even highlights personal traumatic experiences and long-distance relationship struggles through songs such as “I’ll Come Back for You,” and “Walk to Class,” curating a moody and emotional playlist that appealed to many of his listeners who might have also experienced similar situations. This project was honest and raw, introducing the real Malcolm Todd to his listeners.
Todd is only 21-years-old, but has already placed his name in the alternative genre. Amidst the chaos and the whimsy of his music, listeners crave his authentic sounds and lyrics that clearly speak to their souls. His funky guitar riffs and electronic synths encapsulate the complex emotions of teenagers, similar to the feeling of nostalgia that 2000s teen movies give current teenagers. This generation of Gen-Z has already been through a lot with everyday shifts in the economic and political state of the world. However, listening to Malcolm Todd allows listeners to reflect on their past struggles while bringing back the joy and comfort of what is yet to come. His songs might often repeat “Can we go home now?” However, it is clear that his listeners, when tuning into his hits, already feel as if they are.