By Amanda Coscarelli, May 4, 2021
LilHuddy, a TikTok star-turned rock musician, rose to stardom after the release of three hit singles this year. His latest single, “America’s Sweetheart,” released on April 22, proved that he is more than just an angsty e-boy with a voice for pop-punk.
With the release of his newest single, LilHuddy proved that he has more to offer than just catchy, melodramatic hits. He took this song in a different direction and while it undoubtedly fits the emo genre, it is also honest, vulnerable and more mature.
The song starts as a romantic ballad accompanied by an acoustic guitar and soft vocals. He sings within a comfortable range and volume so as not to let everything out just yet before gradually building up to a louder, more open voice. LilHuddy often uses his throat voice to pull off a whiny tone, but he exemplifies his range by showcasing his deep, dark voice echoing from his chest.
His lyrics follow a similar pattern. At first, he gives only a little bit away, but he continues to build upon it. Finally, he explodes into confession in the chorus with enraging emotions and lyrics.
After the buildup, the line, “I’m the bad guy and you’re America’s sweetheart,” feels like the climax for everything he’s gone through until this point in the song. As he continues into the next verse, he shares his feelings with less hesitation in his voice.
The TikTok Star emerged in 2020 on the popular social media app and rose to fame after co-founding Hype House LA. As a resident of the party pad, he quickly gained a reputation as one of those TikTok stars who got rich for doing nothing. However, after working on music behind the scenes for months, the young star released his debut single, “21st Century Vampire,” and surprised the TikTok world with his talent.
His angsty and melodramatic music is a part of the pop-punk and emo resurgence of the past year, but with artists like Travis Barker of Blink 182 and Machine Gun Kelly by his side, he still has a lot to live up to.
The release of his second single, “The Eulogy of You and Me,” confirmed his spot in the pop-punk and emo resurgence. It quickly became a hit and was played on alternative music station KROQ.
This musical renaissance was brought on by a plague that obliterated bands of the early 2000s and left their best years behind them. Though bands such as Blink 182 and Alkaline Trio have tried to stay above water, new artists such as LilHuddy are the ones keeping a dying genre alive.
While the lyrics in his last song presume that it was written about his former relationship with Charli D’Amelio, the lyrics in “America’s Sweetheart” are a clear depiction of his feelings over the breakup, and he put them out there not only for her but for the entire world. This shows a new level of maturity for the young artist who’s just getting started.
LilHuddy’s ability to create something catchy but also pour his heart out proves that he just might have what it takes to leave the Tik Tok stardom behind and become a full-blown rockstar.